Oral history interview with Roger H. Dudley conducted by Elisabeth McLaren on March 7, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. During the interview, Dudley discusses his childhood, his parents, grade school, World War II, atomic testing, the Mesquite Club, development of the Las Vegas, Nevada Strip, rodeos, Howard Hughes, Paradise Valley, and changes in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Shirley Barber conducted by Rajul Edmond on April 11, 2003 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Barber reflects upon her nearly 30-year career as a teacher and administrator with the Clark County School District from the 1980s to the 2000s. Barber describes the process by which she became an elementary and middle school principal, and her approach to being a leader within the school and as a member of the School Board. She also discusses challenges that she was faced with, such as school integration.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Barry Holt conducted by Lee LaVecchia on February 11, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Holt talks about the history of Southern Nevada. He specifically talks about the major changes in Southern Nevada since the 1930s, the Great Depression, and the changes in mode of transportation in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mr. Holt speaks about the differences between growing up in Las Vegas in the fifties and sixties compared to how his children are growing up at the time of the interview. He also discusses education and the religious community in the city.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Esther Horner conducted by Maureen Brannon in approximately 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Horner discusses the inaugural Helldorado Parade, her family’s establishment of B & H Grocery in Las Vegas, Nevada, atomic tests, presidential visits, social clubs, and the tragic death of actress Carole Lombard in a plane crash in Nevada. Horner also offers insight into religious life, the red-light districts, including the infamous Block 16, racial segregation, and gambling in the early days in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ronald (Ron) Tomlin conducted by Claytee D. White on December 20, 2022 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Tomlin recalls growing up as child with his mother, Dorothy Dalton Tomlin, who started the Dotty Dee Dancers in 1952. Ron recalls spending much of his childhood with his grandmother while his mother toured the country with the Dotty Dee Dancers. In 1955, his father, Donald Sherwood Tomlin, opened a clothing store, Scottie's Clothing Store, in the Moulin Rouge shopping strip on the Westside of Las Vegas, where he sold the latest fashion trends to Black men. Ron traveled across country with his parents after high school, helped them run a small resort on the Russian River called the Bohemian Grove, and then began his photography career. Throughout his career as a photographer, he has photographed Mike Tyson, Naomi Campbell, and Elvis. Tomlin also talks about having a passion for dancing, like his mother.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Stanley Paher conducted by Claytee D. White on March 20, 2023 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Paher recalls his childhood, being born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. His family built and owned the Gateway Auto Court, now the Gateway Motel, at the corner of Las Vegas and Charleston Boulevards. After a brief period serving in the United States Navy and obtaining a bachelor's degree, Paher entered the master's program at the University of Nevada, Reno. Paher discusses his love of researching and writing about Nevada ghost towns, including writing his first book on the subject in 1970. He recalls seeing the physical book on the printing press, and talks about the profound impact that moment had on his life. It led to the founding of Nevada Publications, and his involvement with 59 Las Vegas and northern Nevada authors from 1970 through 2023. Paher has written fifteen books on Nevada, Arizona, and California.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Josephine Bruns conducted by Christopher Wong on March 9, 1975 and March 12, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Bruns discusses her family background, recreational activities, transportation, entertainment, and the growth of businesses in Las Vegas, Nevada. Bruns also talks about the Stewart Ranch and the Union Pacific Railroad.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Donald Baepler conducted by Suzanne Becker on April 23, 2007 for the UNLV @ 50 Oral History Project. Dr. Donald Baepler discusses his career as a biology professor and administrator at Central Washington University, and various appointments at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) including Academic Vice President (1968), acting President (1969), President (1973), and Chancellor of the university system (1978). He also discusses becoming director of the Majorie Barrick Museum in 1981, and working as a professor of biology at UNLV.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jim Bonaventure conducted by Claytee D. White on September 09, 2014 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Bonaventure discusses the Culinary Union Local 226, the value of workers academy, failure of African-American integration on the Las Vegas Strip, and general life in the city of Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Maude Woo conducted by Barbara Tabach on February 11, 2007 and February 25, 2007 for Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In these interviews, Woo discusses her early childhood in Korea, taking care of her siblings, and difficult memories of war. Later, she discusses travelling to the United States and having foster parents, and going to college for nursing. She married her first husband and they had two sons, David and John. The family moved to Orange County, California where Maude raised the family and eventually started a private practice. Later, Woo divorced her first husband. She married her current husband, Leland, in 2011. She discusses her family, the importance religion has in her life, and coming to Las Vegas, Nevada to retire. Digital audio and photographs available; digital transcript draft available.
Archival Collection