Oral history interview with Jocelyn L. Oats conducted by Rebecca Snetselaar on April 29, 2016 for the Folklife Program of the Nevada Arts Council and the Oral History Research Center at UNLV Libraries. Oats begins the interview by talking about her childhood and family. She explains what she was allowed to have in terms of media and music, what gospel music means to her, and which members of her family are singers. Oats talks about religion, traditions in church, and what it means to sing in church. Lastly, Oats tells stories of her life and where to find gospel music in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Lance Burton conducted by Barbara Tabach on September 17, 2020 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Lance discusses his personal and professional histories and how he came to be a headliner at the Monte Carlo in Las Vegas. He also discusses his recent affairs after retiring from performing on the Strip in 2010. Subjects discussed include: Lance Burton Theater; International Brotherhood of Magicians
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mustafa Richards conducted by Claytee D. White on March 10, 2013 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. He discusses working as the only black bellman at the time for the Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino and became the first African American bell captain. He also discusses his wife working for the Las Vegas, Nevada Clark County Library District for thirty years. Mustafa then discusses becoming a Muslim in the early 1990s and being appointed to be an Imam, a mosque officer, soon afterwards.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with William W. Boyd conducted by Theresa Bradley on February 26, 1981 for the UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection. Boyd discusses his involvement in the gaming industry of Las Vegas, Nevada. Boyd talks specifically about his experiences with five-card stud poker and his introduction of poker games without dealers to the poker room. Boyd also talks about his role as poker room manager at the Golden Nugget and how he was present to open the room when the casino first opened.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Al Lermusiaux conducted by Shirley Dianne Long on March 09, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Lermusiaux begins by talking about his move to Las Vegas, his family and what brought him to the city. He shares many anecdotes about the construction of different iconic buildings in Las Vegas, the inner workings of the business, payments to employees and the changes in technology. Lermusiaux, in particular, talks of the telephone system in the fifties and the changes in structures and their regulations. During his interview, Lermusiaux lays out an image of old Las Vegas and Henderson, giving detailed descriptions of the layout of the city, the projects he worked on and the effects of the weather on building structures in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with David Broxterman conducted by Dr. David Emerson on February 24, 2007 for the UNLV @ 50 Oral History Project. David Broxterman discusses having a long career with the Air Force including being a member of an Air Force association that helped push for an engineering school at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He also discusses being the administrative manager for the Clark County School District.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Shirley Barber conducted by Rajul Edmond on April 11, 2003 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Barber reflects upon her nearly 30-year career as a teacher and administrator with the Clark County School District from the 1980s to the 2000s. Barber describes the process by which she became an elementary and middle school principal, and her approach to being a leader within the school and as a member of the School Board. She also discusses challenges that she was faced with, such as school integration.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with John McKay conducted by Donna Malloy on March 03, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, McKay talks about his experiences living in Las Vegas, Nevada since the 1950s. McKay begins by speaking about his family history, his career in the electronics and engineering field for aerospace, as well as his experiences in two wars. Moreover, McKay speaks about his hobbies of hunting and fishing and his time as a musician around Las Vegas. McKay also spends time going over how the city of Las Vegas has grown and changed, the increase in crime, and the extreme floods in the 1950s. Lastly, McKay talks about the Nuclear Test Site, how casino gaming chips were used as money around the city, how the city of Las Vegas started and the future of the valley. Digital audio and transcript available.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Russell K. Grater conducted by Frederick Dougan on February 10, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Grater first talks about his move to the Southern Nevada area and his work that impacted the Hoover (Boulder) Dam project. He then talks about the town of St. Thomas, Nevada, the Lost City, and the activities of tourists. Grater also talks about his work in excavation, the indigenous American Indian tribes of the area, findings on petroglyphs, and the types of wildlife that were found in the area. He later talks about findings related to fossils, gold mining, the effects of World War II on the Hoover Dam project, and vegetation in the area.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Richard T. Chapter conducted by Stan Hawkins on March 6, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Stan Hawkins discusses the cost of living in Las Vegas, Nevada, Howard Hughes, the Boulder Dam, the Union Pacific Railroad, the old Mormon Fort, gambling, local businesses, and the weather in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection