Oral history interview with Helen Smith conducted by Claytee D. White on February 20, 2007 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Smith discusses her personal history and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1956. She then talks about her employment at Southern Nevada Memorial Hospital and the change to University Medical Center (UMC). Smith recalls an air conditioning business she co-owned with her husband at the time, and the activities she did as a member of Daughters of the Nile, a women's community service organization. Lastly, she discusses education and the general changes in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with J.T. Thomas conducted by Samuel Greene on February 13, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Thomas discusses his arrival to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1913 in search of job opportunities. Thomas also describes the development of Las Vegas, specifically the increase of hotels and casinos. Thomas then discusses segregation in schools and explains that African Americans were only allowed to live on the West Side of Las Vegas. Thomas later recalls downtown Las Vegas and changes in the state's educational curriculum.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ron M. Portaro conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on July 27, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. Portaro speaks about Built-Rite Construction, moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1993, and meeting notable Las Vegas men such as Pastor Paul Goulet Arnie Adamsen, and Charlie Kajkowski. Potaro also discusses how these experiences enabled him to benefit his church, his family, and his adopted community.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Charles M. Kellog conducted by unidentified interviewer on October 03, 1973 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Kellog discusses how he first entered into the gambling business and his occupational history in Las Vegas, Nevada. He also describes the different places that he and his wife had lived and his intentions to begin the University of Nevada, Las Vegas’ first inter-collegiate soccer team.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Tom Warden conducted by Claytee D. White on September 29, 2015 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project.. In this interview, Warden discusses his early life in Allen Park, Michigan. He talks about the history of the Summerlin residential community in Clark County, Nevada, the construction of Summerlin Parkway, and the development of infrastructure in that area. Warden describes the planning that goes into creating communities, and describes what the “Summerlin lifestyle” means. Later, Warden talks about the development of Downtown Summerlin, the schools in Summerlin, and serving on the School Community Partnership Council. Lastly, Warden discusses future goals of the Howard Hughes Corporation.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Aquiles Garcia conducted by Claytee D. White on January 10 and February 20, 2015 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Garcia discusses the political atmosphere and risks of being gay in Juan Perón’s Argentina in the 1940s, Las Vegas, Nevada life in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and his dual Las Vegas careers as a dancer and a casino dealer throughout the second half of the twentieth century.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Prince Spencer conducted by Claytee White on January 09, 2005 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. Spencer discusses his career as a dancer in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Sands Hotel and Flamingo Hotel. He also talks about his activity in the Civil Rights Movement, work as a casino host, and participation in the Second Baptist Church in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Verilee Shelbourne conducted by Mark Simons on March 07, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Shelbourne discusses her personal history in Las Vegas, Nevada. Shelbourne discusses prominent figures who have visited Las Vegas, her personal and political involvements, and nuclear weapons tests. Shelbourne also discusses how Las Vegas has changed.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mary Sparrow conducted by Robert Tolbert on March 20, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Sparrow discusses her career as a telephone operator and the history of Las Vegas, Nevada. Sparrow describes her duties as an operator before the advent of the dial system, the growth of Las Vegas, and life in the city during the 1950s.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Pete Berger conducted by David Schwartz on June 14, 2019 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Pete Berger discusses arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1955 after serving in the United States Air Force in California. He talks about his career working as a pit boss at over a dozen Las Vegas casinos , other positions he held, and the people he met throughout his career.
Archival Collection