Oral history interview with Simeon Holloway conducted by Claytee D. White on April 18, 2013 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: A Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview Simeon Holloway describes moving to Las Vegas, Nevada after pursing an acting career in Los Angeles, California. He also talks about his friendship with composer and fellow Kappa Alpha Psi brother, Jester Hairston. He also discusses being active in the church and being a successful investor in the real estate market.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Louise Kirkwood conducted by Richard Probst on February 28, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, Kirkwood discusses her life in Southern Nevada and her experience with navigating Las Vegas, Nevada as streets and buildings, home values, and living expenses changed over time. Kirkwood also discusses the energy crisis of the 1970s and the resulting gasoline rationing; the growth of the Strip, and pollution caused by atomic testing.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Bill Richardson conducted by Gretchen Schroeder on May 10, 2008 for the History of Blue Diamond Village in Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Richardson discusses living in Nelson, Nevada and later moving to Blue Diamond Village, Nevada where his father worked in the mines. He describes education in the Village and the homes that were built there. Later, Richardson talks about his father’s lumberyard, which received lumber from Mount Charleston, and Las Vegas, Nevada in the 1940s. Lastly, he describes his employment at the Nevada Test Site as a forklift operator.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Chris Phipps conducted by Dennis McBride on November 16, 1998 for the Las Vegas Gay Archives Oral History Project. Phipps talks about coming to terms being a gay man in California, being involved with the Apollo Spa and Health center, and becoming a lawyer.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Lucela M. Wattin conducted by Stefani Evans on December 6, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. Lucela shares memories of her life growing up in Cebu Province, Philippines and being raised by her mother and grandparents after her father's death. She talks about immigrating to the United States under her fiancée's visa, moving to Chinatown in Las Vegas, and her work as a busser at the Excalibur Hotel. Lucela discusses how joining the Culinary Workers Union improved her work conditions and benefits, and how she is working with the union and a legal attorney to help her daughter immigrate to America. She also shares her favorite Filipino dishes (sinagang, chicken adobo, and bugas mais), holiday traditions, and what life was like when casinos shut down during COVID-19.
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Oral history interview with Lester Lee conducted by A. D. Hopkins on September 04, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, Lee discusses his life working a variety of occupations including farmer, rancher, and hoist engineer for mines in Caselton, Nevada. Lee also discusses mining, the Mormon Church, education, employment, and land ownership in Southern Nevada. Patricia S. Hopkins accompanies Lee in the interview and makes some comments on Lee's statements.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Milton Schwartz conducted by Claytee D. White on May 03, 2004 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Schwartz discusses working at the Flamingo Hotel right after World War II, starting Valley Hospital and owning many other businesses. He also talks about having a Hebrew academy named after him in Israel, and owning the Yellow-Checker-Star Cab Company. Other topics Schwartz discusses includes being active in the Republican Party and bringing the first medical helicopters to Nevada with a few partners.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with John G. Tryon conducted by Dr. David Emerson on February 21, 2006 for the UNLV @ 50 Oral History Project. Tryon discusses teaching electrical engineering at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1974. He also discusses introducing a senior engineering design course and being a member of the university’s Academic Standards Committee.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Frances Moore conducted by Len Trout on March 01, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Moore begins by discussing her family's history in Nevada and the people she met in Las Vegas, Nevada. She talks about visits by prominent politicians to Las Vegas, the crash of Carole Lombard's plane, and life in Las Vegas during the 1930s and 1940s. Moore also describes how Las Vegas has changed, nuclear weapons tests, and the Stewart Ranch.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with William Viera conducted by Ann Louise Pugh on an unknown day in October of 1971 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Viera discusses his work in real estate throughout Las Vegas, Nevada and describes the increase in value of homes, especially newer buildings. Viera later describes his thoughts on why the desert and other surrounding landscape areas would soon be developed.
Archival Collection