Oral history interview with Dayvid Figler conducted by Barbara Tabach on June 22, 2016 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Figler discusses his youth, his bar mitzvah at Temple Beth Sholom, and path to a career as a criminal defense attorney. He also talks about embracing Las Vegas, Nevada as his home, owning a home in the John S. Park neighborhood, and mentions a number of literary depictions of Las Vegas that he admires.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Sherril and Samuel Coleman conducted by Claytee White on February 12 and 22, 2016 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In these interviews, Sherrill and Samuel Coleman discuss experiencing violence against African Americans in Durant, Mississippi, and discuss moving to Las Vegas, Nevada during the 1990s. The Colemans later describe their contributions with the African American community and recall the poor working conditions for African Americans in Las Vegas and throughout the United States. The two then discuss social class, American Federation of Labor (AFL-CIO), and their involvement with religious organizations.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ivory H. Blue II conducted by John Grygo on 2013 February 22 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: A Collaborative Oral History Project. This oral history documents the early life of Ivory H. Blue II in Las Vegas, Nevada while growing up in the Westside projects. He also discusses his college years in the 1990s at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Richard Schlegel conducted by Dennis McBride on June 03, 2006 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In this interview, Schlegel discusses his involvement with Equal Rights Nevada (ERN) and the petition to amend the Nevada Constitution that prevented same-sex marriages in the early 2000s. He talks about the approach that ERN took to campaign against the petition and the role that the Coalition for the Protection of Marriage had at the time. Schlegel then describes the Marriage Protection Pledge, his experiences managing a campaign supporting marriage rights for gay couples, and explains how the outcome of the petition affected the Las Vegas, Nevada gay community.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with D. D. (Ethel Dolores) Cotton conducted by Claytee White on February 14, 1997 and March 21, 1997 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. In this interview, Cotton discusses the beginnings of her dance career in New York City, New York. Later in the interview, Cotton discusses working in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Cotton Club and her interactions with other African American entertainers. Cotton also discusses race relations and her experiences as an African American dancer in Las Vegas. Cotton later goes on to discuss her career change in the service industry.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Richard Ham conducted by Dennis McBride on January 18, 2002 for the Las Vegas Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In this interview, Ham discusses the assault of Nevada Supreme Court Justice Frank McNamee in 1965. Ham describes being accused by McNamee of being a communist, McNamee's sexuality, and how McNamee was able to succeed politically despite being a gay man. He continues, discussing the history of the trial following McNamee's assault, and also describes other aspects of Nevada's political history during that time. Ham concludes by discussing being gay and some of his sexual experiences with men.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Judy Corbisiero conducted by Dennis McBride on September 05, 2003; and April 21, July 02, and December 10, 2004 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In the interviews, Corbisiero recalls her early childhood in New York City, New York, coming out in the late 1970s, and meeting her then-partner, Janice Summers. She describes forming Summercor, Incorporated (a portmanteau of their last names) with Summers to produce women musicians, with a focus on lesbian artists, while living in New York. Corbisiero also talks about musicians she worked with, running political fundraisers during music events, and meeting her next partner, Gudrun Fonfa. She then explains moving to Las Vegas, Nevada with Fonfa in 1983 to promote women's music and culture in Las Vegas and throughout the West Coast.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with J. A. Tiberti conducted by Claytee D. White on August 17, 2000 and August 24, 2000 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Tiberti begins by discussing his family history and his upbringing in the mining town of Morley, Colorado, and later in Detroit, Michigan. He describes moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1941, where he worked for the United States Corps of Engineers on the construction of Nellis Air Force Base and later established his construction company, J. A. Tiberti Construction Company. Tiberti talks about being a member of the City of Las Vegas Planning Commission, the duties and responsibilities that came with being on the Planning Commission, and describes how a construction company is run. He also discusses his wife, children, and how Las Vegas has changed and grown since the 1940s.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Will Provance conducted by David Schwartz on July 14, 2016 for the Slot Operations Oral History Project. Provance discusses his various roles in the gaming industry the difference between managing slot machines in his earlier positions and video lottery terminals (VLTs) in his current position in Ohio. He also discusses what he believes makes a good slot floor and how slot operations has changed since he started in the industry.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with D. L. Newell conducted by Paula Sue Curry on February 26, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Newell describes life in Henderson, Nevada during the 1950s and how the city has changed. Newell discusses the companies that established chemical and metal plants in Henderson, how the growth of Las Vegas, Nevada affected Henderson, and the history of gambling in Southern Nevada. He also talks about mining, medical care available in Henderson, local celebrations, and pollution caused by chemical and metal plants.
Archival Collection