Oral history interview with Helen H. Holmes conducted by Marilyn Swanson on February 12, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Holmes discusses the social, economic, and environmental changes that occurred in Boulder City, Nevada from 1931 to 1975. Holmes also discusses his home and family life in Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview Betty Pavlikowski conducted by Roy Mankins in the 1970s for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Pavlikowski discusses her position on the board of directors for a social club in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pavlikowski details the creation and daily operations of the club.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Emily McKinley conducted by Glorialyn Gutierrez on March 01, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. McKinley begins by speaking about her childhood, her siblings and her extended family. McKinley gives a variety of anecdotes about being raised in Las Vegas, her family’s economic hardships and the house she grew up in. Lastly, McKinley talks about the businesses she owned with her husband, their hardships and her time working multiple jobs.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Garland Ronnow conducted by Bertrand Giry on February 11, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Ronnow discusses his personal history after moving to Las Vegas, Nevada from Panaca, Nevada in 1923. Ronnow describes the first general store in Las Vegas, which his family owned. Ronnow describes how Las Vegas has grown since he first moved there, as well as the different businesses he helped his father run.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Darwin Gidel conducted by Claytee D. White on October 21, 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Gidel discusses being a flight engineer in the Air Force during World War II. He describes when he was shot down over Belgium in 1944 and was held as prisoner of war in Belgium and Germany for eleven months. He also discusses being an accountant.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Helen Mortenson conducted by Claytee D. White on May 06, 2014 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Mortenson discusses Cygnus Scientific, a consultation firm specializing in nuclear, radiological, and environmental issues. She goes on to describe the Ice Age Park Foundation, managing her husband’s political campaign, and her archaeological pursuits. Later, Mortenson discusses her discovery of a Shasta ground sloth at Devils Peak, Nevada in 1990.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Stella Fleming conducted by Suzanne Wright on February 24, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Fleming first talks about some of her work in welfare specifically, the early practices of the welfare administration. She also discusses her work with the Works Progress Administration, the American Red Cross, and the Nevada Emergency Relief Program. Fleming also discusses atomic testing, specific landmarks and locations, and the development of the city.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Irving J. Foreman conducted by John Russell Foreman on March 16, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Foreman speaks about his career in the construction industry in Las Vegas, Nevada. He also discusses the changes in the construction industry from the 1950s to the 1970s, including the machinery used.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Pete Berger conducted by David Schwartz on June 14, 2019 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Pete Berger discusses arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1955 after serving in the United States Air Force in California. He talks about his career working as a pit boss at over a dozen Las Vegas casinos , other positions he held, and the people he met throughout his career.
Archival Collection