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On March 1, 1975, collector Judy L. Curtis interviewed fire department captain, Elmore B. Curtis (born December 17th, 1896 in Minnesota) in his home in Las Vegas, Nevada. This interview covers life in Southern Nevada since 1942, including Mr. Curtis’s personal history and the early development of the Nevada Test Site. During the interview Mr. Curtis also discusses early tourism and socio-economic progress in Southern Nevada.
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Oral history interview with Byron Thornton conducted by Kay Harris on October 27, 1986 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Thornton discusses his personal history and arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1931. Thornton then recalls working for the Las Vegas Gas Company and starting his own concrete business. Lastly, Thornton describes installing petroleum gas tanks and pipes inside of homes used for testing atomic bombs at the Nevada Test Site and recalls the destruction caused by the explosions.
Archival Collection
The government records series, from 1944 to 2004, include atomic testing schedules, detonation reports and ship's log books for Bikini Islands and Marshall Islands and detailed material on the Nevada Test Site (NTS) operations. The NTS information includes underground nuclear test census information from Reynolds Electric and Engineering Company (REECo), the main government contractor for the site. The NTS and general reports are comprised of fallout reactions to the environment and in ground personnel, contamination estimates, analysis of information, and legislative actions.
Archival Component
Oral history interview with Erick Spiess conducted by Thomas Barr on March 18, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Spiess discusses his personal history and how he came to Las Vegas, Nevada. Spiess describes how Las Vegas and its casinos have changed, construction projects he has worked on, and his interest in inventing. Spiess also discusses his career as the electrical inspector at the Nevada Test Site, how and why the nuclear tests were conducted, and the commercial applications of the tests. He goes on to talk about radiation and the effects of nuclear fallout.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Theda Grinnell conducted by Fletcher Corey on February 28, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Grinnell first talks about her move to Nevada and both her and her husband’s employment at the Nevada Test Site. She also talks about the atomic testing blasts, the United States' competition with Russia on nuclear technology, and her employment history. Grinnell later discusses her church membership and goes into detail about the race riots and how they involved and impacted her family. She ends the interview with a discussion of flash floods, the Culinary Workers Union, how World War II affected industry in Las Vegas industry, and the social changes in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Robert and Janice Spurlock conducted by Claytee D. White on June 17, 2010 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview Janice and Robert Spurlock discuss their individual histories in Las Vegas, Nevada. Janice talks about how her family moved to Las Vegas in the 1930s, going to school in Las Vegas, and the Helldorado Days. Robert discusses moving to Las Vegas in 1953, working in construction, and being accidentally exposed to radiation from the Nevada Test site.
Archival Collection