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
Oral history interview with Ned Parcell conducted by James Russell on March 24, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Parcell discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1942 to teach soldiers at the Las Vegas Army Air Forces Gunnery School, now Nellis Air Force Base. He discusses the school and the types of information he taught the soldiers. Parcell also discusses the development of the downtown and Strip areas of Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jennilee Thayer conducted by Claytee D. White on August 12, 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Thayer discusses arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1936 when it was still a mining town. She describes early Henderson, Nevada, attending Basic High School, and recalls her father’s employment at the Basic Magnesium Plant. Lastly, Thayer discusses her employment in show production, atomic bomb testing, and changes in Las Vegas.
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 Marcia Washington conducted by Claytee D. White on February 14, 2013 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview Marcia Washington discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada at age thirteen and only attending black only schools. She talks about fun times from her childhood, her family life after getting married in 1972, and becoming the first African American on the State Board of Education in 2000.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Don Welch conducted by his daughter, Kelly Welch, on March 15, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Welch discusses his personal history and the history of Las Vegas, Nevada, including being raised in Las Vegas and life in the city during the 1930s. He describes how Las Vegas and the surrounding areas have grown and changed, his education, and the construction of casinos and other important buildings.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Roscoe Wilkes conducted by Claytee D. White on March 19, 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Roscoe Wilkes discusses moving to Pioche, Nevada, being a PBX operation, working as a lead zinc miner, and teaching grade school. He also talks about enlisting into World War II, during which he was a prisoner of war in Romania. He then discusses enrolling in the University of Southern California School of Law, becoming a district attorney, and then a judge.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Daniel Connell conducted by Shirley Emerson on November 18, 2013 for the West Charleston Neighborhoods: An Oral History Project of Ward 8. In this interview Daniel Connell discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1954, marrying his wife Linda after returning from the military, and moving to the Westleigh neighborhood of Ward 1 in 1973. He also talks about his family life, the state of his neighborhood throughout the years, and being hired by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
Archival Collection