Oral history interview with William Rehn conducted by Melissa Valentine on February 15, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Rehn discusses how he believes people have changed in Las Vegas, Nevada since he moved there in 1939. Rehn bemoans how African Americans were treated and segregated in Las Vegas, and describes his career as a political cartoonist. He describes clubs in Las Vegas and their connection to organized crime, as well as the inner workings of the casinos and their relation to the economy.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Frederica Lionel conducted by Gina Ballestrasse on February 27, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Lionel moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in May 1954 to divorce her husband and marry her attorney. She discusses her local neighborhood, the social clubs she was associated with, and the cost of living in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Eva G. Simmons conducted by Claytee D. White on February 04, 2013 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. Simmons discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada with her husband, and what she and her husband, George, faced in attaining employment. Simmons speaks about being appointed assistant personnel manager under Superintendent Claude Perkins and the beginning of the scholarship-granting organization,
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Dick Sheridan conducted by Mike McGuire on March 18, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Sheridan discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1945. Sheridan discusses the growth of the city as well as the development of multiple hotels and casinos. Sheridan also discusses gambling and the gaming industry.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ruby Thomas conducted by Craig Hawkins on October 05, 1973 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Thomas discusses her career as a teacher in Las Vegas, Nevada and being member of the Retired Teachers Association. She then describes social and environmental changes, and the construction of Hoover Dam (Boulder Dam). Lastly, Thomas recalls the population growth and casino development in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Do Stiver conducted by Irene Arambula on March 17, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Stiver discusses arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1946 with her husband and recalls their involvement in numerous businesses. She then describes the Huntridge neighborhood and its development. Stiver later recalls the pollution emitted from the factories and the increase of smog in Henderson, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Alice Doolittle conducted by Christopher Moran on March 21, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Alice Doolittle discusses why she moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, working as a dental assistant, her move to Boulder City, Nevada, the first theaters in Las Vegas, the Union Pacific Railroad, and the Doolittle Center.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Howard Warner conducted by Virginia Lacouture on July 04, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Warner discusses arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada as a special agent with the intelligence division of the United States Department of the Treasury. Warner then describes the expansion of businesses as the population increased in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Samuel E. Wright conducted by Claytee D. White on October 08, 2010 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Wright discusses Stokely Carmichael, the black power philosophy, and his remorse in the Washington riots. Wright also discusses job opportunities in Las Vegas, Nevada and the lack of commissioner support to build a public mass transit system. Wright then shares stories about the Westside neighborhood and other black neighborhoods of the 1980s. He talks about the closing of F Street and resulting protests in 2008 and 2009, and the creation of Symphony Park.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Russel Howard conducted by James W. Howard on January 10, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Howard recalls being transferred to Las Vegas, Nevada for work in 1947 and how impressed he was by the number of celebrities from the movie and entertainment industry that frequented Las Vegas in the early 1950s. He also discusses the expansion of the Las Vegas Strip and how rapidly the number of hotels grew.
Archival Collection