Oral history interview with Madeline Taylor Knighten conducted by Jay Brewer on November 06, 1974 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, Madeline Taylor Knighten discusses her life in the early days of Boulder City, Nevada. She also speaks about her husband’s work in the Green Hut Café, as well as in diamond drilling.
On March 18, 1978, collector Bill Hitchcock interviewed Della Coates (b. June 17th, 1919 in Birmingham, Alabama) at her home in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the interview, Della Coates discusses her time working for the telephone company. She also speaks about the changes in education and about changes throughout Las Vegas.
Oral history interview with Laralee Nelson conducted by Claytee D. White on April 20, 2010 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project Oral History Project. Nelson discusses her career as a cataloger at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Libraries from 1982 to 2010. She also discusses witnessing monumental changes in the library such as changes in leadership, a move from the old Dickinson Library to the new Lied Library, and the impact of the technology on the campus.
On February 11, 1977, collector Lee LaVecchia interviewed Barry V. Holt (born January 20th, 1946 in Las Vegas, Nevada) at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the interview, Mr. Holt speaks about the differences between growing up in Las Vegas in the fifties and sixties compared to how his children are growing up at the time of the interview. He also discusses education and the religious community in the city.
Earl and Gloria Alger were born in the early 1930s, met at the Mormon Church, dated in high school and have spent their entire lives in Las Vegas. Earl's story begins with his father arriving to take a construction job at the Boulder Dam. For a year he worked and saved to move his family from Utah to Las Vegas. The family lived on the Westside and Earl recalls he and his brother sharing a tent as their bedroom for a while. Gloria remembers growing up on Garcia Street in the downtown area. Her parents took her to a Liberace show for her 16th birthday, but other than that their lives were centered around the Mormon church. Her great-grandfather Torrel Lewis was one of the original pioneers from Salt Lake City. They describe the good old days of the "old Ranch", "Twin Lakes", and "frogging"; of the changed attitudes of working in gaming by the Mormon community and the more recent changes due to corporation leaders and increased traffic of the population growth.
Oral history interview with William Carlson conducted by Alice Brown on March 19, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Dr. William Carlson speaks about his experience working at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Carlson, who joined UNLV in 1957, provides his accounts on the history of the university library. Carlson also talks about some of the first librarians who were a part of the library, the funding and donations used to build and develop it, and the eventual construction and architecture of the James R. Dickinson Library.
Stephen Compan interviews entrepreneur Donald Edward Borsack on the front porch of his home in Las Vegas. Born in Bell, California in 1928, Borsack moved to Las Vegas in 1936. Occupations Borsack has had include insurance adjuster, clothing salesman, proprietor and owner of four El Portal Luggage stores. During this interview Borsack discusses the growth of Nevada, and sports and recreation in the early days, including Nevada’s first professional baseball team.
Oral history interview with Lucela M. Wattin conducted by Stefani Evans on December 6, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. Lucela shares memories of her life growing up in Cebu Province, Philippines and being raised by her mother and grandparents after her father's death. She talks about immigrating to the United States under her fiancée's visa, moving to Chinatown in Las Vegas, and her work as a busser at the Excalibur Hotel. Lucela discusses how joining the Culinary Workers Union improved her work conditions and benefits, and how she is working with the union and a legal attorney to help her daughter immigrate to America. She also shares her favorite Filipino dishes (sinagang, chicken adobo, and bugas mais), holiday traditions, and what life was like when casinos shut down during COVID-19.
Oral history interview with Vernon Earl Bunker conducted by Janice E. Sellers on October 19, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Bunker discusses his religious affiliation with the Latter-Day Saints Church in Las Vegas, Nevada; First State Bank, Moapa Valley, and the flood of 1910.