Oral history interview with Jocelyn Oats conducted by Claytee D. White and John Grygo on November 30, 2012 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Oats discusses her family background and living in Las Vegas, Nevada since the mid 1950s. She describes the city at the time, the Baptist church community, and the church's influence on African Americans in West Las Vegas. Later, Oats talks about the issue of drugs in the Westside community and how it has affected members in her family. Lastly, Oats describes the African American experience in Las Vegas throughout her life.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Linh Fee conducted by Cecilia Winchell, Stefani Evans, and Jerwin Tiu on February 4, 2022 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
Linh Fee talks about her family life growing up in Oahu, Hawaii, how her parents met in Vietnam, and memories of her childhood with her six siblings. She shares how she moved to Las Vegas, Nevada to find work after graduating from college at the University of Hawaii and her brief time working in the hospitality industry as a cocktail server. Fee discusses her career change to become a dental hygienist and life with her husband and three children.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Glenn Shaw conducted by Shirley Leavitt on February 05, 2004 for the History of the Blue Diamond Village in Nevada Oral History Project. Shaw discusses moving to Blue Diamond, Nevada in 1977, where he purchased an acre of land for $4,000. He also discusses his role in funding the construction of Avery Road in Blue Diamond Village in 1978. He highlights the changes in the Village between the 1980s and 2000s, namely the changes to the Blue Diamond mine, the library, and telephone lines.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Peg Crockett conducted by Claytee D. White on May 21, 2012 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Crockett begins by discussing her move to Las Vegas, Nevada as a child in 1937 with her family. Crockett then describes meeting her husband, George Crockett, the owner and operator of Alamo Field, known today as McCarran International Airport. Crockett chronicles earning her pilot's license at eighteen years old and operating the air field with her husband in the late 1940s. Crockett then recounts meeting Howard Hughes when he landed his plane at Alamo Field and his involvement both in Las Vegas and aviation. Lastly, Crockett talks about ongoing development and construction of new casinos in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Thalia Dondero conducted by Claytee D. White on 2014 March 6 and April 2 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In her interview Dondero discusses community organizing in early Las Vegas, Nevada during the 1960s. Dondero also talks about her time in the state legislature.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Harry Wham conducted by Martha Mast on March 07, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Wham discusses arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1954 as an entertainer at the Silver Slipper Casino. Wham then talks about underwater diving and his experiences as a professional diver. Wham later recalls discovering jellyfish and other marine animals at Lake Mead during one of his diving trips. Lastly, Wham discusses the changes that Las Vegas went through, specifically changes in live entertainment around the city.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Cleophis Williams conducted by Claytee D. White on April 27, 2010 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview Cleophis Williams discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada, marrying her husband Tom Williams, having nine children, and family life in the historic Las Vegas neighborhood the Westside.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Charlotte Brascia conducted by Joe Mascellino on February 24, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Mascellino asks Brascia about social and cultural changes, the growth of different religions, Brascia’s brief presence in the airline industry, political presence in Las Vegas, Nevada, and rising crime rates. Brascia also specifically discusses her experience in the gaming and hospitality industry and how gaming operations have changed over time, particularly comparing gaming and hiring practices in the 1950s with those in the 1970s.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Carol Forsythe conducted by Sam Copeland on March 02, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Forsythe discusses her husband’s career as a firefighter, specifically facts about the growth of the Clark County Fire Department. Forsythe later talks about the different residences at which she and her family lived and the developmental changes to Las Vegas, Nevada since she first arrived. Forsythe then discusses the Helldorado tradition and its changes as well as her family’s Episcopalian faith and the churches they attended.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mustafa Richards conducted by Claytee D. White on March 10, 2013 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. He discusses working as the only black bellman at the time for the Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino and became the first African American bell captain. He also discusses his wife working for the Las Vegas, Nevada Clark County Library District for thirty years. Mustafa then discusses becoming a Muslim in the early 1990s and being appointed to be an Imam, a mosque officer, soon afterwards.
Archival Collection