Oral history interview with Hal G. Curtis conducted by Bill Teepe on February 24, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Curtis talks first about his work on the Union Pacific Railroad before discussing changes and development in Las Vegas, Nevada, including development on the Strip and Downtown areas. He also talks about Block 16, the El Rancho Vegas fire, social clubs, and religion.
Oral history interviews with Patricia Iannuzzi conducted by Claytee D. White on March 6, 2018 and November 30, 2022 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In the first interview, Iannuzzi discusses her early interest in library sciences. She talks about her educational experience and becoming a reference librarian. Iannuzzi describes the development of resource repositories, education reform, and the evolution of the internet. Iannuzzi recalls the first online databases, electronic resources, and improving undergraduate education. Lastly, Iannuzzi discusses her employment at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the importance of information literacy. In the second interview, Iannuzzi discusses accomplishments from her time as Dean of UNLV University Libraries, particularly her role in the creation of the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV.
Oral history interview with Jane A. Bigelow conducted by Rebecca Shurley on November 05, 1985 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Bigelow discusses her experiences, mainly as a flight nurse and its unique challenges as well as her experiences in the intensive care unit during the Vietnam War. She provides details on her career progression from staff nurse to her then current position of chief nurse of the United States Air Force Hospital at Nellis Air Force Base. Bigelow also describes some of the educational requirements for becoming a nurse, as well as the demands of the nursing profession.
Oral history interview with Kay Dwyer conducted by Claytee D. White on August 16, 2000 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Dwyer discusses moving to Henderson, Nevada in 1942 when her father was hired by Basic Magnesium, Incorporated. She also discusses attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, formerly named Nevada Southern University, and having a career as a high school teacher in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Oral history interview with Richard D. Chase conducted by Helen Rondthaler on October 17, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Chase discusses the history of Las Vegas, Nevada from 1945, touching on topics such as the housing shortage during the 1940s, The Red Rooster swingers’ club, Billy Moore, Sam Larson, Ira Goldring, atomic bomb testing, and the Nevada environment. Chase discusses the importance of construction-based labor to the development of Southern Nevada. Chase also explains at length the impact of the Nevada Test Site on his construction company.
Oral history interview with Polly F. Lilly conducted by Connie L. Patterson on March 26, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project. In this interview, Lilly discusses a range of topics, from building a Catholic church in early Las Vegas, Nevada, to the nearby nuclear weapons tests. She also describes witnessing a confrontation between Senator Joseph McCarthy and Hank Greenspun on stage at the now demolished War Memorial Building in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Oral history interview with Albert Datke conducted by Joe Toscano on Octocber 2, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. He discusses atomic testing, economic and environmental changes, and getting to shake hands with President Eisenhower when he visited Las Vegas, Nevada. A Mormon and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Mr. Datke discussed having an active church and religious life, including serving as financial clerk and historian clerk for the church.
Oral history interview with Eva White conducted by Jan Hagan on August 02, 2001 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, White reflects upon her career as a teacher and administrator with Nevada’s Clark County School District (CCSD). She discusses her upbringing and the influence that her family had on her decision to become a teacher. She reflects upon her early experiences as a new teacher, working at a school near Nellis Air Force Base, and how she crafted her approach to education. She also discusses school integration, standardized testing, mentorships, and home-school learning gaps.
Oral history interview with John Cahlan conducted by James Weslowski on April 10, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Cahlan discusses his memory of the beginning of Nellis Air Force Base, originally named the Las Vegas Aerial Gunnery School for the Army Air Corps. He also discusses the role of the city commissioners in establishing Nellis as a permanent airbase, as well as the role of Western Air Express, a commercial air company which eventually became Western Airlines.
Oral history interview with Cathrine Abrigo conducted by Cecilia Winchell and Stefani Evans on July 20, 2022 for the Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Abrigo describes her early life in the Philippines, where she attended Catholic school and briefly studied medical technology in college. She describes immigrating to Las Vegas, Nevada with her husband and the difficulty of leaving her immediate family behind. She discusses working for the Cosmopolitan in 2011 and becoming deeply involved with the Culinary Workers Union Local 226. Throughout the interview, Abrigo talks about religion, food, and her activism with the Culinary Union.