Oral history interviews with Joe W. Brown conducted by Claytee D. White on November 19, 2018, January 11, 2019, February 06, 2019, and June 18, 2019 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In these interviews, Brown discusses his early life and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1968. He remembers becoming a District Court law clerk, and being appointed by President Ronald Reagan to the State Justice Institute and the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States. Brown talks about his involvement with charitable organizations, being a commissioner for the Nevada Gaming Commission, and founding the Nevada Military Support Alliance. Lastly, Brown discusses the development of his law firms in Las Vegas, being awarded an Honorary Doctor of Law degree by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and receiving the Outstanding Alumnus Award by the Washington and Lee University School of Law.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Debra McCracken conducted by Claytee D. White on April 13, 2017 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, McCracken discusses her early interests in library science and children's literature. She recalls being hired at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), working in the James R. Dickinson Library, and the transition into Lied Library. She talks about the switch to electronic cataloging, and working at the Teachers Development Resources Library (TDRL) at UNLV. Lastly, McCracken discusses the future of UNLV Libraries.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mary K. Rymer conducted by Mary Fitzgerald on May 04, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Rymer discusses her career as a nurse in Las Vegas, Nevada, which began at Clark County Hospital. Rymer tells several anecdotes of her experiences during her career, and discusses how hospitals have changed and evolved in Las Vegas. Rymer goes on to discuss her short retirement from nursing, before returning to the profession after being hired as a nurse for the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ellen Rosenbloom conducted by David G. Schwartz on July 09, 2007 for the Remembering Jay Sarno Oral History Project. In this interview, Rosenbloom discusses the life of her father, Sam Sarno, and his brother Jay Sarno. She talks about the opening of Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada, her uncle's career in gaming, and recalls his plans to open additional hotels and casinos in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Stan Irwin conducted by Cork Proctor on August 24, 2003 for the All That Jazz Oral History Project. In this interview, Irwin talks about his early life performing comedy in nightclubs, hotels, and casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada, writing comedic material, his military service, starting a family, and racism in the Las vegas entertainment industry in the 1950s and 1960s. He also discusses his work as vice-president and executive producer for Sahara Nevada Corporation, bringing The Beatles to Las Vegas, Nevada when all other hotels refused to do so, and the band's appearance at the Las Vegas Convention Center. He continues talking about being a comedian, actor, and special materials writer and his life since retirement.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jocelyn L. Oats conducted by Rebecca Snetselaar on April 29, 2016 for the Folklife Program of the Nevada Arts Council and the Oral History Research Center at UNLV Libraries. Oats begins the interview by talking about her childhood and family. She explains what she was allowed to have in terms of media and music, what gospel music means to her, and which members of her family are singers. Oats talks about religion, traditions in church, and what it means to sing in church. Lastly, Oats tells stories of her life and where to find gospel music in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Raymond Ellsworth Sutton conducted by Ronnie A. Peters on March 14, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Sutton discusses arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1941 and recalls the construction of the Basic Magnesium Plant and hundreds of homes built in Henderson, Nevada. Sutton then describes his work as an attorney, the Nevada education system, and recalls his experiences as a student at the University of Nevada, Reno.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Robert Kim conducted by Kristel Peralta, Cecilia Winchell, Ayrton Yamaguchi, and Vanessa Concepcion on March 05, 2021 for the Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Kim describes his career in law. He talks about his Korean roots, the model minority myth, and experiencing racial discrimination. Lastly, Kim discusses the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, his involvement with the Asian Bar Association of Las Vegas, and the importance of electing Asian Americans into political positions.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Lilly Fong conducted by Lisa Fremont on May 06, 1995 for the UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection. In this interview, Fong discusses her family background and their immigration story to the United States in the early 1910s. She talks about her husband’s interest in the restaurant business and the opening of their restaurant, Fong’s Garden, in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1955. Fong remembers being elected as Regent for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), the increase of students attending the College of Southern Nevada, and advocating to keep UNLV’s Tonopah Hall as a dormitory building for students. Fong talks about completing a master’s degree from UNLV in 1982, state university funding, and her involvement with the Chinese community in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Joy Rineer conducted by Stefani Evans on December 01, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Rineer talks about growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada. She recalls her educational experience in Las Vegas, attending the University of Utah, and studying architecture. Rineer explains how architectural education, internships, testing, and licensing processes have evolved over time, and how these processes formerly limited opportunities for women in architecture. Rineer also reflects on projects she has worked on personally, her employment with architecture firm Simpson Coulter Studio, and the firm's emphasis on community-anchored architecture. Lastly, Rineer discusses planning for schools, and changing classroom layouts to accommodate different learning styles.
Archival Collection