Oral history interview with Jessie Emmett conducted by Irene Rostine on October 16, 1996 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. Emmett discusses moving from Southern California to Nevada for her husband's job at the Nevada Test Site in 1954. Emmett goes on to discuss working at the New Frontier Hotel briefly, and her eventual decision to go into real estate. Emmett then talks about creating a real estate agent training program, and about the work environment for women real estate agents. Lastly, Emmett describes her experience running her own real estate office, and the personal satisfaction the job provided.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mike Velardo conducted by his son, William Velardo, on March 15, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Velardo discusses his career in the gaming industry in Las Vegas, Nevada. Velardo describes the history of casinos and gambling in Las Vegas, including how those industries have changed since he first moved to the city in 1957. He goes on to discuss the cost of entertainment, cheating in casino games, and the benefits of the design of the Caesars Palace pit, where Velardo is a casino manager.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Shelley Berkley conducted by Michael Geeser on January 9, 2006 for the I Remember When: Recollections from Las Vegas Jewish Leaders Oral History Project. Berkley talks about her career as a Jewish woman legislator, about growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada, and about issues such as Medicare, education, and Israel. She also answers questions from the audience.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Sherrill L. Ware conducted by Lawrence R. Gross on March 18, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Ware begins by discussing his service in the United States Navy stationed at Lake Mead before working as a gun manufacturer in Henderson, Nevada. He describes his experience with firearms, including participating in shooting competitions and hunting. Ware talks about life in Las Vegas, Nevada, how the city changed over time, and his career as an operating engineer. Ware also talks about labor unions and the difficulties they face from the companies they worked within, as well as mining in Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mary Orduno conducted by Rachel Masek on March 14, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Orduno discusses her job experience as a cocktail waitress at the Last Frontier Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the types of entertainment available to people in Las Vegas at the time. Orduno discusses her time as president of the Las Vegas City Council, when she held a fashion show for mental health awareness in which Wayne Newton performed. Orduno goes on to discuss her involvement with the Beta Sigma Phi sorority on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mauricia Baca conducted by Elsa Lopez on December 16, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Baca discusses her upbringing in New York City, New York where she was raised by a Jewish mother and Mexican immigrant father. She goes on to describe the discrimination she faced as a Latina, and her education at Vassar College and the City University of New York Law School. Baca moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2006, and she talks about her work as the Executive Director of Get Outdoors Nevada and how she promotes public access and use of urban outdoor spaces, such as the Healing Garden in the Las Vegas Arts District.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Frances Ohman conducted by Claytee D. White on December 12, 2013 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Ohman begins the interview by discussing her family history and her father who escaped a Nazi concentration camp as a prisoner of war in World War II. She goes on to discuss her personal history, including her education and her experiences observing racial discrimination as a child in Kansas and during the 1960s in New Mexico. Ohman talks about visiting Las Vegas, Nevada during the 1960s and describes the casinos of the Las Vegas Strip and the entertainers she and her parents saw, including Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and Elvis Presley. Lastly, Ohman describes how she came to work for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas libraries, her job duties there, and her history working in Albuquerque, New Mexico as a librarian.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Margo Knowles conducted by Sonny Neighbors on March 25, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Knowles discusses jobs, governors, her family, and African American life in Las Vegas, Nevada. Margo speaks about growing up and going to school in Las Vegas. She also discusses her work as a telephone operator in Las Vegas, and at the Nevada Test Site in Nye County, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Elton Garrett conducted by Alan Gurwitz on March 01, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Elton Garrett discusses the development of Boulder City, Nevada, how the city has grown, his work for the Boulder City Journal, atomic testing at the Nevada Test Site, and the founders of the University of Nevada Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview of Brian Shepherd conducted by Claytee D. White on July 13, 2020 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Brian Shepherd, Chief of Staff of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1107, represents health care and public sector employees across the state of Nevada. SEIU advocates for fair wages, quality health care, and the "secret ballot" for all union employees. In addition to discussing his profession, Brian talks about the social justice movement and coordinating community protests concerning larger issues like Black Lives Matter.
Archival Collection