Oral history interview with Violet Tracht conducted by Joyce Moore on January 09, 2004 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Tracht discusses life in Southern Nevada during the 1920s to 1940s. Tracht describes living in Las Vegas, Nevada on the Westside and what the city was like before there was any major development on Fremont Street or the Las Vegas Strip. She also describes living in Boulder City, Nevada, and her husband's grocery store business. Tracht also talks about prominent stores in Las Vegas during the time, her family history, and their recreational activities.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with William Star conducted by Tony Morneau on September 15, 1973 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Star discusses moving from Brooklyn, New York to Henderson, Nevada in 1955. In 1959, Star moved from Henderson to Las Vegas, Nevada to run a family-owned pawn shop. Star goes into detail about atomic bomb testing, the growth of Las Vegas, and gambling.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mirna Preciado conducted by Claytee D. White on September 11, 2014 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Preciado discusses migrating from Mexico to Las Vegas, Nevada, being recruited into the Culinary Union Local 226, the Frontier Hotel Strike, and working 15 years as an organizer in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Vaughan O. Holt conducted by Lee LaVecchia on February 22, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Holt offers an overview on marriage and family life in Las Vegas, Nevada. He also discusses local transportation, education, and occupations. He also talks about pollution, tourism, railroads, and the development of the Las Vegas Strip.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Waldemar Jackson conducted by Claytee White on May 06, 2013 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. Jackson discusses topics such as working at McCarran Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada, drugs in the community, and the tragedy caused by them among generations. He also talks about the task of pulling lives back from the brink of succumbing to addiction.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Roger Pettersson conducted by David G. Schwartz on February 24, 2017 for the Slot Operations Oral History Project. Petterson discusses his background and his experiences in multiple positions for slot management. Pettersson also discusses the various slot operations in casinos such as the Bellagio Hotel and Casino, and the Mirage Hotel and Casino. He then describes what makes a good slot manager, what customers are looking for in slot machines, and how the slot industry has changed over the years, particularly with the use of free play.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Joy Rineer conducted by Claytee D. White on December 07, 2017 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. In this interview, Rineer discusses her upbringing in Las Vegas, Nevada. She describes her career as an architect, designing the Resilience Center for those affected by the 1 October shooting, and the city’s response to the shooting. Later, Rineer describes helping the grief-stricken city through architecture, establishing the Leadership Las Vegas program, and organizing blood drives. Lastly, Rineer discusses the changes in Las Vegas after the tragedy.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Melvin Green conducted by Robin Fults on November 28 and December 1, 2014 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Green talks about growing up in Bonita, Louisiana and his education through college. He then talks about working for an architectural firm in Connecticut before being recruited to join a firm in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1986. He relates numerous stories about his childhood, discusses problems with discrimination and segregation in the South, and an example of discrimination from a Las Vegas furniture store in the late 1980s. He expands on his views of religion, spirituality, and politics, the importance of travel, of hard work, and commitment. He also gives examples of architectural projects that he has created.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Norma Norman conducted by Dorthy Richardson-Martin on November 30, 2004 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Norman reflects upon her experience as an elementary school administrator in California’s Hayward Unified School District. She discusses her experience as a female African American teacher in the 1960s and 1970s, and how those experiences shaped her approach to school administration. She also discusses school district programs and policies, and how such programs impact different populations of students.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Russell K. Grater conducted by Dennis McBride on March 15 and 28, 1995 for the Boulder City Library Oral History Project. Grater opens his interview by discussing his upbringing on a farm in Indiana. Grater talks about his career with the National Park Service and how his mother's interest in birds guided his professional interests. He discusses the locations he has worked, including Grand Canyon National Park and Lake Mead Recreation Area. Grater describes his work classifying and studying plants. Lastly, Grater discusses his interactions with the Civilian Conservation Corps at Lake Mead.
Archival Collection