Oral history interview with Justin Kaiser conducted by John (last name unknown) on September 23, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Kaiser discusses his childhood in Las Vegas, Nevada and how his parents originally moved to Southern Nevada. He also expresses his desire for Las Vegas to discontinue its growth and remain a smaller city.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Janet Adams conducted by Glodene Sawyer on October 13, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Adams (born in Scotland) discusses her move to Las Vegas, Nevada from California with her husband. Adams also briefly discusses early churches, the above-ground atomic testing, President Kennedy’s visit, and her enjoyment in recreational fishing.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Lester Adams (b. 1918) conducted by Caroline Fitzpatrick on March 14, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. A native Nevadan, Adams discusses his personal family history, World War II, and the Adams Feed Company of which he is the owner. Adam also discusses the early above ground atomic tests and the local economy.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Fred Anderson conducted by Cortez Corley on April 22, 1986 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Anderson discusses his history of living in Ely, Nevada. Anderson primarily discusses his experiences as a miner working for the Kennecott Copper Corporation. He also mentions his experiences with unions, atomic testing, and the growth of Nevada in general.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Maria Banks conducted by Barbara Hoyt on September 23, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Banks discusses her experiences managing a jukebox company, owning and operating two restaurants, and working for a music company. She also discusses her Mormon religion and the relationship she had with her late husband. Banks also discusses the change in climate over time, specifically the increasing humidity.
Archival Collection
On March 20, 1978, Charles Conti interviewed hairdresser and physical education instructor of St. Francis School, Charlotte Conti (born Charlotte Anne Easton on December 13, 1941 in Arkansas) at her home in Las Vegas, Nevada. During the interview Charlotte discusses occupations, Mormon Church activity, education, marriage and raising a family in Las Vegas. She then recalls the social significance and communal impact of the annual Helldorado Parade. She also discusses the overall growth and development of Las Vegas, Nevada, from 1953 to 1978.
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Series I. Personal Papers, photographs, and designs
Mixed Content
Oral history interview with Vernon Bostick conducted by Robert McCracken on January 19-20, 2000 and February 04, 2000 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. Bostick opens his interviews by discussing his family history and upbringing in a company-owned town in Colorado. Bostick talks extensively about his life in Colorado, his interest in nature, and working on his family ranch. He then describes his forestry management job for the state of Washington. Bostick discusses how his work eventually took him out West, and why he opened a consulting firm to facilitate relations between the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and ranchers. He then talks about how his son's success working at the Nevada Test Site convinced him to take a job there in the 1960s. Bostick then discusses a variety of environmental issues and law specific to Las Vegas, Nevada. Bostick ends his interview discussing his opinions about environmental legislation and management.
Archival Collection
On February 27, 1980, Rafael Reyes-Spindola interviewed Mary Leo (b. Mary Susanne Kaime Leo in 1949 in Santa Barbara, California) about her life growing up in the Las Vegas Valley and her varied career path. Leo, having moved to Las Vegas as a toddler, talks about what the city was like when she arrived, the landscape, schooling and local life in general. She remembers the construction of the University of Las Vegas, Nevada and the growth of the city and population. Through her anecdotes, Leo shares the local attitude towards the Strip that Las Vegans develop as a result of being raised in the city and focuses the beginning half of her interview on life outside of the Strip. The interviewer and Leo move their conversation towards her career path, beginning in a coffee shop at the Riviera Hotel & Casino, her time in the travel industry, as a Las Vegas showgirl in the famed Folies Bergere show, her return to the Riviera as the director of sales and catering, and the legacy she hopes to leave behind with her career.
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Oral history interview with Gene Kilroy conducted by Claytee White on October 18, 2021 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Kilroy begins by discussing being born in a mining camp and his grandmother being an important figure in his life. Throughout the interview, Kilroy discusses working at various places on the Las Vegas Strip, including the Dunes Hotel and MGM Grand and meeting many famous people. He discusses the military being an important part of his life, as well as his time playing professional football for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Archival Collection