Oral history interview with William Snyder conducted by Claytee D. White on November 21, 2008 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Snyder discusses being an architect who worked for Tate Snyder Kimsey Architects. He also talks about the school named after him, working with the children who attended that school, and designing the McCaw School of Mines for McCaw Elementary School in Henderson, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with William Verzani conducted by James Little on March 15, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Verzani discusses his personal history and being a rancher in Searchlight, Nevada. Verzani describes life in Searchlight during the 1930s, and later moving to Las Vegas, Nevada. Verzani goes on to describe living in Las Vegas, and how the city has changed and expanded. He also talks about the murder of Bugsy Siegel, hunting in Nevada, and his career as a truck driver.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Joe Cortez conducted by Laurents Bañuelos-Benitez on November 29, 2018 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Cortez discusses his early life in New York City, New York and growing up in the Spanish Harlem. He talks about Puerto Rican traditions he participated in, his early interest in boxing, competing in the Golden Glove tournaments, and becoming a boxing referee. Cortez recalls some of the biggest fights he refereed, and being inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame in 2011. Lastly, Cortez discusses the boxing rivalry between Mexican and Puerto Rican boxers, and the future of boxing.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Linda Vasquez conducted by Patricia van Betten on February 18, 2005 for the History of Blue Diamond Village in Nevada Oral History Project. Vasquez discusses her childhood in Norwich, Connecticut and her first trip to Blue Diamond, Nevada in 1966 as a high school graduation gift. She describes the early Blue Diamond community, and her eventual move to Nevada around 1975. She details her husband Simon Vasquez's childhood in Blue Diamond, from his education at the first school in Blue Diamond to his commute to Las Vegas High School in Las Vegas, Nevada. She then discusses her husband's roles at the Blue Diamond Mine, from the time he was eighteen years old until his death. Vasquez then details the health care in Blue Diamond, as well as the schools, the post service, and the telephone and electricity services.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Carole Rae conducted by Claytee D. White on March 6, 2007 for the UNLV @ 50 Oral History Project. In this interview, Rae mainly discusses her accomplishment of founding the dance department at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). She begins the interview by discussing her earlier years, and mentions that one of her main hobbies was sewing and not dancing. She also states that she was not an art major during her undergraduate years and was surprised when dance eventually became her career. Rae explains how she became a dance instructor and describes her specializations in different forms of dance, such as Spanish dance and ballet.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mary Stafford conducted by Gale Robinson on March 05, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Stafford discusses her personal history and the history of Henderson, Nevada. Stafford describes living in Henderson during the 1950s and the importance of the Basic Magnesium Plant during World War II. She then talks about how Henderson has grown and the different chemical plants that opened in the town. Stafford goes on to discuss her career working for the local newspaper,
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Peter Gratton conducted by Claytee D. White on February 26, 2009 for the UNLV @ 50 Oral History Project. In this interview Peter Gratton recalls graduating from the University of Nevada Las Vegas in 1981. He then discusses starting a career at the UNLV University libraries and becoming the Administrative Assistant III for the Lied Library Building Department.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Anna Nakazawa conducted by Donnielle Dove on November 29, 2022 for the Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Nakazawa reflects on her upbringing in Las Vegas, Nevada what it was like growing up and what it was like growing up Asian-American in Southern Nevada. Nakazawa is currently enrolled at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and studying criminal justice. She recalls attending Saturday Japanese school every weekend until she was in high school, allowing her to connect with her cultural background and describes annual trips to Japan in the summer. Nakazawa's ambition and determination is something she takes pride in, and speaks of her multiple jobs and the financial opportunities they bring her. Furthermore, she discusses the importance of education and sharing Asian-American news on social media so more people have a better understanding of what is it like to be Asian-American.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Merle Frehner conducted by Robert Laas on July 05, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Frehner discusses atomic testing, freighting, the "Arrowhead Trail", the Great Depression, and Boulder (Hoover) Dam in Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Agnes Marshall conducted by Claytee D. White on September 12, 2011 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. Marshall discusses her family being one of the first families to move into Berkley Square, the first middle-class black housing development designed by Paul Williams. She also recounts her experiences with the nightlife in Las Vegas, Nevada during the heydays of Jackson Street, including clubs such as Cotton Club and Town Tavern, and restaurants like Mom's Kitchen.
Archival Collection