Oral history interview with Claytee D. White conducted by Stefani Evans on November 2, 2023 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Claytee D. White, founding directory of the Oral History Research Center at UNLV Libraries, celebrates the twentieth anniversary of the OHRC by contributing her oral history to the collection.
She begins by explaining how the system of sharecropping worked in her family near rural Ahoskie, North Carolina, and she talks about the field work involved in raising cotton, tobacco, corn, and peanuts. The fifth of eight children and the first daughter, she shares memories of going into town with her mother, of admiring her women teachers, and of attending North Carolina Central College (now University) for two years before moving to Washington, D.C., and working for the telephone company.
After recalling her two years in D.C. and 22 years in Los Angeles, California, she describes "running away" to Las Vegas, Nevada in the early 1990s. Here, at the History department at UNLV, she recalls learning to conduct oral histories. White shares memories of her first interviews with Hazel and Jimmy Gay and Lucille Bryant. She talks of matriculating to the College of William and Mary for her PhD and of returning to Bertie County to live with her mother and administer the office of The Shaw University Center for Alternative Programs in Education (CAPE). She describes how she was offered the position of OHRC founding director, why it matters that she was an "opportunity hire," and how it feels to be the only Black person in a room.
Oral history interview with Nathalie Martinez conducted by Rodrigo Vazquez and Barbara Tabach on June 24, 2021 for Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. Nathalie Martinez, one of the original members of the Latinx Voices project team, dicusses her personal history and the history of her parents who immigrated to the United States from Colombia and El Salvador. She shares her educational background and experiences working as an interviewer for the Latinx Voices project before its culmination and her graduation in 2021. Nathalie also talks about her work on the project's podcast and her work linguistically translating the interviews from Spanish to English.
Oral history interview with Roberta Kane conducted by Barbara Tabach on September 6, 2017 and May 22, 2018 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Kane explains how she was the first born Jewish baby in Las Vegas, Nevada and her parents’ deep involvement with the Jewish community of the 1930s. She then talks about the formalization that occurred in the Jewish community with the building of Temple Beth Sholom. In a second session, Kane recalls the Wildcat Lair, a gathering spot of students from Las Vegas High School in the 1950s.
Oral history interview with John Hardie Moss Jr. conducted by Phyllis Sherwin on February 22, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Moss discusses his career as a world-class poker player and professional gambler in Las Vegas, Nevada. Moss describes the intricacies of poker and gambling, gambling for high-stakes, and cheating in the gambling world.
Oral history interview with Stella Champo Iaconis conducted by Kay Long on May 14, 1997, May 21, 1997, May 26, 1997, and September 22, 1997 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. Iaconis opens her interviews discussing her difficult upbringing and life on a ranch in Las Vegas, Nevada with her dad in the 1910s and 1920s. Iaconis then describes her experiences as a waitress in Las Vegas. As the interviews continue, Iaconis discusses Block 16 and sex work, the Helldorado Days, and life in 1930s Las Vegas. Iaconis ends the interview talking about her father and his career as a miner; her many husbands; and her personal history in Las Vegas.
Oral history interview with Natalie Wolf conducted by Barbara Tabach on October 22, 2016 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Wolf shares stories of operating the Greyhound bus station, a three-year ownership of Commercial Deli, and her long career working collections for the casino industry. She discusses working for Tropicana Hotel and Casino, and MGM Properties, including the Mirage Hotel.
Oral history interview with Norma and Gil Schwartz conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee White on September 22, 2017, October 04, 2017, and February 14, 2018 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In the three interviews, the couple describes Gil’s leadership in the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB), properties that he’s built and developed, and purchasing blueprints of un(der)developed parcels in Las Vegas, Nevada on behalf of Howard Hughes's land agent, J. Herbert Nall.
Oral history interview with Maxine and Jack Cason conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on September 22, 1016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Jack discusses his early life in Oklahoma and arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1950. He recalls the formation of Saveway Super Service, Philips 66 service stations, the competition in the fuel industry, and the opening of the first Rebel service station. Jack talks about fuel terminals, fuel bulk plants, and becoming one of the largest fuel providers in southern Nevada. Later, Maxine and Jack talk about supporting local sports organizations. Lastly, Jack discusses his involvement in the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) Athletics Department, and being inducted into the UNLV Sports Hall of Fame.
Oral history interview with G. L. Vitto conducted by Phil Sabol on March 01, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Vitto discusses his personal history.