Oral history interview with Rita Deanin Abbey conducted by Claytee White on November 29, 2014 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. The artist and UNLV Emeritus Professor of Art discusses her early education and training in art that led her to work in sculpture, painting, stained glass, and other mediums. She also talks about her pieces created for the Jewish community in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Luella Wardle conducted by Elizabeth Nelson Patrick on August 04, 1981 and August 05, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Wardle discusses living in Tonopah, Nevada since 1907 and describes the living conditions at the time. Wardle also discusses education and the school system, recreational activities, and her employment in banking. She then describes Tonopah during World War II and explains how the army base was beneficial for businesses. Wardle goes on to explain where the families of the soldiers would stay while stationed in Tonopah. Lastly, Wardle discusses organizations she was a member of, the significance of fraternal organizations to Southern Nevada, and Tonopah during prohibition.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Charissa B. Fabian conducted by Kyle Gregory Baluyut on November 24, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
In this interview, Charissa B. Fabian discusses her upbringing in Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines with her three siblings and memories shared with her grandparents and cousins. She talks about her nursing education from the University of the Philippines and her immigration via a recruitment agency to work in New York. Charissa Fabian reflects on her move to Las Vegas, Nevada with her husband in 1995, the growing Filipino population in the city, and her work as a nurse. She also shares her thoughts on the immigration process, the COVID-19 pandemic, and politics.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Susan B. Brand conducted by Judith Kelly on November 20, 2004 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Brand discusses her upbringing in South Dakota, and her attendance at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She discusses how she worked with the Clark County School District as a switchboard operator, teacher, human relations consultant, assistant principal at Rancho High School, and principal at multiple elementary schools. She discusses her personal philosophy of educational administration, her job duties as assistant principal and principal, and offers suggestions on how to be a successful principal. She also discusses her integration efforts that promoted diversity in the classroom.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Paul Kopczak conducted by Claytee D. White on September 04, 2012 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Kopczak begins the interview by discussing his family history and personal history in the United States Air Force before moving to Las Vegas, Nevada with his wife in the 1980s. He then describes his career working for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas as a storekeeper for Lied Library, explaining his job duties and how the university has changed since he began working there. Lastly, Kopczak also talks about various library employees and administrators he has worked with, and life in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Frank Mathews conducted by Pat Kohlman on December 07, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, Mathews discusses his life as a teacher at J. D. Smith Middle School in Las Vegas, Nevada from 1953 to 1975. He discusses traveling through the city during its early stages of growth, employment, and home construction in various Las Vegas Valley locations including Lorenzi Park (currently known as Twin Lakes), Hyde Park, and North Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jan Corash conducted by David Schwartz on July 13, 2007 for the Remembering Jay Sarno Oral History Project. Corash talks about her uncle, casino developer Jay Sarno and more broadly, her extended family. She explains her grandparent's origins in the region of "The Pale" between Poland and Russia, how they immigrated to United States and the birth of Sarno and his siblings. She continues with a deeper discussion about sibling rivalry between the Sarno siblings, and how the personality traits that Jay Sarno learned from his family translated to his dealings with others. She discusses the family's connection to the mob, the fact that both Jay Sarno and his brother Herman were brilliant individuals, and the impact of all these things on Jay Sarno's hotel development plans.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Paul Sarno conducted by David G. Schwartz on July 13, 2007 for the Remembering Jay Sarno Oral History Project. Sarno begins by discussing the Sarno family, his grandparents, their Jewish heritage, and the early life of his uncle, Jay Sarno, and his father. Sarno then describes how his uncle married a lot later than his older siblings and he was the only one who had personal hobbies such as golf. Sarno then chronicles his uncle’s role as a businessman in Las Vegas, Nevada and how he only visited Las Vegas once because his father was a gambling addict. Lastly, Sarno discusses everything he knew about his uncle’s relationship with Allen Dorfman, the Teamster’s Union, and his legal troubles with the Internal Revenue Service.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Vernon G. Stockall conducted by Aurora Wright on March 07, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Stockall discusses arriving in Boulder City, Nevada in 1935 and describes how the Great Depression caused people to migrate westward. He then recalls working as a pipe fitter at the Hoover Dam (Boulder Dam) and explains the type of work that he did. Lastly, Stockall discusses the growth of Las Vegas, Nevada as the population increased.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with William Verzani conducted by James Little on March 15, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Verzani discusses his personal history and being a rancher in Searchlight, Nevada. Verzani describes life in Searchlight during the 1930s, and later moving to Las Vegas, Nevada. Verzani goes on to describe living in Las Vegas, and how the city has changed and expanded. He also talks about the murder of Bugsy Siegel, hunting in Nevada, and his career as a truck driver.
Archival Collection