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Autumn Keyes Ita interview, February 26, 1980: transcript
Date
Archival Collection
Description
From the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas, OH-01017. On February 26, 1980, collector Steven McKenzy interviewed Clark County Community College coordinator of rehabilitation, Autumn Keyes Ita (born December 8th, 1936 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti) at the Clark County Community College. This interview offers a personal historical account on home and family life in Las Vegas, Nevada. Autumn also discusses entertainers such as Wayne Newton and Sammy Davis, Jr., and the role that entertainment played in the development of Southern Nevada.
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Transcript of interview with Dr. Harrie Fox Hess by Scot Siegel, February 26, 1979
Date
Archival Collection
Description
On February 26th, 1979, Scot Siegel interviewed his psychology professor, Dr. Harrie Hess (born March 1, 1929 in Hammond, Indiana) in his office at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Dr. Hess discusses his family’s reason for moving to Nevada and how he felt as a young adult moving to Las Vegas. The two go on to talk about Dr. Hess’ contributions to Nevada through his work as a psychologist, and briefly mentions the first law to be drafted on psychology certification in Nevada. Dr. Hess then describes the Wild Cat Lair as an important site of social recreation for early Las Vegas youth. The interview concludes with his memory of Boulder (Hoover) Dam and how he believes that workers from the Great Depression paved the way for industrial success in gambling due to their employment on the Dam.
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Judge John F. Mendoza oral history interview
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Abstract
Oral history interview with Judge John F. Mendoza conducted by an unnamed interviewer on the dates September 30, 2005, October 14, 2005, and October 21, 2005 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Mendoza talks about his early life and his childhood while growing up in the Westside area of Las Vegas, Nevada. He details the lives of his grandparents as they lived through the Mexican Revolution. Mendoza describes how he grew up in a diverse community that consisted of people from different backgrounds and cultures. A big part of his childhood was when he would sell newspapers to people in public places like bars. He talks about his career and explains that he completed and graduated from law school after being discharged from the United States Army. A crucial event that took place during Mendoza's time in law school was the rise of Communism, and he explains that students and professors in his law school had various perspectives on how Communism would influence the government.
Archival Collection
Therese Courture Thomas oral history interview
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Abstract
Oral history interview with Therese Courture Thomas conducted by Roberta F. Zaplatilek on February 29, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Thomas discusses her family history and arriving to Boulder City, Nevada in 1930. Thomas describes housing in Boulder City and explains that people needed to build their own homes in the 1930s. She then discusses prostitution becoming illegal in Nevada, the Helldorado Parade, and the construction of Hoover Dam (Boulder Dam). Lastly, Thomas recalls how her musical career began and entertainment in casinos.
Archival Collection
William Laub Sr. oral history interviews
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Oral history interviews with William Laub Sr. conducted by Claytee D. White on October 20 and 28, 2004 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Laub opens the interview discussing his service in the United States Navy in the Pacific Theater in World War II. He also talks about his education in Van Nuys, California, his time in law school, and gaining Basic Magnesium Inc. as a client for his California law firm. He discusses coordinating the construction of the gas pipeline from Henderson, Nevada into Las Vegas, Nevada. He recalls being injured in a gas explosion, that forced him to rehabilitate in Las Vegas, and inevitably move his family to the area in 1956. He describes the construction changes that occurred on the Las Vegas Strip from the 1950s onward. Laub also explains why the Thunderbird Hotel and Casino was a political epicenter, and recounts meeting Nevada Lieutenant Governor Clifford Jones and other political candidates.
Archival Collection
Lilly Fong oral history interview
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Abstract
Oral history interview with Lilly Fong conducted by Annie Yuk-Siu Shum on February 29, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Fong discusses receiving her education in both China and Arizona and later completing her Master’s degree in education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). She describes how she held multiple careers, starting at the historic Fifth Street School as a third grade teacher in 1950 and continued to opening a Chinese restaurant called Fong’s Garden with her husband, Wing Fong. Then Fong describes her campaign for the Nevada State Board of Regents in 1974 where she would help develop the building of the University's Fine Arts Complex. The interview concludes with Fong’s thoughts on the Asian Studies program at UNLV.
Archival Collection
Foothill High School oral history interviews
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Oral history interviews with Foothill High School students conducted by Claytee D. White on March 24, 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project.
Students from Foothill High School in Henderson, Nevada are interviewed in front of one another as part of a class by Claytee D. White. Those interviewed include Shardé Smith, Evan Roquemore, Whitney Welch, RosAnne Ritchie, and Lindsay Gingrich. Claytee D. White is also interviewed by unnamed students. Each participant talks about their life, what brought them to live in Las Vegas, details of where they may have lived previously, and their interests and hobbies.
Archival Collection
Henry and Anita Schuster oral history interview
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Oral history interview with Henry and Anita Schuster conducted by Claytee D. White on various dates from March 01, 2011 to April 25, 2011 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Henry discusses his experiences during the Holocaust, including losing his mother and one sister, while reuniting with another sister after she escaped from a concentration camp. Anita discusses growing up with her family in New York, marrying Henry in 1948, and moving around until arriving in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1993. They also discuss their involvement with the Holocaust Survivors Group in southern Nevada.
Archival Collection
Mary Melton oral history interview
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Abstract
Oral history interview with Mary Carol Melton conducted by Kathy Ricks on March 05, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Melton discusses early life in Henderson, Nevada and recalls the development of the United Methodist Church in Las Vegas, Nevada. Melton speaks about moving to Las Vegas because of her husband’s health, her time working with attorney offices and in the Las Vegas Courthouse, and the different homes in which her family lived. Moreover, Melton talks extensively about starting the first Sunday school in North Las Vegas in a garage as well as the church she and her husband built. Melton discusses the programs and minstrels performed in the church, the crafts sold to make money for the church and the organ they purchased. Lastly, Melton talks about going to the Hoover Dam nearly every week to see new developments, her participation in the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), and watching the above ground atomic tests.
Archival Collection
George Ward oral history interview
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Abstract
Oral history interview with George Ward conducted by Charles P. Hall on March 11, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Ward discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1942 and his experience in the city as an African American. Ward describes the jobs African Americans were hired for in Las Vegas during the 1940s and his teaching career. He describes segregation and discrimination in the school system and in casinos. He also talks about how African American police officers were only allowed to patrol West Las Vegas, housing availability, and organized crime in the city. Lastly, Ward talks about his involvement in local politics, the beginnings of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the development of Las Vegas.
Archival Collection