Oral history interview with Hildred Meidell conducted by Greg Abbott on February 27, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Meidell covers a range of topics about living in Las Vegas, Nevada, from her and her husband’s time as tourists in the city and their subsequent retirement to Las Vegas from Los Angeles, California. Meidell describes the Las Vegas Strip, the interstate and highway conditions between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, as well as their numerous visits to Hoover Dam (Boulder Dam). Moreover, she speaks about the changing layout of the city, the increase in shopping centers and department stores, and the clothing stores inside of hotels. Lastly, Meidell talks about the prominence of churches in local communities, the atomic testing program and the structural damages these tests caused in her neighborhood, and the influence of the railroad and passenger train on the town.
Archival Collection
Archival Component
Oral history interview with Brenda Arnold conducted by Janet E. Prince on February 28, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Arnold discusses her career as a librarian, her religious activities in Las Vegas, Nevada, and viewing the above-ground atomic testing. She also recounts activities she did while visiting Lake Mead and Harris Springs at Mount Charleston.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jacqueline Barker conducted by Claytee D. White on February 14, 2013 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Barker discusses her upbringing in Las Vegas, Nevada and growing up in the Westside. She talks about the importance of the church in the Westside and the significance of education in her family. Barker remembers her father’s involvement with school integration in Las Vegas, the sixth grade centers, and the racism she experienced while attending the University of Nevada, Reno during the 1970s. Later, Barker compares her experience in higher education to that of her mother’s, and the race riots in 1969. Lastly, Barker discusses the history of African Americans in unions, her career in education, and the social and psychological impacts that African Americans faced in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jerry Roth conducted by Claytee D. White on June 29, 2010 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Roth begins by describing his early life and education, then explains how he began his later career in commercial real estate. He details his work as a commercial realtor, preparing lots for shopping centers and grocery stores in California and later in Las Vegas, Nevada. Roth then discusses his work as a boxing judge, judging multiple title fights in Las Vegas and around the world. Roth describes some of the fights he has judged, such as Oscar De La Hoya versus Félix Trinidad and Mike Tyson versus Evander Holyfield.
Archival Collection
Rotary scholarship winners with Dave Wells (center), President of Las Vegas Rotary Club. L-R: Rebecca Marzan, Valley High School; Linda Magnus, Gorman High School; Wells; Becky Tilley, Chaparral High; James Deakin, Las Vegas High School.
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Oral history interview with Raymond Rawson conducted by Claytee D. White on October 30, 2009 and November 13, 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview Raymond Rawson discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada at the age of ten in 1950. He also discusses his educational background, including the fact that he was a member of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas' first graduating class. He also talks about growing up in Las Vegas, his professional accomplishments, advocating for the creation of the UNLV School of Dental Medicine, and about being a community leader.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Leo Dunbar conducted by Connie Degernes and Helen Littleton on February 24, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Dunbar discusses the construction of Boulder (Hoover) Dam.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Melville Smith conducted by Karl Kuopus on February 17, 1977 and February 23, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Smith describes his career working for the City of Las Vegas, Nevada in the Planning and Development Department. Smith discusses city planning, how Las Vegas has changed, and housing in the city. Smith also talks about nuclear weapons tests, his children, and why he moved to Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jinetta Daniels conducted by Rani Dunn on November 30, 2014 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Daniels talks about her upbringing in Mississippi and traveling to Las Vegas, Nevada by bus in 1962. She continues discussing her work as a maid at the Dunes Hotel, her membership in the Victory Baptist Church, and comments on various church and community leaders in the Westside. She also mentions her concerns about the closure of F Street in 2008 and her hopes for the revitalization of the Westside community.
Archival Collection