Oral history interview with Frank Hawkins conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on August 09, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Hawkins discusses growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada. He talks about his educational experience in Las Vegas, attending the University of Nevada, Reno, and playing in their football program. Hawkins recalls being drafted into the National Football League (NFL), playing for the Oakland Raiders (now Las Vegas Raiders), and the controversy behind the construction of Allegiant Stadium. Later, Hawkins talks about his career in construction, starting a construction company, and explains how he names the buildings he constructs. Lastly, Hawkins discusses the legalization of medical marijuana in Nevada, and becoming the first African American to own a dispensary in Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Nanyu (Nelson) Tomiyasu conducted by Samantha Kerwin on April 30, 1986 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Tomiyasu discuses life, changes, and politics in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tomiyasu also talks about the organizations he was a part of, including The Southern Nevada Landscaping Contractors Association, and The Southern Nevada Urban League. The interview concludes with Tomiyasu recalling the above ground atomic test, and World War II.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Judith Harrell conducted by Lois Goodall on November 19, 2013 for the West Charleston Neighborhoods: an Oral History Project of Ward 1. In this interview, Harrell discusses growing up in Fitzgerald, Georgia, later moving to Houston, Texas, and her high school experience in Houston. She describes moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1961, attending Nevada Southern University (now University of Nevada, Las Vegas), and teaching at E.W. Griffith Elementary School. Lastly, Harrell recalls moving to the Westside of Las Vegas, teaching at Paradise Elementary School, and recreational activities she participated in.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Merle Frehner conducted by Robert Laas on July 05, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Frehner discusses atomic testing, freighting, the "Arrowhead Trail", the Great Depression, and Boulder (Hoover) Dam in Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Iona Thompson conducted by Lisa C. Krueger on March 08, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Thompson discusses different aspects of life in Las Vegas, Nevada during World War II. Thompson describes the rationing of food and fuel, as well as the increased military presence in Las Vegas and how that affected the city. Thompson also describes how Las Vegas has changed since the 1940s, prominent locations in the city such as Lorenzi Park and McCarran Field, and pollution caused by the chemical and metal plants in Henderson, Nevada. Lastly, she talks about flight and bombing trainings in Las Vegas and working at the Las Vegas Army Gunnery School.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Harold Bradford conducted by Claytee D. White, Camille Morris, Anna Frederick, and Remy Chwae on April 24, 2017 and June 10, 2017 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In the first interview, Bradford discusses his early life in New Orleans, Louisiana. He recalls going through a segregated school system, and his experience with integration. Bradford remembers moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1985, his employment for the Young Electric Sign Company (YESCO), and becoming an art director for YESCO. In the second interview, Bradford discusses his initial interest in neon signs, and his work ethic as a visual artist.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Earl R. Sorom conducted by his son, Earl M. Sorom, on March 06, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Sorom discusses his personal history and Las Vegas, Nevada. Sorom describes his life before moving to Nevada to work at the Nevada Test Site, and later working there as a contractor for Reynolds Electrical and Engineering Co., Inc. (REECO). Sorom discusses his career in radiological health, nuclear tests that he was involved with, and radioactive decontamination of the Test Site. Sorom goes on to discuss his interest in gardening, his travels, and how Las Vegas has changed.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Tanya Olson conducted by Claytee D. White on July 6, 2018 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. In this interview, Olson recalls beginning October 2, 2017 to photograph scenes surrounding the aftermath of the shooting at the Route 91 Country Music Festival. Her efforts culminated in a film that highlights the Healing Garden, a memorial established after the shooting. It was dedicated on the first Friday of October 2017. Her 6-minute film, Forever In Our Hearts, is described as "Citizens unite to provide kindness and salve the wounds caused by the October 1, 2017 massacre during a Las Vegas country concert." The film was shown at the Nevada Women's Film Festival in 2018. Olson discusses beginning her latest endeavor, matriculating at the American Film Institute, a lifelong dream that she is pursuing after 23 years in the military, a film degree from University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), and completing her film project on one of the worst massacres in American history.
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Oral history interview with Kim Vilt conducted by Claytee D. White on January 12, 2010 for the Voices of the Historic John S. Park Neighborhood Oral History Project. Vilt discusses living in the John S. Park Neighborhood for ten years and her plans to stay there as long as she and her husband live in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Robert Maxson conducted by David Emerson on May 15, 2007 for the UNLV @ 50 Oral History Project. In this interview Robert Maxson, the president of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas from 1984 to 1994 discusses securing funding for an engineering school, facilitating its accreditation, and obtaining funding for an honors program.
Archival Collection