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
Oral history interviews with Emilie Wanderer conducted by Joanne L. Goodwin throughout February 2000 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. Wanderer begins her interview with a thorough discussion of her family history and her parent's influence on her life. Next Wanderer discusses attending law school and her first job at the U.S Attorney's office in New York state. Then Wanderer talks about opening her law firm in Las Vegas, Nevada and eventually becoming the first mother and son law team in the state. Wanderer also discusses her appointment by the American Bar Association and National Association of Women Lawyers to assess the state of family court in Nevada.
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Oral history interview with Gary B. Hafen conducted by Christopher McEntire on April 30, 2002 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Hafen reflects upon his 30-year career as a teacher and administrator with Nevada’s White Pine County School District and the Clark County School District from 1959 to 1989. He describes his approach to administration, his experience with school integration, and the importance of being present for students, parents, and teachers throughout the day. He also discusses what he believes makes a successful principal and school administrator, and describes the roles that teachers, assistant principals, and principals play in operating a school.
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Oral history interview with Charles Quander conducted by Claytee D. White on October 27, 2005 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. Quander, who served as a flight officer in the Army Air Corps first all-Black fighter and bomber squadrons known collectively as the Tuskegee Airmen, talks about his upbringing in Washington, D.C., his early interest in flight, and his decision to train as a pilot at the outset of World War II. Quander talks about his training and reflects on both the process of learning to fly and the discrimination that the cadets experienced from the predominately white senior officers. He then talks about his post-military education and his career with the federal government, working as an investigator for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) and the United States Attorney's strike force on organized crime. He ends the interview describing his retirement and travel, his move to Las Vegas, Nevada, and his views on war, the Department of Homeland Security, and his perceptions of Las Vegas' growth.
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Oral history interview with Wayne Stacy conducted by his son, Russell Stacy, on February 26, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Stacy discusses his personal history and living in Boulder City, Nevada before eventually moving to Henderson, Nevada. Stacy describes the reasons why he moved to Boulder City as opposed to Las Vegas, Nevada, and the history of Boulder City. Stacy also describes how Boulder City and Henderson have changed, the history of Henderson, gambling, and nuclear tests.
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Oral history interview with Greg Phelps conducted by Claytee D. White on November 15, 2017 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. Greg Phelps discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2002 for work and attending the 2017 Route 91 Harvest festival with his mother and wife. He describes the event venue as well as his recollection of the shooting. Phelps explains how his life changed after that day, describing the true friendships he gained and his greater appreciation for living.
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Oral history interview with Margaret Casey conducted by Claytee D. White on January 13, 2005 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Margaret Casey discusses the female workers during World War II (WWII). She discusses Las Vegas, Nevada history during the mid-century. She also discusses the Mesquite Club, the ways of family life including the grocery stores, restaurants and the various leisure activities like gardening and golf. Casey then discussses topics such as the atomic testing, Howard Hughes and the transformation of Las Vegas' transportation and downtown.
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Interviewed by Barbara Tabach. Born and raised in Zacatecas, Mexico, Irma moved to Las Vegas in 1989. She is the Cultural Program Supervisor at Winchester Community Center and has devoted much of her career to preserving Hispanic cultural traditions in Las Vegas. She has been an active leader in local events such as Community Roots, International Food & Folk Life Festival, World Vibrations, and Dio de Los Muertos.
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Oral history interview with David Becker conducted by Claytee D. White and Barbara Tabach on May 15, 2018 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. In this interview, Becker recalls being on a three-day assignment at the Route 91 Harvest Country Music Festival across from the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. Thinking the gunfire was produced by malfunctioning equipment, he took photos of the scattering crowd. Moments later, in a now silent venue, he realized he captured a horrific massacre. Becker recalls photographing people leaving the venue as they performed acts of heroism, helping the fallen or the slow to reach safety. He discusses how difficult it is to comprehend the acts of that night, and how his photojournalist instincts allowed him to capture such devastating images.
Archival Collection