Oral history interview with Harvey N. Dondero conducted by Iskandar A. Batlouni on February 26, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Dondero discusses relocating to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1931 to teach at Las Vegas High School. Dondero also discusses the Boulder (Hoover) Dam, the gaming industry, school integration, the Westside, the Strip, Howard Hughes, Block 16, and the growth of Las Vegas from a sleepy railroad town to a thriving metropolis.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with LaMar Foremaster conducted by Gregory M. Hall on February 14, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Foremaster discusses the changes, growth, and development of Southern Nevada from 1907 to 1979. Foremaster also discusses the Old Ranch, Boulder Dam, Hoover Dam, Fremont Street and the Strip. He then talks about his religious ties to the Mormon Church and his political activities in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ralph Denton conducted by K.J. Evans on January 10, 2000 for the Las Vegas Review-Journal First 100 Oral History Project. Denton first talks about his personal friendship with Governor Grant Sawyer, their education in law school, and his eventual work on campaigning for Sawyer after he became governor. Denton then speaks about working as Sawyer’s adviser. Toward the end of the interview, Denton describes his work on improving civil rights and some of the challenges that came with that.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview With Carolyn Sparks conducted by Claytee D. White on June 7, 2022 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Sparks describes her childhood growing up in Overton, Nevada where her father worked as a mining engineer. Later the family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada where her father invested in the El Cortez and Showboat hotels. Sparks received a degree from the University of California, Berkeley before returning to Las Vegas to work at an insurance company, where she met her husband, Kenneth. Sparks discusses their shared adventure insuring many of the businesses on the Las Vegas Strip while simultaneously entering the world of philanthropy. Sparks became area Chairperson of the American Cancer Society, a fundraiser for Junior Mesquite Club, and founded the Nevada Children's Center. Sparks served on the Nevada Board of Regents from 1984 to 1996, on the Board of Directors of the Showboat Hotel & Casino, and as president of the family's International Insurance Services, Ltd.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Janice Allen conducted by Claytee White in 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Allen discusses her early experiences in Las Vegas, Nevada and her involvement with the Junior League of Las Vegas. She describes the League’s membership growth, charity events, and women who mentored her in the League. She also discusses her experiences with Fremont Street and the Huntridge Theater, and her involvement with organizations such as Jayceettes, Beta Sigma Phi, and Young Audiences.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Charles Rozaire conducted by Claytee D. White on November 25, 2013 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Rozaire begins by giving a comprehensive family history, discussing family who have lived in Virginia City, Nevada, his grandfather that lived in Canada who moved to Los Angeles, California to pursue a career as a painter, and explaining how his mother and father met. He continues, describing his upbringing in California and attending University of California, Los Angeles to pursue a degree in anthropology based off of his interest in Native American history. He also talks about his work as an assistant with the Southwest Museum of the American Indian. Rozaire then discusses his participation in the archaeological studies done in Tule Springs, Nevada during the 1950s. Helen Mortenson, Stephen M. Rowland, Claude N. Warren, and Elizabeth Warren were also present during the interview.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Pablo Macias conducted by Elsa Lopez, Monserrath Hernandez, and Claytee D. White on December 07, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. Pablo Macias was rasied in the small town of Carlin outside of Elko, Nevada. His father and mother met in Ogden, Utah where his father was working on railroad in Nevada and Utah. After finishing high school, he got a job at Elko Blacksmith Shop, where he learned to weld. After attending Northern Nevada Community College, he enrolled and graduated from UNR. After graduation, he took a position at Von Tobel Middle School in 1990 teaching Spanish and Physical Education. While working as a Spanish teacher in Rancho High School he enrolled in a Master’s program at Nova Southeastern University, completing the program in education administration. He currently serves as the Associate Director of Corporate Work Study Program Operations for Cristo Rey St. Viator College Preparatory High School. Subjects discussed include: Education, Rancho High School, Von Tobel Middle School, Barrick Mining, and Cristo Rey.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Greg Phelps conducted by Claytee D. White on November 15, 2017 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. Greg Phelps discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2002 for work and attending the 2017 Route 91 Harvest festival with his mother and wife. He describes the event venue as well as his recollection of the shooting. Phelps explains how his life changed after that day, describing the true friendships he gained and his greater appreciation for living.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Lee Tilman conducted by Dennis McBride on February 06, 11, 13, 17, and 22; May 28; and July 09, 1996 for the Boulder City Library Oral History Project. In the interviews, Tilman discusses his birth in Gooding, Idaho in 1913, his early life, and his arrival to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1931. Tilman then talks about his experiences mining, milling, and ranching before moving to Las Vegas. While in Las Vegas, Tilman was involved with construction of Hoover Dam (Boulder Dam) and labor issues. Later, Tilman describes fishing and boating in the Colorado River, working at a duplex mine in Searchlight, Nevada, and working at the Las Vegas Ice House. Lastly, Tilman talks about influential Boulder City residents he knew, his children, and the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Raymond Rawson conducted by Claytee D. White on October 30, 2009 and November 13, 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview Raymond Rawson discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada at the age of ten in 1950. He also discusses his educational background, including the fact that he was a member of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas' first graduating class. He also talks about growing up in Las Vegas, his professional accomplishments, advocating for the creation of the UNLV School of Dental Medicine, and about being a community leader.
Archival Collection