Oral history interview with James Matson conducted by Ken Rose on February 23, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, Matson discusses his early life in Pensacola, Florida and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada to work in resort and housing construction in 1952. Matson also discusses his family, his part-time work as a personal security guard, and the growth of Las Vegas. Lastly, he discusses African American racial discrimination and economic opportunities in Las Vegas in the 1950s to the 1980s.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jack W. Cornell conducted by Richard Fesler on February 18, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Jack Cornell discusses historical buildings in Nevada, his experiences as an airplane mechanic for the Army Air Corps during World War II, the effects of the Great Depression, when he assisted an air escort for President Franklin Roosevelt, when he witnessed one of the atomic tests, and how the rural area in Manhattan, Nevada has changed over time.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Rowena Gonzalez conducted by Michael Boyd on March 01, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Gonzalez first talks about her family background and residential history before discussing the way of life in Texas and eventual move to Las Vegas, Nevada. Several topics covered in the interview include Gonzalez’s recollections of the atomic testing, the building of the Boulder (Hoover) Dam, and Howard Hughes. The two also discuss tourism, the properties on the Strip and in Downtown Las Vegas, and early means of transportation.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Bernice Johnson conducted by Dan Buress on February 21, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Johnson discusses her personal history and her reasons for moving to Las Vegas, Nevada. Johnson describes moving between Southern California and Las Vegas while her husband worked for the railroad company. The interview concludes with Johnson recalling her memories of the Von Tobel family and the rapid population growth in Las Vegas after the construction of the Nevada Test Site.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Richard Erbe conducted by Marcela Yepes on March 19, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Erbe discusses his educational background, his first teaching position as a fifth grade teacher, and his military experience. He also talks about church activity, politics, and social activities in Las Vegas, Nevada. Erbe also discusses his views on the educational system, his experiences as a principal, and some challenges he encountered at the administrative level.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Norman Forsythe conducted by Bill Cunningham on March 04, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Forsythe discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada and joining the City of Las Vegas and Clark County Fire Departments. He also goes into detail about fighting the fire at the El Rancho Vegas in 1960 and his responsibilities as a battalion chief. The interview concludes with Forsythe talking briefly about his family’s recreational activities and his experience as a baseball coach.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mark Douglas conducted by Dennis McBride on May 16, 1999 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Archives Oral History Project. In this interview, Douglas discusses his family and upbringing in the Mormon Church, his realization of his sexuality, first experiences with gay clubs and associations, and the conflict between his feelings and his faith. He continues talking about Church views of homosexuality in a modern and historical context and then details two organizations that offer support to LGBT members of the Mormon Church.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Diana Lombardo conducted by Gayle Allen on December 3, 1995 for the KDWN Radio Lifelines Oral History Interviews on Nursing.
Diana Lombardo, a registered nurse at University Medical Center, board member of the Nevada Nurses Association District 3, Nevada State Council President, and past president of the American Nurses Association Suncoast Chapter, talks on the public radio show "Lifelines with Gayle Allen" about her profession. She shares details of being an emergency room nurse and the responsibilities of working with trauma patients.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Keith Boman conducted by Claytee D. White on June 24, 2019 and July 23, 2019 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In the first interview, Bowman discusses his upbringing Boulder City, Nevada and Las Vegas, Nevada. Boman remembers his career in medicine, and his early interest in the arts. In the second interview, Boman talks about his involvement with the founding of the Smith Center for the Performing Arts, working with Don Snyder and with Fred Smith, and serving on the board of the Reynolds Foundation. Lastly, Boman discusses his role with the Super Summer Theatre and the Animal Foundation.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Steven Clarke conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on November 17, 2016 and December 08, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In the first interview, Clarke discusses his early life in Winnipeg, Canada. He talks about his early interest in architecture, and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2011. Clarke talks about becoming the director of the Downtown Design Center, future plans for the Historic Westside Community, and his role in the Historic Urban Neighborhood Design Redevelopment plan. In the second interview, Clarke discusses the HUNDRED Plan, a plan for community-led investment in the Historic Westside.
Archival Collection