Oral history interview with Lawrence Weekly conducted by Elsha Harris Yolanda on November 19, 2014 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Weekly discusses his personal history and growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada. He talks about the importance of religion in his upbringing and his parent’s employment in the hospitality industry in Las Vegas. Weekly describes the racial discrimination he experienced in education, attending the College of Southern Nevada and later transferring to Grambling State University in Louisiana. Later, Weekly discusses his rationale for attending a historically Black college, his career as a Clark County Commissioner, and the reopening of F Street. Lastly, Weekly talks about the lack of progress in race relations across the United States.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Carey Burke conducted by Terri Goodsell on March 12, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Burke talks about his schooling at St. Joseph’s Catholic School and Rancho High School. Burke also talks about the recreational activities he took part in during schooling, such as going to Lake Mead and joining a YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) camp. Burke then describes the Helldorado customs and his hobby of collecting gaming memorabilia.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Phyllis Syzdek conducted by an unknown fifth grader on April 24, 2009 and is part of the UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection. Syzdek opens her interview by discussing her childhood during the Great Depression, and moving around the United States often as her father searched for work. She then talks about moving to a small farm town in Colorado for her high school years. Sydek then recalls December 07, 1941 and where she was when she found out about the Pearl Harbor bombing. She remembers that her town had a considerable Japanese American population but they were not sent to internment camps because of their farm work. She then describes how World War II affected her, how young people helped the war effort, and her sister's service in the United States Marine Corps. Syzdek then discusses what life was like in the 1940s, how much things cost during that time, and what she remembers from when she was in 5th grade. Lastly, Syzdek talks about her adult life and family.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Gertrude Toston conducted by Claytee D. White on July 21, 2006 for the UNLV @ 50 Oral History Project. Toston discusses attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) in the 1960s. She also discusses working as a customer service representative for Western Airlines for 27 years before going back to UNLV to work on her master's degree in special education. She then talks about working as a graduate teaching assistant and student teacher advisor at UNLV and as a teacher at Brinley Junior High.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Dale Anderson conducted by Patrick Carlton on July 12, 2002 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Anderson reflects upon his upbringing and educational background that preceded his teaching career. He discusses how he was hired to teach at Washington State University in 1966, and later the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) in 1984. He discusses his employment within the universities, and various administrative positions that he held, including department chair and dean. He also describes his working relationship with other individuals, and challenges that he faced as an administrator.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Frederica Lionel conducted by Gina Ballestrasse on February 27, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Lionel moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in May 1954 to divorce her husband and marry her attorney. She discusses her local neighborhood, the social clubs she was associated with, and the cost of living in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with John Mendoza conducted by Perry Kaufman on May 26, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Mendoza discusses Mexican American life in Las Vegas, Nevada and recalls memories of his education in law.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Robert Parker conducted by Dennis McBride on June 02, 1986 and November 09, 1986 for the Boulder City Library Oral History Project. In this interview, Parker discusses the construction of the Hoover Dam and the development of Boulder City, Nevada. Parker recalls the events on December 07, 1941, the closing of Hoover Dam shortly after the Pearl Harbor attacks, and United States military protection of the dam during World War II.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Donn Blake conducted by George Kostic on April 17, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Blake discusses his role as a Special Projects Coordinator for the City of Las Vegas, Nevada and the various roles he held in historical preservation. Blake also discusses how Las Vegas has grown and evolved over the years. He describes the changes in airport locations over time and mentions the need for historical preservation.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Junell Bowman conducted by Anna Huddleston on March 09, 2014 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Bowman begins by describing her early history as a singer in California, performing on the radio, different orchestras, and nightclubs before marrying her husband and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1958. Bowman discusses becoming a sketch artist after managing an unsuccessful business, doing portraits and caricatures of people in the casinos, at conventions, and on the Las Vegas Strip. She talks about the celebrities and entertainers she met and did caricatures for while working at casinos like the Stardust and Riviera, and the amount of work that went into being a professional sketch artist.
Archival Collection