Oral history interview with John Hirsch conducted by Shannon Morrison on March 20, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Hirsch discusses his personal history, experiences in Las Vegas, Nevada, and his thoughts on the types of changes the city went through since his move to the city in 1937.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Olga Zampini conducted by Kevin Williams on February 13, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Zampini discusses Las Vegas, Nevada history.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Kaku Makino and Masako "Julie" Ishitsuka conducted by Kristel Peralta, Vanessa Concepcion, Ayrton Yamaguchi, and Stefani Evans on March 22, 2021 for the Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Makino discusses his early life in Tokyo, Japan and becoming a chef. He recalls arriving to the United States in 1989, establishing the Todai (now Makino Sushi & Seafood Buffet) restaurant chain, and opening nineteen locations in California, Florida, and in Hawaii. Kano talks about her upbringing in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, Japan and describes Japan during the Meiji era. She remembers arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2000 and the cultural change she experienced. Lastly, Makino and Kano discuss the restaurant industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Oral history interview with Gwendolyn Woolley conducted by Jeffery M. Snell on March 09, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Woolley discusses early Nevada history along with her experiences with the development of Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Christian Giovanni conducted by Cecilia Winchell, Jerwin Tiu, and Stefani Evans on May 17, 2022 for the Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Giovanni describes her early life being born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. She discusses her mother, Oywan, who first worked for the casinos before turning her focus to community building. Throughout Oywan's life, she did everything from start the first temple in the city to the first Thai newspaper, Las Vegas News. Giovanni mentions having what she considers a normal childhood, especially because of her more Western appearance, and did not embrace her AAPI identity until much later in life after she started helping her mother with different organizations. Currently, Giovanni is involved in many organizations, from the AAPI County Commission to the Thai Culture Foundation.
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Oral history interview with Bess Hanson conducted by Debra Puepke on February 25, 1971 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project. In her interview Hanson discusses growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada and raising a family there.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Vivian Harwell conducted by Pamela Atkins on February 27, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In her interview Harwell discusses life in Las Vegas, Nevada. She also discusses gaming, atomic testing, and politics.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ellen L. (Lin) Hansen conducted by Terri Hansen on April 30, 1985 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In her interview Hansen discusses the effects of World War II, family history, environmental changes, and government in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Lily Teo conducted by Stefani Evans on February 7, 2022 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. Lily Teo discusses her upbringing in Singapore, her education, her religious beliefs, and converting from Buddhism to Catholicism. She talks about her husband, her early married years, and what life was like as a young mother of three children. Teo shares how she started a catering business to feed construction workers and was responsible for shopping for ingredients, preparing all meals and tea, and cooking the food on site in her temporary kitchen. She talks about her children, the faiths they practice and languages they speak including English, Malay, and Mandarin, and the customs and traditions they practice, such as celebrating Lunar New Year and other holidays. Lily's daughter, Stella, sits in on the interview and expands on her mother's recollections.
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Oral history interview with Elizabeth McKillip conducted by Dan Cassese on May 09, 1986 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, McKillip discusses changes in Las Vegas, Nevada. She specifically discusses growth, pollution, and the environment in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection