Oral history interview with Patricia Merl conducted by Claytee D. White on October 09, 2008 October 28, 2008 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Patricia Merl discusses her career as a professional dancer, working at the famous Radio City Music Hall, moving to Las Vegas, Nevada for opportunities in dancing, and moving to Florida for new possibilities. She also discusses teaching at the Hotel School at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and working as the Director of Gaming Outreach for the International Gaming Institute.
Robin L. Hayes interviews her Greek-American grandmother Georgia Adras, born 1916, in Farmington, Utah. Adras relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1936. This interview covers education, religion, ad raising a family in Nevada. During the interview Adras also discusses the building of the Boulder Dam, road conditions, grocery shopping in the early days, and the Strip.
Oral history interview with Edea Trapletti conducted by Claytee D. White on June 21, 2010 for the Voices of the Historic John S. Park Neighborhood Oral History Project. In this interview, Trapletti discusses her early life in Trieste, Italy. She talks about coming to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1950, her initial reaction to the city, and building a home in the John S. Park neighborhood. Trapletti describes the community in the area, religious organizations, and social life at the time. Lastly, Trapetti discusses the future of the John S. Park neighborhood and the other neighborhoods near downtown Las Vegas.
Oral history interview with Oneil Madden conducted by Yasmine Shahar and Taylor Burk on March 31, 2016 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Madden discusses his upbringing in Montreal, Canada. He talks about his religious family background, being involved in church activities, and his involvement with church youth programs. Madden describes food banks organized by the churches, tutoring services for children, and explains the significance of the Sabbath. Lastly, Madden discusses his role as pastor of Abundant Life Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Oral history interviews with David Green conducted by Dennis McBride on August 20 and October 22, 1999 for the Las Vegas Gay Archives Oral History Project. In the interviews, Green discusses his contributions to the founding and operation of the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada, also known as The Center. He recalls purchasing the first building used for The Center in 1993, anecdotes about other founding members, and details regarding the administrative management at The Center. Green also discusses his early life in New York, understanding his sexuality, and his family's reactions.
Oral history interview with Raquel Ward conducted by Claytee D. White on March 25, 2010 for the UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection. In this interview, Ward discusses her upbringing and family background in Tierra Blanca, Veracruz, Mexico. She remembers completing nursing school in Mexico, arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1958, and attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Ward talks about moving to Boulder City, Nevada, raising her children in Las Vegas, and the increase of organized crime during the 1960s. Lastly, Ward discusses the fast growth of the Hispanic community in Las Vegas during the 1970s and Hispanic representation in political positions.
Oral history interview with Louis Fisher conducted by Samuel Barto on March 20, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Fisher discusses the history of Las Vegas, Nevada from 1953 and offers insight into the rapid growth of Las Vegas with special focus on the Las Vegas Strip, banks, the steady influx of people moving to Las Vegas for the warm climate, and housing.
Oral history interview with J. D. Smith conducted by Albert Hewitt on October 31, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Smith begins by discussing his move to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1927 after buying an office for his dental practice. He describes life in Las Vegas at the time, how the city has expanded and changed, and his career as a dentist. Smith also talks about his time as president of the Nevada State Board of Education. He concludes by elaborating on other aspects of Las Vegas history, such as the crash of Carole Lombard's plane, the Helldorado Parades, and nuclear weapons testing.
Oral history interview with Susan Watson conducted by Claytee D. White on February 20, 2013 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Watson discusses graduating from Rancho High School in 1962 and working as a dental assistant and an interior designer.
On a sunny day in 1946, the train from Shreveport, Louisiana, stopped at The Plaza hotel in downtown Las Vegas like it always did. But on this particular day, Atha Toliver and her only child, twelve-year-old Barbara, stepped off the train and onto the dusty Western street of Fremont. Narrator Barbara Bates Kirkland recalls that event and living in Las Vegas for most of the next seven decades during this 2004 interview. Like many others who migrated from the South, Barbara Kirkland’s mother would find employment as a maid. A friend who already lived in Las Vegas had told her of the good paying jobs as private maid. So Atha who was determined that her daughter would get an education and a finer future saw this as her opportunity to achieve this for her daughter. Later, the entrepreneurial and creative mother opened Eva’s Flower Basket, a floral shop that Barbara operates in her retirement from teaching. Barbara returned to Louisiana for her senior year in high school, attended Southern University in Baton Rouge, and then returned to Las Vegas to teach first grade at Westside School. Barbara was active in the community, was a founding member of Les Femmes Douze, involved with Zion United Methodist Church and was friends with many of the early African American community leaders at the time. She talks about these, describes various neighborhoods where she lived and about raising her own two children in Las Vegas. Barbara was a founding member of Les Femmes Douze. AKA/Akateens.