Oral history interview with Fred B. Houghton conducted by Philip Partridge on February 09, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Houghton discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada and how he came to practice law.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Joseph C. Mattingly conducted by Sean Powers on February 23, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, Mattingly discusses moving back and forth between Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada during the 1930s and 1940s before finally settling in Las Vegas in 1954. Mattingly also discusses his life as a sheet metal worker for commercial buildings, Las Vegas Strip hotels, and buildings on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Bob Stoldal conducted by Claytee D. White on May 31, 2007 for the UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection. In this interview, Stoldal talks about his upbringing in Castro Valley, California and arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1957. He remembers attending Nevada Southern (now University of Nevada, Las Vegas), the Las Vegas Strip during the early 1960s, and his employment at the
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Lilly Fong conducted by Lisa Fremont on May 06, 1995 for the UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection. In this interview, Fong discusses her family background and their immigration story to the United States in the early 1910s. She talks about her husband’s interest in the restaurant business and the opening of their restaurant, Fong’s Garden, in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1955. Fong remembers being elected as Regent for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), the increase of students attending the College of Southern Nevada, and advocating to keep UNLV’s Tonopah Hall as a dormitory building for students. Fong talks about completing a master’s degree from UNLV in 1982, state university funding, and her involvement with the Chinese community in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Virgil Barler conducted by Shirley Leavitt on November 19, 2003 for the History of Blue Diamond Village in Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Barler discusses moving to Nevada to work at the Blue Diamond mine and moving from a house to a trailer in the Blue Diamond Village. He shares personal experiences and recollections about his various jobs at the mine, including working in the board factory, as a bulldozer operator, an oiler, and in the shop. He also talks about technological changes at the mine, Blue Diamond Village, and many of the local residents.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jan Jones conducted by Dennis McBride on March 26, 1998 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In this interview, Jones discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1981 and describes the car dealership commercials she was involved in with Kenny Kerr in the 1980s. Jones recalls the No Hate rallies that were organized in Nevada to support gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. She then talks about the backlash she received as Mayor of Las Vegas because of her support for the gay community.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Tex Whitson conducted by David G. Schwartz on September 04, 2015 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Whitson discusses how he began playing poker, the growth of poker's popularity, and eventually the development of the World Series of Poker tournament. Whitson then recalls anecdotes of his interactions with Benny Binion, and the significance of the World Series of Poker to Harrah’s Las Vegas Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Richard Hooker conducted by Claytee D. White on June 10, 2014 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Hooker discusses his work as an artist and cultural practitioner for the City of Las Vegas Office of Cultural Affairs. He recalls his background in political science and his employment with the Nevada Arts Council. Hooker then describes the projects he was involved with, including preserving neon signs and the formation of the Neon Museum.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Rosemary Ruymann conducted by Bruce Kraft on February 16, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Ruymann discusses her career as a teacher and life in early Las Vegas, Nevada. Ruymann also describes the excitement surrounding the construction of Hoover (Boulder) Dam and the kinds of people it would attract, such as the president, engineers, and dentists concerned with the amount of fluoride in the proposed area for Lake Mead.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Willis Evans conducted by Kathleen Morgan La Spina on December 02, 1986 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Evans discusses arriving and living in Las Vegas, Nevada. Evans also discusses being involved in the civic organization, District Attorney Youth Advisory Group. The interview concludes with a discussion of Boulder (Hoover) Dam, and changes in Las Vegas’ economy, politics, and environment.
Archival Collection