Oral history interview with Otto Merida conducted by Claytee White on May 18, 2017 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. Merida discusses his childhood in Havana, Cuba and his arrival to the United States. Merida then discusses Cubans in Las Vegas, Nevada in the 1960s and 1970s. He also reflects on starting the Latin Chamber of Commerce with Arturo Cambeiro in the late 1970s.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Harriet Barlow conducted by Elsha Harris-Tolanda on April 27, 2015 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Barlow discusses her personal history and growing up in Robbins, Illinois. She talks about her education, discrimination in schools, and the process of school integration. Barlow then recalls her first impressions of Las Vegas, Nevada and her employment at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Lastly, Barlow describes going through graduate school as an African American and explains why conversations about race relations can be difficult.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Pamela Sitton conducted by Claytee D. White on February 27, 2009 for the UNLV@ Fifty Oral History Project. Sitton discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1963 where her father worked at the Nevada Test Site and graduating from the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV). Sitton also discusses working at UNLV Libraries from 1974 until she retired March of 2009.
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 Lindell Blake conducted by Claytee D. White on January 12, 2006 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Blake discusses his personal history and moving to New York, New York at the age of three. Blake talks about his life in New York, moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1990, and his starting his career as a tap dancer. He talks about performing in various productions across the United States, and teaching tap dancing. Lastly, Blake recalls the history of tap dancing in the United States and describes the audition process for dancers in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Walter Casey conducted by Claytee D. White on November 15, 2004 and January 13, 2005 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Walter Casey discusses the history of Las Vegas, Nevada from 1951 with a business-related perspective. Topics that he discusses include: Paradise Valley before development; K-12 education before the creation of the Clark County School District; Chamber of Commerce; Las Vegas News Bureau; Live Wire Fund; the rise of corporate gaming; National Association of Manufacturers and lobbying. Casey then discusses the leisure activities that he would engage in including the Hualapai Club, as well as discussing the Southern Nevada Water Authority.
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 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 Richard Morgan conducted by Emily Powers on November 07, 2006 for the UNLV @ 50 Oral History Project. Morgan discusses practicing law and being the dean of the law schools at Arizona State University, the University of Wyoming, and the first dean of the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Gene Hotchkiss conducted by Barbara Clark on June 27, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Hotchkiss discusses her experiences living in Las Vegas, Nevada since 1946. Hotchkiss discusses the hotel industry, explaining that most casinos had a Western theme before the Flamingo was built, which started a luxury resort trend. Hotchkiss goes on to describe the development of Las Vegas Strip hotels.
Archival Collection