Oral history interviews with Elton Garrett conducted by Dennis McBride on November 10 and 11, 1986 for the Boulder City Library Oral History Project. In these interviews, Garrett talks about hitchhiking into Nevada in 1928, the beginning of his journalism career in 1929, and the development and construction of the Hoover Dam and Boulder City. He relates anecdotes about events and people during this early period and talks about the choice of The Six Companies, Incorporated to build the dam. He continues, talking about the impact of prohibition, bootlegging, and illegal gambling before 1931. Later he talks about his work as an educator in Boulder City, and the decision by the city to work toward self-government and incorporation.
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 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 John Woodrum conducted by David Schwartz on June 12, 2006 for the UNLV @ 50 Oral History Project. In this interview, Woodrum discusses his career in gaming operations. He begins by mentioning how he grew up in Kentucky and has lived through World War II. He also explains how gaming regulations vary throughout the United States. Woodrum states that one of his first jobs was working in the sales and marketing category for the Thunderbird Hotel and Casino. He then speaks about gambling and its changes over the years.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Edelweiss Solano conducted by Cecilia Winchell, Jerwin Tiu, and Stefani Evans on August 25, 2022 for the Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Solano discusses her childhood in the Philippines and later studying business administration in college to help her family's business. Solano met and married her husband, and the couple moved to the United States for work opportunities. In addition to volunteering for a number of organizations, Solano works for the Asian Community Development Council (ACDC) in Las Vegas, Nevada. Throughout the interview, Solano touches on cultural celebrations, the immigration process, her parents, and the biggest issue facing the AAPI community today.
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 Wilma Noyes conducted by Claytee D. White on April 11, 2007 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Noyes discusses her personal history and life in Las Vegas, Nevada from the 1920s onward. She describes moving to Las Vegas with her family in 1921 after her father got a job working for Union Pacific Railroad Company. Noyes explains how the railroad provided housing to its workers and what life was like in that housing. Noyes discusses attending the first schools in Las Vegas, one of them having had Maude Frazier as its principal. Noyes then describes what young people did for entertainment in Las Vegas, including dancing and going to movie theaters. Lastly, she discusses the history of the casinos and how the city has changed.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Nanyu (Nelson) Tomiyasu conducted by Samantha Kerwin on April 30, 1986 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Tomiyasu discuses life, changes, and politics in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tomiyasu also talks about the organizations he was a part of, including The Southern Nevada Landscaping Contractors Association, and The Southern Nevada Urban League. The interview concludes with Tomiyasu recalling the above ground atomic test, and World War II.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Dale Kimball conducted by Dennis McBride on May 16, 1999 and January 1, 2001 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In this interview, Kimball discusses their personal impressions of and historical information about the people who donated to the Nevada Coalition for the Protection of Marriage, an organization which opposed same sex marriage. The interview consists entirely of Kimball reading through a list of donors to the Coalition and providing personal anecdotes on each individual.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Norman Forsyth conducted by Steve Flinte on March 19, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Forsythe discusses arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada and his time as a firefighter with the Las Vegas Fire Department and the Clark County Fire Department, where he eventually became a battalion chief. Forsythe also talks about the history and development of Las Vegas, the prices of land, some notable fires, including the El Rancho Vegas fire, and what he recalls about the aboveground atomic testing.
Archival Collection