On March 2, 1977, Danny DiGiacomo interviewed office manager, Maxine James (born September 6th, 1925, in Hayti, Missouri) about her life in Southern Nevada. The two discuss the ease with which people could find jobs in early Las Vegas. The interview provides an overview of James’ occupational history in Las Vegas and concludes with a discussion on the rapid growth of the city in the fifties and sixties.
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Oral history interview with Karen Sarret Bartolo conducted by Judy Harrell on November 25, 2013 for the West Charleston Neighborhoods--an Oral History Project of Ward 1. Bartolo recalls how it was growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada and her involvement with the Mormon Church. Bartolo then talks about her father's business, her starting a family and teaching for Clark County School District until retiring.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Stella Champo Iaconis conducted by Kay Long on May 14, 1997, May 21, 1997, May 26, 1997, and September 22, 1997 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. Iaconis opens her interviews discussing her difficult upbringing and life on a ranch in Las Vegas, Nevada with her dad in the 1910s and 1920s. Iaconis then describes her experiences as a waitress in Las Vegas. As the interviews continue, Iaconis discusses Block 16 and sex work, the Helldorado Days, and life in 1930s Las Vegas. Iaconis ends the interview talking about her father and his career as a miner; her many husbands; and her personal history in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
On July 3, 1975, Robin Wright interviewed Doctor Nancy Leveque (b. 1933 in Oak Park, Illinois) about her time living in Las Vegas, Nevada. The interview covers, among many wide-ranging topics, Leveque’s move to and away from Las Vegas, her career as a veterinarian, and the practice she and her then-husband built. Leveque also discusses how the city of Las Vegas has changed-environmentally and socially-, special interest groups and social activities, as well as natural phenomena. Throughout the course of the interview, Leveque provides anecdotes about prominent figures and old Las Vegas traditions, such as Helldorado.
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Oral history interviews with Liliam Lujan Hickey conducted by Layne Karafantis on March 18, 2010 and March 25, 2010 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. Hickey begins her interviews describing growing up in Havana, Cuba in the 1930s, getting married at 16, and her life with her family in Cuba until they felt compelled to leave in 1960 to the United States. Hickey recounts her transition to American culture and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1964. She then discusses marrying her second husband, Tom Hickey, and her campaign for the Nevada Board of Education. Hickey also talks about a Hispanic community organization she helped created, Circulo Cuban, which eventually merged into the Latin Chamber of Commerce. Finally, she discusses how the organization promotes Hispanic culture, and her work to improve education in Las Vegas, and other community activism.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Chris Spotted Eagle conducted by Claytee D. White and Stephen Pastorino on January 16, 2025 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Spotted Eagle recalls growing up on the Paiute Reservation in Las Vegas, and shares that part of his family is from the Moapa Band of Paiutes. Spotted Eagle's paternal grandfather, Raymond Anderson, was a fabricator and ironworker for YESCO where he helped create the "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign designed by Betty Willis. He shares how the reservation began as a 10-acre plot of land and is now over 4,000 acres. Growth followed various successful enterprises: a smoke shop, three 18-hole golf courses with a wedding chapel, and now, the cannabis industry.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Brendan Ly conducted by Cecilia Winchell and Stefani Evans on March 27, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. Brendan discusses his background growing up in communist Vietnam in the early 1970s and fleeing with his family as refugees; they immigrated to Hong Kong, China before moving to the United States to live briefly in North Carolina before settling in California. Brendan talks about working at a young age picking fruit, working in catering, and having positions in retail before pursuing higher education and studying pharmaceuticals. He shares stories of his work experience with Walgreens and how this led to him opening a pharmacy with his brother, which they've managed together for the past 18 years.
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Oral history interview with C.E. Hansley conducted by George Whitehair on May 27, 1974 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In his interview Hansley discusses moving to Nevada in the mid 1950s and mining in Tonopah, Nevada. He also discusses the changes he has seen in Nevada infrastructure.
Archival Collection
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Oral history interview with Elena Newman conducted by Cecilia Winchell and Stefani Evans on April 11, 2022 for the Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Newman discusses her childhood in Dagupan, Pangasinan, Philippines. At the age of eighteen, she moved to Singapore for better work opportunities to help support her family. After meeting her husband, the couple moved to Las Vegas, Nevada. Since moving to Las Vegas, Newman has spent her time working as both a guest room attendant and shop steward at Mandalay Bay. She is also a part of the Culinary Workers Union, and she discusses how helpful the union is to the livelihoods of the many workers in the casino industry.
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