Oral history interview with Sally Harviel and Judy MacMillan conducted by Claytee D. White on July 21, 2016 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In the first part of the interview, Harviel discusses her early life moving around the United States, her marriages, and moving to Henderson, Nevada in 1990. She recalls being a founding member of the Desert Newcomers Club, a non-profit social organization for women living in Henderson and Boulder City, Nevada. She also describes events the Desert Newcomers Club held within the Las Vegas, Nevada community throughout the years. In the second part of the interview, MacMillan recalls her early life in California, moving to Las Vegas sometime after her marriage, and her work as a Desert Newcomers Club board member. Lastly, Harviel and MacMillan discuss the Las Vegas community's interest in community projects and women's societies of which they belonged.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Nancy Norris conducted by Elizabeth Schwartz on March 11, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Norris discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada where her husband was working for the railroad company. Norris also discusses nursing and what Las Vegas was like during wartime. Lastly, Norris discusses the growth and development of casinos in the city.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Theresa Page conducted by Michael Hamelmann on March 01, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Page discusses her early life in Las Vegas, Nevada. Later, Page discusses the atomic bomb testing and the possible economic benefits it had on Las Vegas. Lastly, Page discusses the reasons people have had for moving to Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Eva D. Peterson conducted by James Greene on November 30, 1974 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Peterson discusses her life in Nelson, Nevada. Peterson talks about her family life and describes her career as an educator. Finally, Nelson mentions moving to other cities in Nevada such as Searchlight, Las Vegas, and Boulder City.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Wilfred Voss conducted by Ann Chetelat on March 02, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Voss discusses his personal history and employment experiences. He goes on to describe his employment at the Hoover Dam (Boulder Dam) as a laborer and recalls the construction process. Voss then discusses his involvement with the Masonic Lodge in Boulder City, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Alfred J. Brimacombe conducted by Stephen S. Neal on July 02, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Brimacombe shares his personal history and recalls working as a train hostler. He later discusses his involvement in newspaper printing. Brimacombe lastly discusses politics, early-above ground atomic tests, and economic changes throughout Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Harry Myers conducted by Dan D’Amico on February 26, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Myers discusses arriving in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1942 to work at the Basic Magnesium Plant. Myers then discusses the increase in gambling and development of casinos on the Las Vegas Strip. Myers later describes the social changes throughout Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ward Lindquist conducted by Martin A. Judd on February 28, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, Lindquist discusses his work as a bartender, maritime pilot, and sheet metal worker in Southern Nevada. He also discusses his early life in South Dakota, family, and his various occupations prior to arriving in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1946.
Archival Collection
Rabbi Bradley Tecktiel was born June 28, 1968 in Chicago, Illinois. He moved to New York City to attend university, where he received two Bachelor of Arts degrees: one from List College and one from Columbia University. He went on to achieve a Master?s degree from the Jewish Theological Seminary. Soon after graduating in 1996, Rabbi Tecktiel accepted his first clergy position in New Rochelle, New York. From there he went on to lead a congregation in Louisville, Kentucky, before eventually moving to Las Vegas to become the spiritual leader of Midbar Kodesh Temple in 2008. In this interview, Rabbi Tecktiel discusses the path that eventually brought him, his wife, Susan, and their three children to Las Vegas. He talks about his passion for developing Jewish community engagement and programming, and specifically about Midbar Kodesh Temple initiatives, including Yom HaShoah and educational programming. In addition, Rabbi Tecktiel reflects upon the growth of the Jewish community, both those affiliated and unaffiliated, and the impact of Jews on Las Vegas?, as well as Nevada?s, development.
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In 1961, at the age of thirteen, Gerald ?Jerry? Gordon became a bar mitzvah. This typical coming of age celebration was unusual in that he had simultaneously studied in both his home state of California and his adopted home of Las Vegas, where he spent summers with his grandparents. 1961 is also the same year that the Gordons made Las Vegas their permanent home. Jerry graduated from Las Vegas High School, attended University of Nevada, Las Vegas and earned his law degree from University of California, Los Angeles. His gregarious and trustworthy personality led him to career building steps in the legal community of Las Vegas that included illustrious names such as Louis Wiener, Jr., David Goldwater, Neil Galatz, and many others. His personal law specialty became bankruptcy, especially dealings with hotel/casinos. As a member of the Jewish community, Jerry?s energy and expertise to organize was instrumental in the construction of Congregation Ner Tamid, the reform synagogue, at its site on Valle Verde and I-215. It was a multi-year process and includes a vast array of stories?a cash donation from Moe Dalitz, finalization of receiving of a donation land from the Greenspun family during the High Holy Days, and the ongoing challenges of a building campaign during a recession. In addition, he explains that CNT included two unique negotiations: 1) a cell tower and 2) a solar field on the synagogue?s property. Jerry and his wife Yvonne met while attending UNLV. Yvonne taught math at various levels in the Clark County School District. They raised their two children, Sara and Jeffrey, in Las Vegas, and forged an important role together in Congregation Ner Tamid. In April 2017, they were among those honored for their work with the synagogue.
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