Oral history interview with Elbert Edwards conducted by Layne Covington on October 16, 1986 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Edwards first talks about his family background before talking about what it was like to live in Panaca, Nevada. Edwards later talks about his wife’s and his political involvement, and his involvement in education. He then discusses Hoover (Boulder) Dam, his job as a registrar in the Selective Service, and the effects that the World War II years had on Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Nadean L. Voss conducted by Laura Bell on March 03, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Voss discusses her personal history and the history of Boulder City, Nevada. Voss describes moving to Boulder City in 1933 and what life was like in the city. She also describes the construction of the Hoover Dam (Boulder Dam), visiting the growing Lake Mead, and how Boulder City has changed. Voss goes on to discuss her career working for the Bureau of Reclamation and desert wildlife.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Arne Rosencrantz conducted by Claytee D. White on February 09, 2010 for the Voices of the Historic John S. Park Neighborhood Oral History Project. Rosencrantz discusses living in the John S. Park Neighborhood from 1954 to 1970. He also talks about his father, a professional violinist who owned furniture stores and played at the Sahara Hotel and Casino. Rosencrantz then discusses his career as a business owner of Garrett's Furniture and a real estate agent.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Arthur Cummings conducted by Stefani Evans and Peyton McCord on April 26, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Cummings discusses his early life in Long Island, New York. He recalls his initial interest in real estate, moving to Las Vegas, Nevada to sell houses, and describes the real estate market during the mid-1990s. Cummings explains the importance of maintaining a good credit score, and the idea of financial preparedness as a way to avoid legal problems. Later, Cummings talks about obtaining a real estate license in Nevada, selling homes in Summerlin and the southwest portion of the Las Vegas Valley. Lastly, Cummings discusses building up clientele in the real estate industry.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ricki Barlow conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on July 12, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Barlow discusses his upbringing in Las Vegas, Nevada and growing up in the Westside. Barlow talks about his time as Councilman for Ward 5 in the City of Las Vegas, and lists what he accomplished from his campaign promises. He recalls his first projects as councilman, restoring the Westside School, and preserving historic buildings near downtown Las Vegas. Later, Barlow describes the issue of homelessness in Las Vegas, providing social services to people most in need, and improving the mental health system in Nevada. Lastly, Barlow discusses plans to redevelop Jackson Street and the Westside.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ron Smith conducted by Claytee D. White on May 10, 2022 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: A Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Ron Smith discusses his early life in Queens, New York and his Catholic school education. Smith served as a Red Cross volunteer at the hospital where his mother worked, and after one year at St. Johns University he volunteered for the Air Force to avoid being drafted by the Army. Soon after basic training and being trained as an aircraft mechanic, Ron Smith volunteered to go to Vietnam. Later, Smith talks about his experience owning seventeen McDonald's restaurants throughout Las Vegas, Nevada and future plans to construct a mall and residential complex on Boulder Highway in partnership with the City of Henderson.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Robert Bugbee conducted by John Lopez on March 16, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Bugbee discusses his move to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1953 and how both the population and housing have changed since then. Bugbee additionally speaks about the changes in infrastructure, including the building of roads and increased air travel. Throughout the interview, he mentions some of the various specific housing tracts that were built throughout Las Vegas. Bugbee also mentions topics such as the building of Hoover Dam, the first popular casinos in town, the Carole Lombard crash, and the MGM Grand fire. The interview finalizes with Bugbee’s thoughts on the future of Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Clay Lynch conducted by Linda M. Trust on June 28, 1973 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, Lynch discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada from Illinois in July 1955, his education at the University of Pittsburgh, Nevada social welfare programs, and Las Vegas, Nevada casino showrooms. Lynch also briefly discusses his work as a United States Army engineer training officer, as well as a transportation engineering consultant and contractor for his company, Lynch Brothers.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Krystal Ramirez conducted by Monserrath Hernández and Barbara Tabach on October 30, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project.
Krystal talks about her personal history growing up in Texas and spending summers with her family in Mexico. She shares her thoughts about how Las Vegas has changed and how she has contributed to the city's art scene as a staff photographer for Vegas Seven (a local magazine), the New York Times, and the Marjorie Barrick Museum.
Subjects discussed include: Texas; Chihuahua, Mexico; Latinx Identity; Vegas Seven; Beat Coffee House; Downtown Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Rachel Gibson conducted by Kay Long and Caryll Batt Dziedziak on August 25, 1998, September 01, 1998, September 14, 1998, and April 07, 1999 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. Gibson opens her interview discussing her family's migration history, living in Yerington, Nevada, and her immediate family. Gibson then describes her life in Tonopah, Nevada. She talks about education in the area, the social clubs, and recreation activities available. Gibson then discusses her elementary school teaching career and ends her interviews describing her family life and life in Las Vegas, Nevada in the 1940s and 1950s.
Archival Collection