Oral history interview with Leland E. Taylor Jr. conducted by Jo Marijke Mulder on March 05, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Taylor describes his life in Las Vegas, Nevada. Taylor then discusses his role in recovering Carole Lombard’s body from her famous plane crash, and recalls other plane crashes around the same mountain range. Taylor later discusses above ground atomic testing, social changes throughout Las Vegas, and the expansion of the city.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Therese Courture Thomas conducted by Roberta F. Zaplatilek on February 29, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Thomas discusses her family history and arriving to Boulder City, Nevada in 1930. Thomas describes housing in Boulder City and explains that people needed to build their own homes in the 1930s. She then discusses prostitution becoming illegal in Nevada, the Helldorado Parade, and the construction of Hoover Dam (Boulder Dam). Lastly, Thomas recalls how her musical career began and entertainment in casinos.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Donald and Kathleen Klinkner conducted by Claytee D. White on May 07, 2014 for the West Charleston Neighborhoods--an Oral History Project of Ward 1. In this interview, Don Klinkner discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada, going to Las Vegas High School, being a part of the Mint Julep social club, and his career in the casino industry. Kathy discusses growing up in the hippie movement, moving to Las Vegas, becoming the first female credit manager in the entire Caesars organization, and marrying Don Klinkner.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Kerin Rodgers conducted by Suzanne Becker and Claytee D. White on February 17, 2009; August 11, 2011; and August 16, 2011 for the Voices of the Historic John S. Park neighborhood. Rodgers shares her story of arriving in Las Vegas, Nevada as part of a retail job with The Broadway stores in 1966. Rodgers speaks about her involvement with the Focus Youth House, First Fridays and art, and gives a perspective of police, criminal behaviors, and changes in the neighborhood over the years.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Michael A. Cherry conducted by Barbara Tabach on September 19, 2014 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. In this interview, Justice Michael Cherry talks about how he came to Las Vegas, Nevada and his work as a public defender and as a lawyer in private practice. He also discusses his involvement with Jewish organizations in various capacities, and his involvement with high-profile cases such as the MGM Grand and Las Vegas Hilton fires, earning him the nickname "master of disaster."
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Allison and Hugh Wallace conducted by Claytee D. White on March 17, 2006 for the Hurricane Katrina Survivors in Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, the Wallaces relate their upbringing, families, and educational attainments. Later, they talk about their experiences with Hurricane Katrina, evacuating and then returning to find their neighborhood overrun with looters and their home severely damaged by the flooding. They discuss the extreme difficulty they faced finding money and resources as they faced loss of employment, housing, and access to their bank accounts. They also describe the emergency relief efforts of various state, national, and federal agencies. Finally, they relate that these difficulties led to their decision to move to Las Vegas, Nevada and comment on the difficulty of maintaining contact with friends and colleagues who also left Louisiana.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jeanettee L. Del Rosario conducted by Alessandra Del Rosario on December 6, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
Jeanettee Del Rosario talks about her family life with nine siblings and her upbringing in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan province, Philippines. She shares her educational background in hotel and restaurant management and, after immigrating to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2006, the different hotel positions she has held in the city. Jeanettee Del Rosario discusses the process of immigration, language barriers, and missing her family in the Philippines. She also talks about Filipino traditions of respect, barangay fiestas, cultural foods, and religion.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Dell Ray Rhodes conducted by Claytee D. White on April 01, 2010 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. Rhodes discusses working at various jobs, including being one of the first African-Americans to work in the University of Nevada Las Vegas Registrar's office and at the U.S. Post Office. She also discusses the civil rights movement and school integration in Las Vegas, Nevada in the early 1970s.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Dr. Robert Aalberts conducted by Claytee D. White on November 16, 2006 for the UNLV @ 50 Oral History Project. In this interview Aalberts speaks about how he was encouraged to come to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) in 1991 by a friend who worked there. He described how when he first arrived there was no law school, and that he taught legal business and real estate courses. He became editor in chief of the Real Estate Law Journal in 1992. He also speaks about how he continues to teach, write, edit, do research in the new law library, and serve on various committees.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jay and Jayson Dicotignano conducted by Dennis McBride on November 05, 2006 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In this interview, the Dicotignanos talk about their marriage and the Men’s Movement of the late 1980s. Jay discusses his career as a therapist, in public health, and the process to have a gay marriage ceremony at a church. Later, the two describe gay parenthood and what gay couples did to have children. Lastly, they recall foster parent training and becoming foster parents.
Archival Collection