Oral history interview with Hank Kovell conducted by Patrick F. Smith on September 26, 1973 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, Kovell briefly discusses his life in Northern California before moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in July 1956, where he would open and run a Las Vegas, Nevada advertisement agency, Kovell Inc., between 1964 and 1969. He then discusses his company's publications of political campaigns, Las Vegas casino publicity, and his work as a public relations director in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Richard T. Chapter conducted by Stan Hawkins on March 6, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Stan Hawkins discusses the cost of living in Las Vegas, Nevada, Howard Hughes, the Boulder Dam, the Union Pacific Railroad, the old Mormon Fort, gambling, local businesses, and the weather in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Nona Carroll conducted by Claytee D. White on July 06, 2018 and July 16, 2018 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In the first interview, Carroll discusses her family background and early life in St. Louis, Missouri. She recalls moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1987, her employment with Computer Software Analyst, Inc., and working at Nellis Air Force Base. In the second interview, Carroll talks about her community involvement in Las Vegas and her membership with the Summerlin Women’s Club. Lastly, Carroll discusses the organization J.U.G.S. (Justice, Unity, Generosity, Service, Inc.) and the Girl Friends, Inc.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Eldon E. Gearing conducted by Claytee D. White on February 07, 2013 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Gearing begins by describing how he developed his skills as a sheet metal worker through apprenticeships and his time in the United States Navy during World War II as an aviation metalsmith. Gearing discusses his air conditioning business and the contracting work he did for homes and casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada during the late 1950s and 1960s, including at Caesars Palace and the Tropicana. Other topics of discussion include rising drug use in the United States, his political opinions on issues such as welfare and government restrictions, and the future of Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Leroy Payne conducted by Claytee D. White on January 29, 2013 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Payne discusses working for Lockheed Overseas Corporation during World War II and his construction career in Las Vegas, Nevada. Payne describes traveling around England while employed by Lockheed Corporation and performing procurement duties for United States military bases. He also describes meeting and marrying his wife in Belfast, Ireland in 1943. Payne concludes by discussing their move to Las Vegas during the 1960s and his work in housing development constructing different neighborhoods and communities.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Paul Norton conducted by Sergio Pellegrino on April 3, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project.
In this interview, Paul Norton discusses his life in Henderson, Nevada and Las Vegas, Nevada from 1952 onward. He shares details of his work at Basic Magnesium Inc. (BMI) and at mills around the Valley. Norton talks about his opposition of the MX missile, in contrast to his opinions about atomic testing in Nevada. He also discusses the businesses that operated from 1950 to 1980, how the Las Vegas Strip was constructed, details of Fremont Street and the I-15 freeway, and flooding that was particularly destructive in Henderson.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Kenneth M. Daybell conducted by Patricia van Betten on April 05, 2010 for the History of Blue Diamond Village in Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Daybell discusses his early life in Utah, his move to Nevada, and his work as a gypsum lath plant operator and truck driver at the Blue Diamond Mine. He talks about what life was like in a company town, from living in a company-owned mobile home to shopping at the company store, and the growth of the town during his residence. He also discusses driving to Las Vegas, Nevada with his family for occasional shopping trips and meals at the Showboat Hotel and Casino buffet.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Curtis Myles conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on March 16, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Myles discusses his childhood in Las Vegas, Nevada and growing up in the Westside. He recalls his employment at McCarran International Airport, the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC), and later the Las Vegas Monorail. Lastly, Myles talks about corporate gaming mergers as they apply to monorail transit in Las Vegas, and speaks to the future of monorail transport relative to the airport, Maryland Parkway, and Downtown Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Carl Partridge conducted by Michelle Lee Muniz on April 16, 2003 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Partridge reflects upon his career as an elementary school teacher and administrator in Nevada’s Clark County School District (CCSD). He discusses the process by which he became a teacher with CCSD, later became a principal, and opened Myrtle Tate Elementary School in 1971. He also describes his approach to school administration, job responsibilities and salaries, and the Right to Read multimedia program that he developed throughout his career.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Robert M. Tubb conducted by Robert B. Grzywacz on March 01, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Tubb discusses moving to Nevada in 1907. He describes his early life and his father's career on the railroad, as well as the time he spent living in Ash Meadows Spring, Nevada and Death Valley. Tubb also goes into detail about his education and the growth of Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection