Oral history interview with Irene Doty conducted by Jackie Ogden on March 20, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Doty discusses the first casino properties and restaurants in Las Vegas, Nevada. She also describes her experiences as a justice of the peace, living conditions during World War II, her experiences in Goodsprings, Nevada, and being a juror in several murder trials.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Elizabeth Garrison conducted by Walter John Ritzau on February 25, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Garrison first talks about her schooling in Las Vegas, Nevada, the atomic testing, the Devils Hole in Ash Meadows, early church involvement, and some of the environmental aspects of Las Vegas. Garrison later describes her work for the Central Telephone Company and the Helldorado Parade.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Agnes Gauger conducted by Coleen Mancini on February 24, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Gauger discusses significant changes and growth in Southern Nevada, including gambling and other industries, family life and recreation, and the early atomic tests. Gauger also discusses housing in Las Vegas, Nevada, Howard Hughes, the McCarran Airport, medical facilities and education in Southern Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Hazel Gay conducted by Claytee D. White on December 02, 1995 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Gay discusses her husband being the first African-American mortician in Las Vegas, Nevada, as well as being the assistant manager at the Sands Hotel and Casino and an executive at the Union Plaza. Gay also discusses running dress shops and working as a display artist and retail clerk in other shops.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ernest Jackson conducted by Larry E. Cooper on March 1, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Jackson discusses his experiences in the Westside as a Black Las Vegas, Nevada resident. Jackson discusses the lack of property buyers on the Westside and his goals of improving the Westside by building on the land. Jackson also discusses his youth as a baseball star for Las Vegas High School in the 1950s.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with James M. Lancaster conducted by Linda Voorvart on March 04, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Lancaster explains how he first came to Southern Nevada from Mexico and Cuba. Lancaster then goes on to explain his occupational history as a senior safety engineer and power plant operator, and the different jobs that he held in Southern Nevada, specifically at the Nevada Test Site.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Woodrow Wilson conducted by Gwendolyn Goodloe on February 28, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Woodrow Wilson discusses working at the Basic Magnesium plant and about becoming the first African American elected to the Nevada Assembly in 1966. He also discusses serving as president of the Las Vegas, Nevada chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Peoples in 1951 and how he was a co-founder of the Westside Federal Credit Union.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Winnie Prince conducted by Irene Rostine on May 18, 1995 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. Prince opens her interview by discussing her history in Las Vegas, Nevada, which began when she moved to the city in 1942. Prince describes her husband's experiences living in a Las Vegas tent city, and her life in St. George, Utah prior to her move to Las Vegas. She also talks about her brief employment at the Basic Magnesium plant just before the end of World War II. Prince discusses her job responsibilities at the plant, and the importance of accuracy in her job as a shell casting inspector. Lastly, she describes her husband's job as a guard at the Basic Magnesium plant and the ways rationing affected daily life, including commuting to work and feeding her family.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Joe Carlson conducted by Allen Carlson on October 11, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Joe Carlson talks about how his family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1921 so that his father could work on the railroad. Joe discusses education, occupations, family life, and the social, economic and environmental changes of early Las Vegas. Joe also mentions presidential visits, the crash of Carole Lombard’s plane, early atomic tests, the old Mesquite forests, Fremont Street and the building of Boulder (Hoover) Dam.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Philip Murphy conducted by Stephen Johnson on January 22, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Murphy shares his memories of growing up in St. Thomas, Nevada. He also talks about the growth of Southern Nevada as people moved towards the west.
Archival Collection