Oral history interviews with Mahamed Youssouf conducted by Barbara Tabach on August 06, 2013 and August 13, 2013 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Youssouf discusses his childhood in Harar, Ethiopia and living there during the Ethiopia and Somalia conflict in the late 1970s. He recalls the Russian invasion into Ethiopia and the communist agenda that was enforced as a result. Youssouf then describes his involvement in student and community led protests and how he ended up in a refugee camp in Djibouti. He talks about his life in Djibouti as a tailor and his struggles finding permanent refuge. Youssouf discusses his acceptance into the United States as a refugee, arriving in New York, New York in 1980, and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1985. Lastly, Youssouf talks about his store in North Las Vegas, Uniform Plus, and the African American experience in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Frances L. Turner conducted by Norma Williams on February 28, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Turner discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada during World War II after her husband was stationed at Nellis Air Force Base. Turner describes life in Las Vegas during wartime, the jobs she held, and life after the war. She goes on to talk about moving to Pahrump, Nevada, describing life in the town and its local farming and dairy industries. Turner also details her career in the postal service and her experiences in the field.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Gaelan Felt conducted by Perry Kaufman in approximately 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Felt describes working at the Nevada Test Site and the effect the site had on Las Vegas, Nevada. Felt explains why Nevada was chosen as the location for the site, how they tested nuclear weapons, and how the local residents responded to the tests with varying levels of concern. He also talks about other aspects of the test site's history, such as workers' housing, and how Las Vegas has developed and changed.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Ray Trousdale conducted by Chuck Williams on December 14, 2012 and July 31, 2013 for the Friends of Red Rock Canyon in Nevada Oral History Project. Trousdale begins the interview talking about his family and early life. He moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1940 and describes Las Vegas during the 1940s. Then, Trousdale speaks about meeting Buster Wilson and what he learned from him. He describes his time at Spring Mountain, Nevada and the history of the area. Lastly, he speaks about the Carole Lombard plane crash site.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Gary Sanoff conducted by David Schwartz on June 29, 2015 for the Table Games Management Oral History Project. In this interview, Sanoff recalls moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1979 and going to dealer school to become a craps dealer. He discusses his work in casinos including the Nevada Hotel, the El Cortez, Union Plaza and the Desert Inn. Sanoff then describes his work at the Bellagio as pit manager, assistant shift manager, shift manager, Interim Vice President of Table Games, and director at the time of the interview.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Brenda Arnold conducted by Janet E. Prince on February 28, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Arnold discusses her career as a librarian, her religious activities in Las Vegas, Nevada, and viewing the above-ground atomic testing. She also recounts activities she did while visiting Lake Mead and Harris Springs at Mount Charleston.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Fred O. Wharton conducted by William B. Stabler on March 10, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Wharton describes the United States Air Force base in Tonopah, Nevada that was used to train B-29 bomber pilots during World War II. He also describes mining in Tonopah and in the greater Nye County, Nevada area, including what kinds of metals they mined and the processes used to extract them. Lastly, Wharton discusses the history of the railroads in Nye County, living in rural Nevada, and how Tonopah has changed.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Perry Rogers conducted by Patrick Carlton on March 25, 2003 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Rogers discusses being the president of Agassi Enterprises and the Andre Agassi Foundation. Rogers explains why he and Andre Agassi wanted to found an educational program to help disadvantaged youths in the Las Vegas, Nevada community in 1993. Rogers also discusses how they came to choose Wayne Tanaka to be the principal of the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy and the need for education reform in the United States.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Aldeane Ries conducted by Jennifer Meskimen on April 21, 2002 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Ries reflects upon her nearly 40-year career as a teacher and administrator with Nevada’s Clark County School District. She discusses the process by which she became an administrator, her approach to school administration, and her regular job responsibilities as principal. She describes changes within the school district over her 40-year career, cultural diversity among students and staff, and the importance of maintaining relationships with parents and students. She also offers suggestions for individuals interested in pursuing school administration.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Evan Blythin conducted by Patricia van Betten on September 26, 2006 for the History of Blue Diamond Village in Nevada Oral History Project. Blythin opens his interview by discussing his early life on an Arizona ranch and his decision as a young adult to pursue higher education, which led to his PhD in philosophy and communications. He then talks about his move to Nevada in the late 1960s to teach communications at Nevada Southern University, now the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and his work to develop the communications department at the university. Later in the interview, he discusses his family's move to Blue Diamond Village from Las Vegas, Nevada, and the community's transition after the Blue Diamond Mine ceded control of the village to the inhabitants. He also talks about his work with the Blue Diamond Recreation Association and his artwork.
Archival Collection