Oral history interview with Miguel Villarba conducted by David Islas on December 6, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
In this interview, Miguel Villarba shares his family's history growing up in Manila, Philippines and immigrating to the United States in 2016. He talks about first living in Chattanooga, Tennessee before moving to Las Vegas, Nevada to be near family when Miguel was in high school. Miguel Villarba shares stories of his grandfather's farm in Pangasinan, Philippines, the differences in city and town life across Manila, Chattanooga, and Las Vegas, and his educational plans. He also talks about Filipino culture and traditions, and racial discrimination.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Al McDaniels conducted by Rodney Goosby on February 28, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. McDaniels discusses his personal history and his education at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). McDaniels later discusses the significance that sports had throughout his life and his job as a sports coach at UNLV. McDaniel then recalls the changes in social structure throughout Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Keith Brantley conducted by Denise Beverstein on October 15, 2015 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Brantley discusses his personal history and his experiences growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada. He talks about attending Bonanza High School, being involved in school sports, and establishing The Poet’s Corner, a monthly poetry forum, in the late 1990s. Brantley describes what The Poet’s Corner provided for the community, the history of racism in Las Vegas, and discusses the African American experience as the city changed. Lastly, Brantley recites one of his poems,
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Maurine Swarts conducted by Teresa McGhie on May 01, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Swarts discusses her personal history and Southern Nevada history. Swarts discusses the crash of Carole Lombard's plane, above ground nuclear tests, and her recreational interests. Swarts also describes how Las Vegas, Nevada has changed.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Robert W. Adams conducted by Marta Plansville on March 11, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Adams discusses early housing in Las Vegas, Nevada, his father working at the Last Frontier Hotel, and becoming Mormon after his marriage in 1964.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Janet Savalli conducted by Irene Rostine on September 21, 1996 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. Savalli begins her interview by discussing her move to Las Vegas, Nevada as a child in 1945. Savalli then goes on to discuss her 46 year long career at the Southern Nevada Telephone Company. She describes rising through the company starting as an operator and ending as a community relations coordinator. Savalli discusses the company's merger with Sprint and the changes this brought about including the creation of a union and wage and benefits changes. Savalli ends her interview by talking about atomic testing, and how the testing grew to be a part of Las Vegas culture at the time.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jerry Waldrop conducted by Harry Ward on February 23, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Waldrop discusses arriving in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1944 as an instructor for the Las Vegas Army Air Corps Gunnery School (now Nellis Air Force Base). Waldrop also describes the increase of hotels and casinos in Las Vegas, social life, and environmental changes in the city.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Max Velasquez conducted by Janice F. Hurtubise on March 08, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Velasquez discusses his personal history as a construction worker in Las Vegas, Nevada. He describes the construction projects he worked on and the differences between 1950s construction and construction at the current time. Velasquez goes on to discuss the government regulations workers had to follow, how water pipelines were laid, and the types of equipment used in construction. Lastly, Velasquez talks about the bidding process for contractors and environmental changes in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Herb Tobman conducted by Deborah Fischer on March 13, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Herb Tobman talks about moving to Las Vegas, Nevada while working for Standard Oil as a tire, battery and accessory salesman, then working for the Moulin Rouge as the general manager in 1955. He gives a description of the hotels on Las Vegas Boulevard and downtown. Tobman then discusses the types of gambling that were popular. He also talks about the accommodations, transportation, entertainment, and the economy.
Archival Collection
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.
Archival Collection