Oral history interview with Mike Velardo conducted by his son, William Velardo, on March 15, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Velardo discusses his career in the gaming industry in Las Vegas, Nevada. Velardo describes the history of casinos and gambling in Las Vegas, including how those industries have changed since he first moved to the city in 1957. He goes on to discuss the cost of entertainment, cheating in casino games, and the benefits of the design of the Caesars Palace pit, where Velardo is a casino manager.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Luella Wardle conducted by Elizabeth Nelson Patrick on August 04, 1981 and August 05, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Wardle discusses living in Tonopah, Nevada since 1907 and describes the living conditions at the time. Wardle also discusses education and the school system, recreational activities, and her employment in banking. She then describes Tonopah during World War II and explains how the army base was beneficial for businesses. Wardle goes on to explain where the families of the soldiers would stay while stationed in Tonopah. Lastly, Wardle discusses organizations she was a member of, the significance of fraternal organizations to Southern Nevada, and Tonopah during prohibition.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Frankie Perez conducted by Elsa Lopez and Laurents Bañuelos-Benitez on November 05th, 2018 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. Perez speaks about the importance of sports, and the lack of Latinx representation in teachers during high school. Perez then discusses being placed on medical hold in the military, how his transition affected his physical tests, how the 2016 election may have impacted transgendered people in the military, and how everyday military personnel feel about transgendered people serving in the military. The interview concludes with Perez discussing the Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay, Transgendered, and Queer (LGBTQ) scene in Las Vegas, Nevada and about how culture impacts which clubs members of LBGTQ community would visit.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Anthony Kappenman conducted by Claytee D. White on May 16, 2019 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. Kappenman begins the interview by talking about his early life, childhood, work, and his time in the military. Afterwards, he recalls what he did on October 1, 2017 prior to the Route 91 festival and during the shooting. He describes his journey trying to escape the area, arriving at the airport injured, and his stay in the hospital. Then, Kappenman talks about how he felt about the way the city and first responders had responded during the shooting, and how the community united afterwards. Lastly, he talks about his opinions on gun control, his recovery, and how he felt after the shooting.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Judy Mack conducted by Barbara Tabach on June 2, 2015 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. In this interview, Judy Mack discusses her survival during the Holocaust and her move to San Francisco, California at the age of eleven. She discusses her later move to Reno, Nevada with her husband and son where she grew her family and began a successful pawn shop enterprise before moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1990. She goes into detail on her family history as well as her family's current involvement with the Jewish community. Mack also speaks of her involvement with the Sperling Kronberg Mack Holocaust Resource Center and the other ways she has recorded her history of the Holocaust.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Gloria E. Hernandez conducted by Nathalie Martinez, Maribel Estrada Calderon, and Rodrigo Vazquez on December 07, 2018 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. Gloria E. Hernandez starts the interview by recalling her childhood and early years in Jalisco, Mexico. Hernandez relates her experiences during her immigration to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1987. Hernandez discusses her career and her first job in the hospitality industry at the Frontier Hotel and Casino. Gloria shares her role in the longest labor strike in United States history while she was working at the Frontier. Gloria talks about her membership and involvement in the Culinary Workers Union Local 226, primarily talking about her role as a union organizer.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Cranford Crawford conducted by Claytee D. White on May 27, 2016 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview Crawford discusses his early life and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1964. He talks about his involvement with the Las Vegas branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), working with African American community leaders, and the consent decree of 1971 alleging a series of violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Crawford describes his career with the Clark County Department of Family Services (DFS), issues of segregation in Las Vegas, and being involved with Les Femmes Douze (The Ladies Twelve). Lastly, Crawford discusses Las Vegas government, school integration, and becoming a Freemason.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Franzine Jasper conducted by Claytee D. White on September 20, 2017 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Jasper discusses her early life in Brooklyn, New York. She recalls becoming a nurse, moving to Henderson, Nevada in 1987, and her employment at a nursing home. Jasper remembers the Pacific Engineering and Production Company of Nevada (PEPCON) explosion, and describes the damage caused in that area. Later, Jasper discusses joining the faculty at the College of Southern Nevada (CSN), becoming the Chair of the nursing department, and later becoming Provost for the North Las Vegas campus. Lastly, Jasper talks about teaching courses at CSN, and the increase of English as a second language (ESL) students at CSN.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Sylvester Collier conducted by Claytee D. White on May 17, 2017 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Collier discusses his early life in Dallas, Texas. He talks about his interest in art, joining the United States Air Force in 1951, and being sent to Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nevada. Collier recalls attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), earning a master’s degree in education, and teaching art classes in the Clark County School District (CCSD). Later, Collier discusses starting the Left of Center Art Gallery, and describes some of his art pieces. Lastly, Collier talks about his experience as an African American artist.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Paris Oddo conducted by Claytee D. White on July 20, 2017 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Oddo discusses her early life in Detroit, Michigan. She recalls moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1984, becoming an electrician, and being a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (I.B.E.W) Local Union 357. Oddo talks about completing a five-year apprenticeship program offered by the Union, and her experience as a female electrician. She remembers her employment at the Nevada Test Site, working closely with radioactive materials, and being diagnosed with illnesses due to radioactive exposure while at the Nevada Test Site. Lastly, Oddo expresses her concerns over nuclear waste storage at Yucca Mountain.
Archival Collection