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Hazel Gay oral history interview

Identifier

OH-00662

Abstract

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

Bernice Reid oral history interview

Identifier

OH-01551

Abstract

Oral history interview with Bernice Reid conducted by Brenda Sawyer on March 12, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Reid describes life in Nevada after moving there in 1926 and the challenges she and her ex-husband faced trying to breed chinchillas on their ranch on Mount Charleston. Reid also discusses the development of Las Vegas, Nevada, seeing President Hoover speak at the Hoover (Boulder) Dam, and the nuclear weapons tests.

Archival Collection

Harry Mortenson oral history interviews

Identifier

OH-01341

Abstract

Oral history interviews with Harry Mortenson conducted by Claytee D. White on April 08, 2014, April 22, 2014, and May 06, 2014 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In the first interview, Mortenson discusses his personal background, working at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, and arriving to Nevada to work as a nuclear physicist at the Nevada Test Site. Mortenson describes his work and recalls anecdotes from his employment. He then talks about his company, Sigma Scientific, and explains the different projects where he worked as a consultant. In the second interview, Mortenson discusses the methods of transportation used to arrive to the Nevada Test Site, his involvement with different organizations, and his tenure in the Nevada State Legislature. In the final interview, Mortenson discusses the device he built to take photographs of the nuclear reactor cores at Las Alamos National Laboratory, and explains how that device worked.

Archival Collection

Lily Teo oral history interview

Identifier

OH-03828

Abstract

Oral history interview with Lily Teo conducted by Stefani Evans on February 7, 2022 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.

Lily Teo discusses her upbringing in Singapore, her education, her religious beliefs, and converting from Buddhism to Catholicism. She talks about her husband, her early married years, and what life was like as a young mother of three children. Teo shares how she started a catering business to feed construction workers and was responsible for shopping for ingredients, preparing all meals and tea, and cooking the food on site in her temporary kitchen. She talks about her children, the faiths they practice and languages they speak including English, Malay, and Mandarin, and the customs and traditions they practice, such as celebrating Lunar New Year and other holidays. Lily's daughter, Stella, sits in on the interview and expands on her mother's recollections.

Archival Collection

James Ryan oral history interview

Identifier

OH-01615

Abstract

Oral history interview with James "Sailor" Ryan conducted by Perry Kaufman in 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Ryan discusses moving to Nevada from Montana in 1935. Ryan describes his career as a construction laborer for the Hoover Dam (Boulder Dam) as well as later positions in construction. Ryan also details his involvement in politics and his position in the Nevada Assembly. Lastly, Ryan discusses gambling and the growth of Las Vegas, Nevada.

Archival Collection

Maurine Swarts oral history interview

Identifier

OH-01793

Abstract

Oral history interview with Maurine Swarts conducted by Teresa McGhie on May 01, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Swarts discusses her personal history and Southern Nevada history. Swarts discusses the crash of Carole Lombard's plane, above ground nuclear tests, and her recreational interests. Swarts also describes how Las Vegas, Nevada has changed.

Archival Collection

Sylvester Collier oral history interview

Identifier

OH-03183

Abstract

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

Albert Schouten oral history interview

Identifier

OH-01643

Abstract

Oral history interview with Albert Schouten conducted by Roger DeSart on February 26, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Schouten discusses his family background in Las Vegas, Nevada dating back to 1924 and recalls growing up in Las Vegas. Schouten then describes the changes that the city went through and growth of Las Vegas at large. Later in the interview, Schouten discusses the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the opening of Boulder (Hoover) Dam with President Roosevelt, the increase in number of schools, and the construction of Nevada Southern University (later University of Nevada, Las Vegas). Lastly, Schouten shares his thoughts on how Las Vegas lost its sense of community, and discusses the increase of crime in Las Vegas.

Archival Collection

Lillian Morrison oral history interviews

Identifier

OH-01335

Abstract

Oral history interview with Lillian Morrison conducted by Dennis McBride on February 05 and 10, 1996 and July 29, 1996 for the Boulder City Library Oral History Project. Morrison opens her interview by discussing life in rural Iowa, her family, and their farm. She discusses how the farm operated in detail and what farming was like in the 1930s. Morrison describes moving to Boulder City, Nevada for employment opportunities. Morrison then describes the Six Companies, her husband's work there, and what living in Six Companies housing was like. Morrison then discusses working at Hoover Dam (Boulder Dam), race relations between African American and white workers, and discovering her own prejudices. She also talks about working for the National Park Service. Lastly, Morrison describes Boulder City, and important people living in the city.

Archival Collection

Lucile Nyberg oral history interview

Identifier

OH-01401

Abstract

Oral history interview with Lucile Nyberg conducted by Alison Hartough on February 22, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Nyberg discusses the history of Overton, Nevada and life in the town. Nyberg describes early Las Vegas, Nevada and life in Boulder City, Nevada. Nyberg goes on to discuss her career as a teacher and the changes made to education in Las Vegas. Nyberg also discusses the development and the economy of Las Vegas, and briefly discusses prostitution in the city. Nyberg's husband, Richard Nyberg, is present during the interview, but does not speak.

Archival Collection