Oral history interviews with Michael Chin conducted by Jerwin Tiu, Cecilia Winchell, and Stefani Evans on December 20, 2022 for Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Chin describes growing up in a largely Americanized household. His paternal grandparents immigrated from China and owned a laundry shop that his father worked in as well. Chin discusses his education and his interest in creative writing, including editing the school newspaper and writing an a cappella blog with his friend while in college. After graduating, he worked at the John Hopkins Center for Talented Youth as a resident assistant before getting into a graduate program and obtaining his MFA.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Joan Johnson conducted by Kim Geary on March 25, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Johnson discusses her personal history and her reasons for originally moving to Las Vegas, Nevada. Johnson recalls early Las Vegas entertainment, as well as the development of businesses and their unions.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Donna Newsom conducted by Claytee D. White on June 11, 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Donna Newsom discusses working as a nurse in the southern United States, at a Girl Scout camp in Colorado, and at Southern Nevada Memorial Hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada. She also discusses working in real estate in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Willis Evans conducted by Kathleen Morgan La Spina on December 02, 1986 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Evans discusses arriving and living in Las Vegas, Nevada. Evans also discusses being involved in the civic organization, District Attorney Youth Advisory Group. The interview concludes with a discussion of Boulder (Hoover) Dam, and changes in Las Vegas’ economy, politics, and environment.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Carole Rae conducted by Claytee D. White on March 6, 2007 for the UNLV @ 50 Oral History Project. In this interview, Rae mainly discusses her accomplishment of founding the dance department at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). She begins the interview by discussing her earlier years, and mentions that one of her main hobbies was sewing and not dancing. She also states that she was not an art major during her undergraduate years and was surprised when dance eventually became her career. Rae explains how she became a dance instructor and describes her specializations in different forms of dance, such as Spanish dance and ballet.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Elsie Whipple conducted by Hugo A. Cascos Jr. on March 22, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Whipple discusses Southern Nevada history and recalls the construction of Boulder (Hoover) Dam. Whipple also recalls the first hotels and casinos to open on the Las Vegas, Nevada Strip, and her work as a missionary with the Mormon Church.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Hubert Sampley conducted by Karen Franke on February 24, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Sampley discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1950. Sampley details his career at an oil refinery, farm, as well as his career in the U.S. Air Force. Sampley also describes the gaming industry.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Frederica Lionel conducted by Gina Ballestrasse on February 27, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Lionel moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in May 1954 to divorce her husband and marry her attorney. She discusses her local neighborhood, the social clubs she was associated with, and the cost of living in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Nancy Brune conducted by Monserrath Hernandez and Rodrigo Vazquez on August 21, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Brune recalls her childhood and her experiences growing up in Austin and San Antonio, Texas to a Mexican-American father and British mother. She often identifies herself as tejana. Brune has lived in Las Vegas, Nevada since 2007 and is the Executive Director of the Kenny Guinn Center for Policy Priorities. Brune is a graduate of Harvard and has a doctoral degree from Yale University. She and her husband, Richard Boulware, who is a born and raised Las Vegan, have three children.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Howard E. Nielsen conducted by Adina Elison on March 29, 2003 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Nielsen reflects upon his experience as a teacher and administrator in Utah and Arizona during the 1970s and 1980s. He describes his upbringing and the process by which he became a teacher, principal, and assistant to the superintendent following military service. He describes his approach to teaching and educational leadership, his regular responsibilities, and experience working across grade levels simultaneously.
Archival Collection