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Level of Description
Archival Collection
Archival Component
Barr Smith oral history interview
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Abstract
Oral history interview with Barr Smith conducted by Melvin Smail on February 22, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Smith discusses his personal history and the history of Las Vegas, Nevada. Smith discusses working at the Basic Magnesium plant, playing high stakes poker games with prominent gamblers like "Nick the Greek," and the casinos built on the early Las Vegas Strip. Smith also describes how Las Vegas has changed, the different forms of gambling and gaming available in the city, and life in 1940s Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Henry Shepherd oral history interview
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Abstract
Oral history interview with Henry Shepherd conducted by Claytee D. White on October 22, 2014 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Shepherd discusses being an African-American bartender on the Las Vegas, Nevada Strip, hired as a result of the 1971 consent decree. He also recalls memories of Jackson Street, the homes in North Las Vegas, and the hotels in downtown Las Vegas and on the Strip.
Archival Collection
Guy Hamblin oral history interview
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Oral history interview with Guy Hamblin conducted by Barry Merrell on February 22, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Hamblin discusses moving from different towns in Nevada before settling down in Southern Nevada, viewing the above-ground atomic bomb tests, early Fremont Street, and his work on the railroad. Hamblin also discusses the demographic and economic changes that he has seen in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Judy Smith oral history interview
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Oral history interview with Judy Smith conducted by Suzanne Becker on November 22, 2008 for the Voices of the Historic John S. Park Neighborhood Oral History Project. Smith discusses moving from Barstow, California, to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1958. She also discusses working as the assistant society editor for the Las Vegas Sun, graduating from the University of Nevada Reno, and moving back to Las Vegas with her husband and children to live in the John S. Park Neighborhood in 1967.
Archival Collection
Kevin M. Kelly oral history interviews
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Oral history interviews with Kevin M. Kelly conducted by Dennis McBride on September 08 and 22; and November 10, 2000 for the Las Vegas Gay Archives Oral History Project. In the interviews, Kelly talks about his family and early life in Boston, Massachusetts with a focus on his Catholic upbringing. He recalls his law education, serving in the United States Army during the Vietnam War for eleven years, and discovering his sexuality in 1966 while working in the Boston City Hospital. Kelly then describes being discharged from the military due to allegations of being gay, and his family's reaction. He then recalls moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1978, where he was involved in a robbery and shooting incident with a male sex worker in 1982. Kelly goes on to recall the trial that proceed the incident and how it publicly outed him. He details how he was charged with felony sodomy and ultimately lost his job as a result of the trial. Finally, he talks about serving on a task force to investigate bias in Nevada's court system in 1992 and being honored in 1994 by the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada for his work.
Archival Collection
Fred E. Anderson oral history interview
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Oral history interview with Fred Anderson conducted by Cortez Corley on April 22, 1986 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Anderson discusses his history of living in Ely, Nevada. Anderson primarily discusses his experiences as a miner working for the Kennecott Copper Corporation. He also mentions his experiences with unions, atomic testing, and the growth of Nevada in general.
Archival Collection
Lucile Nyberg oral history interview
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Oral history interview with Lucile Nyberg conducted by Alison Hartough on February 22, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Nyberg discusses the history of Overton, Nevada and life in the town. Nyberg describes early Las Vegas, Nevada and life in Boulder City, Nevada. Nyberg goes on to discuss her career as a teacher and the changes made to education in Las Vegas. Nyberg also discusses the development and the economy of Las Vegas, and briefly discusses prostitution in the city. Nyberg's husband, Richard Nyberg, is present during the interview, but does not speak.
Archival Collection
Su Kim Chung oral history interview
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Oral history interview with Su Kim Chung conducted by Claytee White on March 11, 2021 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project.
Su Kim Chung is the Public Services Department Head of University of Nevada, Las Vegas Lied Library's Special Collections and Archives. This interview was conducted in part for the 20th year celebration of Lied Library. Su Kim first talks about the construction of Lied Library and what makes it special compared to the previous library building on campus. She then discusses her personal history and education that led her to UNLV, where she has now worked for 22 years. Her work involves manuscript curation, panel discussions with Las Vegas entertainers, and oral history collection among other activities. She has also written a book, Las Vegas Then and Now, that talks of the city's rich entertainment history.
Archival Collection
Stella Champo Iaconis oral history interviews
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Oral history interviews with Stella Champo Iaconis conducted by Elizabeth Nelson Patrick on July 22, 1981 and July 23, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Iaconis discusses her personal history and family background. Iaconis also recalls moving from Sparks, Nevada to Las Vegas, Nevada and provides a recollection of the city. Iaconis then discusses Block 16 and the increase of women working in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection