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 Esther Wolverton conducted by Karl Kuopus on February 25, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Wolverton discusses her move to southern Nevada in 1928 and her life in Las Vegas, Nevada with her family. She also talks about life with her husband after he returned from serving in World War I. Wolverton describes the entertainment in Las Vegas and recreational activities she participated in. Later, she discusses the first Helldorado Parade, development of the Las Vegas Strip, and changes in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Larry Clinesmith conducted by Patricia van Betten on February 07, 2007 for the History of Blue Diamond Village in Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Clinesmith discusses his upbringing and decision to pursue a degree in biological illustration. He then talks about graduating in the early 1970s and the beginning of his career with the Nevada State Parks system as a ranger at the Spring Mountain Ranch State Park. He details the early years of the Park, the history of the Spring Mountain Ranch, and the many changes to the Park and the surrounding area. He also discusses some of the Park Service employees. Finally, he talks about the decision to move to the Village of Blue Diamond, Nevada from Henderson, Nevada, and people and events in the village.
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 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 Patrick Egger conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on March 20, 2018 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Egger discusses his early life in Baltimore, Maryland and arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1968. He recalls becoming an electrician for the United States Air Force, being stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, and his initial interest in general appraisal. Egger describes his work in valuation, consulting, and urban real estate studies. Egger talks about his involvement with the Geographic Information System (GIS), Dual Independent Mapping Encoding (DIME), and the Clark County Regional Planning Council. Lastly, Egger discusses his employment with Nevada Savings & Loan (now PriMerit Federal Savings Bank), and the concept of time-value of money (TVM).
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Sarann Knight Preddy conducted by Yvonne R. Hunter on July 16, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Knight discusses her bar (The Lincoln Bar) in Hawthorne, Nevada and how she built it for the African American community because of limited access to venues due to segregation. Knight then talks about working with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the influence that gambling had on the community.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ray Christian conducted by Russell Ellis on March 19, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Christian discusses race relations within schools, baseball teams, theatres, and Boy Scouts in Las Vegas, Nevada. He also talks about his custodial at the El Portal Theatre, the Las Vegas Westside neighborhood, and living through the Great Depression. Christian ends the interview discussing how white and black veterans helped improved race relations in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Wendell Leavitt conducted by Quincy Vineyard on July 15, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Leavitt discusses growing up in Bunkerville, Nevada and the significance of politics in Las Vegas, Nevada. Leavitt later discusses his role as Justice of the Peace in Bunkerville, the Boulder (Hoover) Dam, and mining.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Justin Beltram conducted by David G. Schwartz on July 07, 2016 for the Slot Operations Oral History Project. Beltram describes how he transitioned from a property role to a corporate role and some of his mentors throughout his career. Beltram also discusses his different approaches to local and transient customers, the major changes in general to slot machines since he started in the industry, and his thoughts on the future of slot operations.
Archival Collection