Oral history interview with Chester A. Hodson Jr. conducted by Marlene L. Larson on March 04, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Hodson discusses his family history and development of the Las Vegas, Nevada Strip. He specifically discusses his school years, the growth of Las Vegas, Nevada, and problems in terms of city businesses. Mr. Hodson also speaks about working in the restaurant industry in Las Vegas, as well as his father’s experience working in the industry.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Cecia Alvarado conducted by Barbara Tabach on September 15, 2020 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. Cecia describes her personal history, moving to the United States as a teen in the year 2000. She talks of immigration, education, and her work as the State Director of "Mi Familia Vota."
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Oral history interview with Ivy Christine Scotti conducted by Carol Ann Jacob on March 27, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Scotti discusses arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1947. She then describes Las Vegas as it was during the 1950s and 1960s, local nature, and the development of the city throughout her lifetime.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Moniru Ravanipur conducted by Claytee D. White on February 13, 2013, March 06, 2013, and April 24, 2013 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In these interviews, Ravanipur discusses her upbringing in Iran, her experience of the Iranian Revolution, and her writing, which ranges from fiction to autobiographical. Ravanipur describes living by the sea in the Persian Gulf, and how the religious beliefs of the people in that area differed from those of the Islamic Republic and the rest of Iran. She describes attending Tehran University during the revolution and being persecuted for her political beliefs, forcing her to flee to Kurdistan to escape possible execution. Ravanipur explains the history behind the Iranian Revolution and how she observed the country changing religiously and in its customs and norms, as well as the violence she witnessed. She concludes by describing how she became a prominent writer in Iran and internationally, and briefly describes applying for fellowship at University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Sebastian Mikulich Sr. conducted by Sherry Angell on July 17, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Mikulich discusses his personal history and his employment with Southern Pacific Railroad. Mikulich describes the expansion of railroads throughout California, Nevada, and Arizona. Later, he recalls working during the Korean War, and the increase of transportation on trains in the 1960s. Lastly, he explains the work he performed on the trains and shares anecdotes from his career.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with David Dahan conducted by Barbara Tabach on May 26, 2016 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Dahan tells the story of his family escaping from Casablanca, Morocco and settling in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dahan also discusses establishing the Yaffa Dahan Nursing Foundation in honor of his late wife who was a Las Vegas nurse.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Sonja Saltman conducted by Barbara Tabach on August 18, 2015 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Saltman describes being born and raised in the Lower Austrian town of Pottschach, post-World War II as an only child. She talks about her father who was in the German Air Force, and her grandfather who served during World War I and was forced to register as a Nazi. She then recalls her first impression of Las Vegas, Nevada. Saltman explains how she, a non-Jew married to a Jew, became involved in the Jewish community. She then reminisces about visiting Las Vegas and her dislike for the Strip but her enjoyment of the adventure.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mary Leavitt Frehner conducted by Gail M. Frehner on November 28, 1986 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Leavitt Frehner discusses her life in Bunkerville, Nevada and Mesquite, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Barbara Raben conducted by Barbara Tabach on February 24, 2015 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. In this interview Raben discusses her involvement with Hadassah, a women's Jewish organization, in Southern Nevada, and the various groups within that organization. She also talks about her family, her relationship to Judaism, and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1991. Raben discusses the business she built in Los Angeles, California and Las Vegas, Nevada called the Candy Factory. She then talks about the formation of Midbar Kodesh Temple with other families from Temple Beth Sholom.
Archival Collection