Oral history interview with Edythe Katz-Yarchever conducted by Claytee White on December 09, 2000, February 11, 2003, March 11, 2003, and December 06, 2005 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas History Project. In the interviews, Katz-Yarchever discusses her life in Las Vegas, Nevada, owning movie theaters with her husband, Lloyd Katz, and the strides they made in civil rights. She talks about her service in Civil Defense and the National Guard, moving to various places, and working in Los Angeles, California. She also discusses becoming involved in the community in various ways with Operation Independence and Holocaust education.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Juan Chacon conducted by Claytee White on August 28, 2012 for the African Americans in Las Vegas Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Chacon discusses his upbringing, early life in Mexico and the United States, his education, segregation, anti-communism, becoming a U. S. citizen, his military career, and his work in Las Vegas, Nevada since retirement.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Tyrone Levi conducted by Veomia Hopkins on an unknown date in the 1970s for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project. Levi discusses the segregation African Americans faced in the areas of housing, education, and employment in Las Vegas, Nevada. He also talks about being the Director of State and Equal Rights Commission and a member of the Congressional Fellowship Program. Levi lastly recalls the above ground atomic tests and how Las Vegas, Nevada changed throughout his lifetime.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Bren Armstrong conducted by an unknown collector on May 28, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. This interview covers local politics and local newspapers, such as
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ray Christian conducted by Russell Ellis on March 19, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Christian discusses race relations within schools, baseball teams, theatres, and Boy Scouts in Las Vegas, Nevada. He also talks about his custodial at the El Portal Theatre, the Las Vegas Westside neighborhood, and living through the Great Depression. Christian ends the interview discussing how white and black veterans helped improved race relations in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Elbert Edwards conducted by Ronald Johns in 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Edwards discusses his work in Las Vegas, Nevada public schools during the Great Depression. The two also discuss the Hoover (Boulder) Dam, Edwards’ involvement in politics, and mining in Nevada. He also talks about the development of Boulder City, Nevada, the early territorial boundaries of Nevada and Utah, the atomic testing at the Nevada Test Site, and early water sources in Southern Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Richard L. Stanley conducted by Duane Reid on March 13, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Stanley begins by discussing moving to Henderson, Nevada in 1945 while enlisted in the United States Navy, moving to Las Vegas, Nevada, and his history in law enforcement. Stanley talks about nuclear weapons tests, overall changes in Las Vegas, and the Old Mormon Fort. He concludes by describing the history of Nellis Air Force Base and McCarran International Airport.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Sonny Reizner conducted by Jack Painter on an unknown date between 1970 and 1985 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Reizner discusses his time working at the sports book for Castaways Hotel and Casino Bowling in Las Vegas, Nevada. Reizner goes into detail about writing and managing the sports books. Later, Reizner talks about sports betting, the process, and its growth. Finally, Reizner describes the culture of sports betting and the logistics of how to succeed in the field.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with James Matson conducted by Ken Rose on February 23, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, Matson discusses his early life in Pensacola, Florida and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada to work in resort and housing construction in 1952. Matson also discusses his family, his part-time work as a personal security guard, and the growth of Las Vegas. Lastly, he discusses African American racial discrimination and economic opportunities in Las Vegas in the 1950s to the 1980s.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Bernice Johnson conducted by Dan Buress on February 21, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Johnson discusses her personal history and her reasons for moving to Las Vegas, Nevada. Johnson describes moving between Southern California and Las Vegas while her husband worked for the railroad company. The interview concludes with Johnson recalling her memories of the Von Tobel family and the rapid population growth in Las Vegas after the construction of the Nevada Test Site.
Archival Collection