Oral history interview with Lorne Lomprey conducted by Mitzi Cox on February 25, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, Lomprey discusses his childhood and education in Henderson, Nevada. He also discusses his work as an arson investigator and police officer. Lomprey also discusses other topics including atomic testing, politics, the first police officers in Henderson, Nevada, and early firefighters in Henderson, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Don Perry conducted by Karen Croteau on March 05, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Perry discusses his experiences with Southern Paiute Native Americans on their reservation in southern Nevada. Perry describes the traditions and lifestyle of the Paiutes, and the living conditions on their reservation. Perry shares several short anecdotes of his interactions with the Paiutes, as well as stories he heard on the reservation.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Barbara Brents conducted by Claytee D. White on January 12, 2010 for the Voices of the Historic John S. Park Neighborhood Oral History Project. In this interview, Brents talks about why she moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1987, her experience in the historic John S. Park Neighborhood, some history of Las Vegas, and politics.
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 Otto Ravenholt conducted by Kenneth "K. J." Evans on June 16, 1999 for the Las Vegas Review-Journal First 100 Oral History Project. In the interview, Ravenholt discusses his family's history, his marriage, his education, and his service in the United States Army. Ravenholt talks about arriving in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1963, working as Clark County, Nevada's first Chief Health Officer, and establishing a health center at 2nd Street and Stewart Street. He recalls administrative and legislative issues during the health center's construction, memories of World War II and the Korean War, and his investigative work as a coroner.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Roy Smith conducted by Gary Michael Buyacheic on March 13, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Smith discusses arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1931 for job opportunities. Smith recalls the introduction of gambling and the impact it had on the city and throughout Nevada. Later, Smith describes the Stewart Ranch, Mount Charleston, and the growth of casinos and hotels on the Las Vegas Strip.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Augusta Newton conducted by John Harmon on October 13, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Newton discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1948 for her husband's job. She describes the Las Vegas Strip and its hotels and casinos, as well as the growth of Las Vegas. Newton briefly talks about gambling, organized crime, and Howard Hughes.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Mahamed Youssouf conducted by Barbara Tabach on August 06, 2013 and August 13, 2013 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Youssouf discusses his childhood in Harar, Ethiopia and living there during the Ethiopia and Somalia conflict in the late 1970s. He recalls the Russian invasion into Ethiopia and the communist agenda that was enforced as a result. Youssouf then describes his involvement in student and community led protests and how he ended up in a refugee camp in Djibouti. He talks about his life in Djibouti as a tailor and his struggles finding permanent refuge. Youssouf discusses his acceptance into the United States as a refugee, arriving in New York, New York in 1980, and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1985. Lastly, Youssouf talks about his store in North Las Vegas, Uniform Plus, and the African American experience in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Joe W. Brown conducted by Claytee D. White on November 19, 2018, January 11, 2019, February 06, 2019, and June 18, 2019 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In these interviews, Brown discusses his early life and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1968. He remembers becoming a District Court law clerk, and being appointed by President Ronald Reagan to the State Justice Institute and the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States. Brown talks about his involvement with charitable organizations, being a commissioner for the Nevada Gaming Commission, and founding the Nevada Military Support Alliance. Lastly, Brown discusses the development of his law firms in Las Vegas, being awarded an Honorary Doctor of Law degree by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and receiving the Outstanding Alumnus Award by the Washington and Lee University School of Law.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Norman Forsyth conducted by Steve Flinte on March 19, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Forsythe discusses arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada and his time as a firefighter with the Las Vegas Fire Department and the Clark County Fire Department, where he eventually became a battalion chief. Forsythe also talks about the history and development of Las Vegas, the prices of land, some notable fires, including the El Rancho Vegas fire, and what he recalls about the aboveground atomic testing.
Archival Collection