Oral history interview with Lynn Smith conducted by Aylwin Tai on March 04, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Smith begins by discussing why he moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1968, his religious affiliations, and musical entertainment in Las Vegas. He talks about his family, his affiliations with different social organizations, and the expansion of Las Vegas. Smith describes the insurance industry in Las Vegas from his perspective as an insurance adjuster. He concludes by discussing how Las Vegas has changed economically and elaborates on his job responsibilities.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with James E. Reeves conducted by Patricia Elliot on March 10, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Reeves mainly discusses his work assisting the government perform nuclear weapons tests after being assigned to Las Vegas, Nevada by the Atomic Energy Commission.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Alan Bowman conducted by Erik Peluso on October 23, 2008 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Bowman reflects upon his roughly 30-year career as a teacher and administrator with the Clark County School District (CCSD) from the 1970s to the 2000s. He discusses his decision to pursue school administration, and challenges that he frequently faced. He also discusses the relationship that school administrators foster with the Board of Education, and the importance of administrators staying current in local affairs that affect the community and school policies.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Laura Taylor conducted by Claytee D. White on December 03, 2008 and December 08, 2008 for the All That Jazz Oral History Project. Taylor discusses opening for Don Rickles at the Desert Inn Hotel, and performing at the Desert Inn’s Starlight Theater. Taylor recalls performing on television, appearing on radio shows, making disco music, and meeting many celebrities as a jazz musician.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Wendy Starkweather conducted by Claytee White on June 16, 2010 and June 22, 2010 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Starkweather discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1978 when her husband Peter L. Starkweather accepted a teaching position in the biology department at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). She also discusses working in several types of libraries in Las Vegas before being offered the head of reference position at the UNLV library in 1985. She talks about her experiences working under six deans and retiring in 2010.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Alex Kang conducted by Cecilia Winchell and Stefani Evans on October 4, 2022 for the Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Kang discusses his childhood moving back and forth between Pusan, South Korea and America as his parents sought the best place to raise their children. Kang recalls the multitude of endeavors he has heavily invested in since he was young, from moving to Brazil to pursue his interests in soccer to practicing golf every single day in his youth. Kang attended San Diego State University on a scholarship to play golf and majored in math. He got involved in a party bus business, honed his golf skills, and decided to learn how to count cards at the casino. Kang moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2013. Throughout the rest of the interview, Kang discusses how he organizes extravagant events, including an event hosting the popular K-Pop group BTS in Las Vegas, his golfing career, and enjoying his life surrounded by his family.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mario Berlanga Jr. conducted by Claytee D. White on July 26, 2017 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Berlanga discusses his upbringing in Las Vegas, Nevada and growing up in the Westside community. He discusses his experience working at supermarkets, becoming a supermarket owner, and establishing his business, Mario’s Westside Market. Berlanga talks about supporting the children of the community, working with the local police, and the growth of his business. Lastly, Berlanga discusses the redevelopment of the Westside neighborhood.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mark Coleman conducted by Margaret Grosbeck on April 24, 2007 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Coleman reflects on his career as a teacher and administrator with the Clark County School District from the 1980s to the early 2000s. He discusses his upbringing and entry into education, and his motivations to move from being a teacher to becoming an administrator. He then describes challenges that he faced as a dean, assistant principal, and principal at various high schools. He emphasizes his concerns for school safety and his responsibility as an administrator to keep students safe, in addition to pressures that he faced to foster meaningful relationships with staff, students, and their families.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Stanley Hyman conducted by Eleanor G. Doble on March 10, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Hyman discusses population growth in Las Vegas, Nevada and its transition into a metropolitan city. Hyman also discusses the kind of influence that Howard Hughes had in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hyman later discusses the first major convention held at the convention hall in Las Vegas, Nevada and his business in home insurance.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Edmund "Ed" Fleming conducted by Mark Lucas on February 08, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Fleming discusses mining practices in Southern Nevada and his teaching experiences in Pahrump, Nevada, Goodsprings, Nevada, and Las Vegas, Nevada. He also discusses religion, transportation, and culture in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection