Oral history interview with Ricardo Jimenez conducted by Andres Moses on September 18, 2005 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Jimenez discusses his personal history growing up in Los Angeles, California. He recalls visiting Las Vegas, Nevada in 1972 and describes the Las Vegas Strip at the time. Jimenez discusses his move to Las Vegas and living on the East Side during the late 1970s. Lastly, Jimenez recalls his education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, starting his own business, and entering the landscaping industry.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ida Perkins conducted by Alexa Sweeny on November 25, 2014 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Perkins discusses her personal history growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada. Perkins talks about recreational activities she participated in, being involved in church, and living in the Windsor Park housing area in North Las Vegas. She then recalls her educational experience in Las Vegas, being involved in school sports, and West Las Vegas housing. Later, Perkins describes businesses on the Westside, attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and playing on the women’s basketball team, the Lady Rebels. Lastly, Perkins discusses her contributions in forming the Foxy Ladies Organization, and also changes in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
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 James Sparrow conducted by Lonnie McDonald on March 09, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Sparrow discusses his personal history and the history of Las Vegas, Nevada. Sparrow discusses life in early Las Vegas, how Las Vegas has changed, and the development of the Strip. Sparrow also discusses race relations in Las Vegas and the establishment of the Nevada Test Site.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mark Fine conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on September 28, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Fine discusses his upbringing in Cleveland, Ohio and initial interest in real estate. He recalls moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1997, his role in the development of Green Valley and Summerlin communities, and his idea that the link between volume of home sales and economics would increase the pace of development. He describes methods of building a sense of quality of life into his planned communities, building libraries, and the importance of accessibility. Lastly, Fine discusses his next projects, and reflects on the growth of Green Valley and Summerlin.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Charles H. Finks conducted by Mildred Walker on March 04, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Finks discusses his life in West Las Vegas, Nevada. Finks also discusses the difficulties in finding a job as an African American, and the ways that African Americans had to present themselves while working in hotel or casinos on the Las Vegas, Nevada Strip.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jean Jenkins conducted by Claytee D. White on August 07, 2014 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Jenkins discusses her career in real estate and starting her own real estate business in Las Vegas, Nevada. Jenkins describes the methods involved with selling real estate, working in Las Vegas during the late 1960s, and advertising properties in newspapers. She discusses her contributions to changing commission policies for brokers and how this would eventually help the Board of Realtors in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Muriel Parks conducted by Richard Lloyd Pipkins on May 18, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Parks discusses the history of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and her career working for the university as Director of Admissions and Records. Parks discusses the expansion of the campus and the growing number of students and degrees available currently compared to what was available when UNLV was first established.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Micheal Reese conducted by Helen Nader on February 27, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Reese discusses his career as a teacher and how the school system has changed in Las Vegas, Nevada over time.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Marie Schamaun conducted by Elie Elias on February 21, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Schamaun discusses her personal history and the history of Las Vegas, Nevada. Schamaun discusses being a member of the first Methodist church in Las Vegas and her involvement with an auxiliary of the Optimist Club which helped young girls. Schamaun describes how Las Vegas and its casinos have changed since she first moved to the city in 1947, and how the city has changed socially. Schamaun also discusses nuclear weapons tests, youth centers in Las Vegas, and the important role the youth centers have in the city.
Archival Collection