Oral history interview with Robert H. Lias conducted by Verna M. Holley on March 02, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Lias describes life in early Las Vegas, Nevada after arriving in 1932, and his career as a postmaster.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Edward Ferris conducted by Rafael Lara Jr. on March 16, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In his interview, Ferris discusses the history of Las Vegas, Nevada, the recession in 1952-1953, The Last Frontier hotel, and the growth of businesses, including his automotive business, and the Las Vegas, Nevada community.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with William F. Kelsey conducted by James M. Greene on January 20, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Kelsey discusses his life, from being born in Pasadena, California to becoming a businessman in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews of Westside School alumni conducted by Claytee D. White on March 20, March 29, April 27, and June 22, 2010 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project.
Alumni of the Historic Westside School of Las Vegas, also known as the Las Vegas Grammar School, gathered in 2010 to celebrate the official registration of the school as a historic site in the city. These alumni discussed their education, what they remember of the school, their teachers, and what life was like in Las Vegas at that time.
The individuals interviewed are: Jackie Y. Brantley, Eugene Buford, Margaret (Addison) Coleman, Regina Cone, Shirley Edmond, Frank Harris, Otis Harris, Tisha Harris, Willie B. (Jones) Jackson, Jerry Neal, Sadie Marie Prentiss, Calvin Wallace Jr., Nathaniel Whaley, and Cleophis Williams.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Pat Feaster conducted by Claytee D. White on July 1, 1996 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Feaster relates how her mother made the decision to leave Fordyce, Arkansas for better economic opportunity and moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1942. She describes travelling across the country, living in a one-room structure in the Westside of Las Vegas, and attending the Westside School. She discusses her mother's employment at the Red Rooster Restaurant and then at the Algiers Hotel. She talks at length about her own educational journey after leaving school at fifteen, then returning for her GED and later, a college degree after the birth of her fifth child. She discusses how the decision to improve her education helped her develop a twenty-six year career at the Clark County Health District. She also discusses the Fordyce Club and many important personalities in Las Vegas' Black community.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Elizabeth Kelly conducted by Jeff DeLoca on April 02, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Kelly discusses arriving to Southern Nevada from Scotland in the 1920’s. Kelly also talks about early life in Las Vegas, Nevada and the growth of the city.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Hattie Robertson conducted by Henry Thorns on March 05, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Robertson discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1969. Robertson also discusses her family life.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Dean Otteson conducted by Felicia McCabe on November 04, 2008 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Otteson reflects upon his experiences as a teacher and administrator in Alaska and with the Department of Defense Dependent Schools. He discusses his experiences working with vocational training, working with assistant principals, and challenges that he faced.
Archival Collection
Image
Oral history interview with Donna Henshaw conducted by Jeff Thompson on February 12, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. This interview covers the history and development of Las Vegas, Nevada, cost of living in Nevada, and the Old Elk’s Parade.
Archival Collection