Oral history interview with Zelvin D. Lowman conducted by Kevin A. Hedden on March 14, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Lowman discusses the evolution of the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts in Southern Nevada and his experiences working for Nevada Power. Lowman also discusses the challenges Nevada Power faced in keeping up with the growing energy demands of a rapidly expanding population. Finally, Lowman talks about working in the Nevada state legislature.
Archival Collection
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 Jesse Scott conducted by Claytee D. White on June 29, 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Scott describes growing up in Louisiana and his initial involvement with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) as vice president of the youth council. He recalls positions he held beginning in the 1970s with the Las Vegas NAACP branch as an executive director, executive director of the Equal Rights Commission, and later, president of the Las Vegas NAACP.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Robert Forbuss conducted by Suzanne Becker on February 12, 2009 for the Voices of the Historic John S. Park Neighborhood Oral History Project. In this interview, Forbuss discusses Las Vegas, Nevada history while sharing childhood memories of the neighborhood. He also discusses his mother buying a home in 1944 in the Huntridge development, adjacent to the John S. Park Neighborhood and living there for the rest of her life. He then mentions her owning a dry cleaning business, which he later owned.
Archival Collection
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 Katherine McKee conducted by Claytee D. White on September 3, 2016 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In her interview McKee discusses her career dancing at the Mint, The Silver Slipper's Minsky's Burlesque, and the Dune's Viva Les Girls. She also discusses her performances on the road with Les Girls Montreal road show as well and her experience as Sammy Davis' "road wife."
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Herb Jeffries conducted by Cork Proctor on 2009 May 5 for the All That Jazz Oral History Project. In the interview Jeffries discusses his life as a singer and actor, entertaining in Las Vegas, Nevada where Frank Sinatra offered support when Jeffries encountered racial discrimination. He also talks about his life after retirement, his family, being an America, his military service, and his relationship with Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington as a young performer.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mary Hausch conducted by Claytee D. White on April 07, 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Hausch discusses her upbringing in Ohio and her career in education journalism during the 1960s and 1970s. She describes attending Ohio University during the protest movements against the Vietnam War and how the Kent State University shootings affected college life. Hausch then talks about working at the Las Vegas Review-Journal during the 1970s, where she covered the education system of Las Vegas, Nevada as it began enforcing racial integration in its schools. She explains how race relations were at the time and Nevada's busing program.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Cork Proctor conducted by Claytee D. White on February 3, 2006 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Proctor discusses his upbringing in Las Vegas, Nevada during the 1940s and 1950s. He tells several anecdotes of his life, such as the time he stole a car in the Huntridge Theater parking lot or his time working as a gravedigger, and describes popular establishments and entertainment venues in Las Vegas. Proctor then talks about his career in show business as a comedian and radio host, race relations in Las Vegas, and meeting his wife. He also discusses how Las Vegas has developed socially and expanded, how he expects it to evolve in the future, and other experiences from entertainment gigs.
Archival Collection