Oral history interviews with Shauna Hughes conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on August 31, 2016 and October 11, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In the first interview, Hughes discusses her early life in New York and later moving to Ohio. She talks about attending John Carroll University, moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1982, and being a founding member of the Southern Nevada Association of Women Attorneys. Hughes recalls being appointed Henderson City Attorney, the early development of Green Valley, and the rapid growth of that area. Hughes then describes the Pacific Engineering and Production Company of Nevada (PEPCON) explosion in 1988. In the second interview, Hughes discusses her work as Henderson City Attorney. She describes collaborating with elected city officials, the development of the Galleria Mall, and the establishment of Nevada State College (NSC). Lastly, Hughes talks about community support for new infrastructure in Henderson.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ann Lynch conducted by Sandra Klimik on October 17, 1985 for the UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection. In this interview, Lynch briefly explains how she started working in hospitals as a volunteer in 1959 and then gives an overview of the development of hospitals in Las Vegas, Nevada. Most of the interview is directed at the development and history of Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center in Las Vegas. Lynch discusses the developers, Irwin Molasky, Moe Dalitz, Allard Roen and Merv Adelson, and their the original goal to build a physician medical building to attract doctors to their planned community, which included the Las Vegas Country Club and gold course, the Boulevard Mall, and the Boulevard Apartments. She describes the opening of the hospital in 1958, and then moves into a more detailed discussion of nurses and how their roles have shifted since the 1960s. Finally, she talks about the city's growth and the economic burden insurance companies and federal programs like Medicare and Medicaid have on hospital profitability.
Archival Collection
On February 17, 1980, Judith Chavez interviewed Thelma Coblentz (born 1911 in New Jersey) about her experiences in Southern Nevada. Coblentz first talks about her move to Lovelock, Nevada, where her husband provided medical care as one of the first physicians in the small town. She later talks about her move to Las Vegas and some of the services she helped to provide at Nellis Air Force Base. Coblentz later describes Downtown Las Vegas, specifically the development of the casinos and shopping businesses. She later talks about the rainstorms and dust storms that the city would experience before recalling some of the entertainers who would perform on the Las Vegas Strip. The interview concludes with a discussion on the first physicians in Las Vegas and the increasing population of the city.
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Oral history interview with Beverly Mathis conducted by Claytee D. White on July 20, 2016 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Mathis discusses her early life in Trenton, Tennessee. She talks about experiencing discrimination, the importance of voting, and attending the University of Tennessee at Martin. Mathis describes moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1976 and being an African American elementary teacher at the time. Lastly, Mathis discusses her thoughts on education in Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Nanyu (Nelson) Tomiyasu conducted by Samantha Kerwin on April 30, 1986 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Tomiyasu discuses life, changes, and politics in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tomiyasu also talks about the organizations he was a part of, including The Southern Nevada Landscaping Contractors Association, and The Southern Nevada Urban League. The interview concludes with Tomiyasu recalling the above ground atomic test, and World War II.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Florence Schroeder conducted by DeAnn E. Hunt on March 08, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Schroeder discusses her employment with the Extension Service as a home demonstration agent in Southern Nevada. She also describes her employment as a teacher in Clark County and Lincoln County, and explains her involvement with the American Association of University Women (AAUW). Later, Schroeder discusses the education system and social life in Southern Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ertis L. North conducted by Wendy Carr on March 13, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, North discusses his life in Las Vegas, Nevada, starting with his family's move to Las Vegas during the Great Depression. North describes family recreation activities like bowling and visiting Mount Charleston. Lastly, North discusses the logistics of living and getting supplies to Las Vegas during the 1920s-1930s.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Emma Oliver conducted by Jan Marshall on March 19, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Oliver discusses her personal history and the history of Las Vegas, Nevada. Oliver discusses how Las Vegas has changed, casinos in Las Vegas, the Mormon Church, and the race riots at a shopping center in North Las Vegas in 1968. Oliver also discusses race relations between white and African American children in schools.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Stanley Paher conducted by Javier Romero on March 04, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Paher describes his personal history in Las Vegas, Nevada and the layout of the city when its population was only eight thousand people. Paher describes the development of bigger casinos in Las Vegas and the evolution of the Strip. Paher also discusses his career as a writer and publisher, writing about the ghost towns of Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Alice Paiz conducted by Elizabeth Farmer on March 20, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Paiz describes her personal history and how she has seen Las Vegas, Nevada develop since moving there in 1952. Paiz discusses being a Boy Scouts Den Mother, entertainment in Las Vegas, and the Helldorado Festival. Paiz also discusses various reasons why women have more opportunities in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection