Oral history interview with David Yancy conducted by Claytee D. White on September 19, 2022 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: A Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Yancy recalls moving to Las Vegas, Nevada with his parents in 1963, living on the Westside, and many of the businesses within the area's commerce and entertainment corridor. He attended Rancho High School, and went to the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, one of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). After graduation, Yancy worked in insurance and then became the auditor for the State of Arkansas. In 1976, he returned to Las Vegas and worked thirty-one years for the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC), and he recalls laying out the grids and designing the bus routes for Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Erma O. Godbey conducted by Dennis McBride on November 07, 1986 and November 08, 1986 for the Boulder City Library Oral History Project. In these interviews, Godbey discusses her move from Oatman, Arizona to Needles, Nevada in 1931. She remembers the economic depression at the time, life in the desert before air conditioning or refrigerators, and her husband’s employment as a road paver. Godbey talks about living in the tent-city Ragtown (Williamsville) and moving to Boulder City, Nevada. Godbey describes early housing, the first school in Boulder City, and the money printed by Six Companies to use at their stores. Lastly, Godbey discusses the Boulder City 31ers and preserving the history of Boulder City.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Al Lermusiaux conducted by Shirley Dianne Long on March 09, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Lermusiaux begins by talking about his move to Las Vegas, his family and what brought him to the city. He shares many anecdotes about the construction of different iconic buildings in Las Vegas, the inner workings of the business, payments to employees and the changes in technology. Lermusiaux, in particular, talks of the telephone system in the fifties and the changes in structures and their regulations. During his interview, Lermusiaux lays out an image of old Las Vegas and Henderson, giving detailed descriptions of the layout of the city, the projects he worked on and the effects of the weather on building structures in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Polly F. Lilly conducted by Connie L. Patterson on March 26, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project. In this interview, Lilly discusses a range of topics, from building a Catholic church in early Las Vegas, Nevada, to the nearby nuclear weapons tests. She also describes witnessing a confrontation between Senator Joseph McCarthy and Hank Greenspun on stage at the now demolished War Memorial Building in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Richard Schlegel conducted by Dennis McBride on June 03, 2006 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In this interview, Schlegel discusses his involvement with Equal Rights Nevada (ERN) and the petition to amend the Nevada Constitution that prevented same-sex marriages in the early 2000s. He talks about the approach that ERN took to campaign against the petition and the role that the Coalition for the Protection of Marriage had at the time. Schlegel then describes the Marriage Protection Pledge, his experiences managing a campaign supporting marriage rights for gay couples, and explains how the outcome of the petition affected the Las Vegas, Nevada gay community.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Stanley Schwartz conducted by Carol Schwartz on March 01, 1980 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Schwartz discusses Las Vegas, Nevada early history, including businesses, Fremont Street and Downtown, Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Patricia Knox conducted by Rebecca Snetselaar and Brenda Cruz on April 13, 2016 for the Folklife Program of the Nevada Arts Council and the Oral History Research Center at UNLV Libraries. Knox begins the interview by discussing how she learned to cook and different types of fish. She describes how she cooks catfish, what sides go well with catfish, fishing, and the fresh quality of fishes in Las Vegas, Nevada. Then, Knox talks about her restaurant, how she created the menu, and problems she has had with her chefs. Lastly, she describes her family customs and cooking style.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Frank M. Bollig conducted by Mabel Neal on March 23, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. During this interview Bollig discusses his personal life and reasons for moving to Southern Nevada. Bollig also talks about atomic testing, recreational activities available in Las Vegas, Nevada, various significant businesses in Las Vegas, and important casinos on the Las Vegas Strip.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Eva G. Simmons conducted by Khary D. Black on May 04, 2004 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Simmons reflects upon her 27 years as an administrator with Nevada’s Clark County School District (CCSD). She describes the process by which she became a teacher and eventually an administrator, and discusses the significance of the Teacher Advisory Committee in the development of her philosophy of school administration. She discusses student ethics, corporal punishment, cultural diversity, and bilingual programs within the school district, in addition to challenges that she faced from public entities and parents.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Alice Wisdom conducted by Elizabeth Goodman on October 13, 2003 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Wisdom reflects upon her career as a teacher and administrator in Texas and Nevada. She describes the process by which she first became a teacher in Texas, and then the Bahamas in the 1970s. She then discusses how she was hired to teach in Nevada’s Clark County School District in 1979 before eventually being appointed as principal of various elementary and middle schools. She describes her approach to school administration and working relationships, and discusses colleagues who impacted her throughout her career.
Archival Collection