Oral history interview with Valerie Chapman Eliot and Connie Pooley conducted by Su Kim Chung on January 30, 2013 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Eliot begins the interview by discussing her upbringing in England, her early dancing career in France in the Bluebell Girls dancing troupe, and working with Donn Arden. She continues, describing the other countries where she performed, including Argentina and Cuba, before eventually going to Las Vegas, Nevada during the 1960s to dance in productions at the Stardust Resort and Casino. She describes the life of a dancer, the differences between dancers and showgirls, and life in Las Vegas during the 1960s. Connie Pooley was also present for this interview.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mary C. Hurtado conducted by Angie DeLong and Sophie Romani on May 27, 2008 for the History of Blue Diamond Village in Nevada Oral History Project. Hurtado opens her interview by recalling her third grade year at the Arden School in Blue Diamond, Nevada. Hurtado describes her favorite teacher, Ruby Danny. She then describes other teachers at the school, her childhood in the 1920s in Blue Diamond, and community events such as gift giving during the Christmas season. She discusses how it was necessary for residents of Blue Diamond to visit Las Vegas, Nevada for supplies and healthcare. The interviewers and Hurtado then describe their favorite Blue Diamond residents. Lastly, Hurtado talks about the importance that all family members pitch in to survive in a rural area like Blue Diamond during the 1930s.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Billie Mae Polson conducted by Claytee D. White on November 01, 2011 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Polson begins the interview by discussing her upbringing during the Great Depression in Kansas City, Missouri before moving to Las Vegas, Nevada with her family in 1948. She describes what Las Vegas was like at that time and attending the University of Nevada, Reno during the 1950s. Polson then describes her career working for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas libraries, first in the early libraries located in the Frazier and Grant Halls, and later in the James R. Dickinson Library. She concludes by describing some of the history of the university, and how working in the library changed as technology advanced.
Archival Collection
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On March 2, 1980, collector David Mowrey interviewed Barbara Millington (born July 3rd, 1937 in Oak Creek, Colorado) at her home in Las Vegas, Nevada. In this interview, Mrs. Millington discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada with her family and working various jobs including at Vegas Village and becoming a bookkeeper at a construction firm. She also speaks about the changes she has seen in Las Vegas, such as how casinos were when she first came here compared to how they are now. She ends the interview talking about the need for Las Vegas to find industry outside of gaming. She discusses the need for young people to come back after going away to college to improve the city.
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On March 20, 1978, collector Danny Budak interviewed the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) bookstore buyer, Marie Jordan (born June 26th, 1940 in Arizona) in the UNLV library. This interview offers Marie Jordan’s personal perspective of life in Nevada, being a local resident for twenty years. Marie also discusses family life and changes that she has witnessed in the Valley.
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Ina Porter recalls the story of choosing to move to the John S. Park Neighborhood in the 1940s. She and her husband Burdell were accustom to paying cash for everything and needed to establish credit with Sears to purchase their $5000 home, which was not considered inexpensive. They were among the earlier homeowners and soon the neighborhood grew to include a Mormon Church that would become so integral to the Porter family's life and to the John S. Park community. Ina was born 1917 in the small southern Utah town of Kanab. She describes her youth and speaks of the Great Depression. Ina graduated from high school in 1935, married in 1936 and moved to Las Vegas, where there were jobs for her husband. Finding work after his graduation from college was not easy, but because he had been a bus driver he was able to secure a position driving a bus for the Union Pacific Railroad and later Greyhound Bus Line. Years later Ina, Burdell and their family were part of the fiber of the Joh
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