Oral history interview with John Boyle conducted by Meghan Boyle on March 14, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Boyle discusses the changes in air travel over the years and his profession as a pilot. He also discuss improvements in Las Vegas, Nevada roads over the years, the rise in crime rates, and the impacts on changes in the economy.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ida Webb conducted by Claytee D. White on February 29, 1996 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Webb discusses her childhood in the American South. She discusses her family's move from Tallulah, Louisiana to McNary, Arizona, and then their migration to Las Vegas, Nevada. Webb shares her experiences as a young African American mother in Las Vegas in the 1940s and the things her and her husband did to provide for their family. She shares her views on her marriage and her views on African American culture of the time. Webb discusses her husband's civic involvement and his job at the Las Vegas Sun newspaper. She details her experiences working in the hospitality industry for such early casinos as the El Rancho Hotel & Casino, The Flamingo Hotel & Casino, and the Last Frontier Hotel & Casino. She shares her own civic involvements and her participation in the Culinary Workers Union Local 226.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Elbert Edwards conducted by Ronald Johns in 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Edwards discusses his work in Las Vegas, Nevada public schools during the Great Depression. The two also discuss the Hoover (Boulder) Dam, Edwards’ involvement in politics, and mining in Nevada. He also talks about the development of Boulder City, Nevada, the early territorial boundaries of Nevada and Utah, the atomic testing at the Nevada Test Site, and early water sources in Southern Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Alice Brown conducted by Claytee White on October 19th, 2005 for the UNLV @ 50 Oral History Project. In this interview Alice speaks about how her husband took a job at a titanium plant, so their family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada and she began working at the University of Southern Regional Division (now University of Nevada, Las Vegas). She gives detailed memories of the university campus, library, faculty, and staff from the 1960s era.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Bruce Woodbury conducted by Claytee D. White on February 25, 2009 for the Voices of the Historic John S. Park Neighborhood Oral History Project. In this interview, Woodbury discusses his personal history in Las Vegas, Nevada and his experiences living in the John S. Park neighborhood since the 1940s. He describes the homes in that area and the relationship that the neighborhood has to the Las Vegas Strip. Later, Woodbury discusses participating in the Helldorado Parade and talks of its significance to the city. He then recalls Fremont Street and the development of the Las Vegas Strip. Lastly, Woodbury discusses his career as a lawyer and politician, as well as his appointment to the Clark County Commission in 1980.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Sue and Leo Borns conducted by Claytee D. White on March 21, 2014 for the West Charleston Neighborhoods--an Oral History Project. Leo Borns discusses working for various architectural firms before developing his own identity as an architect and designing buildings for state public works. Borns and his wife, Sue, then discusses buying a house on Strong Drive in the McNeil Estates Neighborhood, and being active in social and philanthropic organizations, including the development of the Kiwanis Water Conservation Park.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Elbert Edwards conducted by Roger Armstrong on June 30, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Edwards discusses his life in Panaca and Lincoln County, Nevada. He also talks about Native Americans, Mormonism, and Meadow Valley, Nevada. He discusses the Bennett-Arcan Party, a Death Valley party involved with the 1840s’ gold rushes, and its members.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Janet Kravenko conducted by Bridget Kelly on August 07, 2002 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. Kravenko opens her interview by discussing the importance of dance to her family, and her early interest in becoming a member of the Bluebell Girls dance troupe. She describes the rules of touring as a Bluebell Girl and her experiences traveling the world for two years. She then discusses her first contract in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Lido de Paris show. She describes the daily life of a Bluebell Girl, and where they rehearsed and performed. Kravenko then talks about being a young performer in Las Vegas and the challenges of finding work. She also describes some of the famous people she worked with including Zsa Zsa Gabor and Major Riddle. Lastly, Kravenko discusses how her dance career changed after she became a mother.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Wilma Cooper conducted by Sara G. Finklea on February 27, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Cooper discusses her life in Boulder City and Henderson, Nevada from 1936 to 1977.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Lynnette Sawyer conducted by Nathalie Martinez on January 03, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. Barbara Tabach and Laurents Bañuelos-Benitez also participate in the questioning. Lynnette Sawyer identifies as a Puerto Rican woman born and raised in Spanish Harlem in New York. Her ancestry extends from Spain to Africa and has helped her identity, as she became an educator and museum curator. She describes her life in New York and her journey to Las Vegas. As the founder of the Hispanic Museum of Nevada, she wanted to create a space that would teach young Latinos about their history and heritage.
Archival Collection