Oral history interview with Gary Giddens conducted by Claytee D. White on December 13, 2018 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Giddens discusses his upbringing and arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1978. He talks about becoming a firefighter, his employment with the North Las Vegas Fire Department, and working with ambulance companies. Giddens recalls Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training, the increase of firefighters becoming EMTs, and the MGM Grand fire. Lastly, Giddens talks about leaving the North Las Vegas Fire Department.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Marlin Robison conducted by Claytee D. White on July 02, 2019 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Robison discusses his upbringing in Cedar City, Utah and in Overton, Nevada. He remembers growing up in poverty, the abusive relationship with his stepfather, and the various jobs he held throughout his youth. Robison talks about moving to Henderson, Nevada in 1950 and working as a counselor with the Juvenile Justice System. Lastly, Marlin discusses the growth of Henderson and the redevelopment of the Water Street District.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jack Cathcart conducted by Debbie Pfefferkorn on March 01, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Cathcart’s interview focuses on the transformations in the entertainment industry in Las Vegas, Nevada during World War II. He discusses the varying entertainment in hotel lounges, different dance styles, and the changes in customer service within these hotels.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Oran Gragson conducted by Perry Kaufman on December 25, 1972 for the UNLV Libraries Oral History Collection. In this interview, Gragson discusses his employment at Hoover Dam (Boulder Dam) and Basic Magnesium Plant, and eventually opening his own business in 1967. He then describes changes in Las Vegas, Nevada and recalls his involvement with politics. Gragson then discusses his time as the mayor of Las Vegas and explains the challenges he faced as mayor. Lastly, Gragson describes the difference between county government and city government.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ernest Fountain conducted by Claytee D. White on March 27, 2017 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Fountain discusses African American owned businesses and explains why these businesses are disproportionately disappearing and going out of business. Fountain then talks about the importance of understanding finance and economics, small businesses, and starting his lending firm, New Ventures Capital Development Company. Lastly, Fountain explains the process of owning a bank, and the importance of having more African American owned financial institutions.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with J.T. Thomas conducted by Samuel Greene on February 13, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Thomas discusses his arrival to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1913 in search of job opportunities. Thomas also describes the development of Las Vegas, specifically the increase of hotels and casinos. Thomas then discusses segregation in schools and explains that African Americans were only allowed to live on the West Side of Las Vegas. Thomas later recalls downtown Las Vegas and changes in the state's educational curriculum.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Victoria Nozero conducted by Claytee D. White on December 03, 2012 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Nozero discusses her personal history, experiences in law school, and her employment at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Nozero describes the committees she has been involved with at UNLV and becoming the director of User Services in the Circulation Department at Lied Library. Later, she discusses the significance of reference work, and the challenges of making information accessible. Lastly, Nozero describes changes in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jean Jenkins conducted by Claytee D. White on August 07, 2014 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Jenkins discusses her career in real estate and starting her own real estate business in Las Vegas, Nevada. Jenkins describes the methods involved with selling real estate, working in Las Vegas during the late 1960s, and advertising properties in newspapers. She discusses her contributions to changing commission policies for brokers and how this would eventually help the Board of Realtors in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Howard Booth conducted by Jeff van Ee on April 13, 2009 for the UNLV Libraries Oral History Collection. In this interview, Booth discusses environmental changes in Las Vegas, Nevada and addresses his concerns on the lack of environmental protection in southern Nevada. Booth describes the role politics has in environmental policies, his involvement in the establishment of federally protected areas, and his advocacy for public land uses.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jack K. Leavitt conducted by Alick Dziabczenko on February 28, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Leavitt describes his life as a child living in early Las Vegas, Nevada during the Great Depression. Leavitt also describes seeing President Franklin D. Roosevelt's speech at Hoover (Boulder) Dam, the plane crash that resulted in Carole Lombard's death, and the construction of Nellis Air Force Base. The reaction of Las Vegas, Nevada to the outbreak of World War II is discussed, but information is limited, as Leavitt explains he was deployed in North Africa and Italy during the majority of that period. Finally, Leavitt talks about his career as a real estate broker in Las Vegas, and how real estate has evolved in the city.
Archival Collection