Oral history interviews with Brenda J. Williams conducted by Claytee D. White on May 24, 2013 and June 10, 2013 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Williams discusses her personal history and life in Las Vegas, Nevada since she moved there as a child with her family during the 1940s. She describes the diversity of the Westside community she lived in, her family, and the recreational activities she participated in as a young woman. Williams talks about several careers that she has had over the course of her life, such as a telephone operator, hat shop owner, and board member for the Las Vegas Housing Authority before later transitioning to the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Robert Cannon conducted by an unknown interviewer on April 7th, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Cannon recalls his contribution to the Pacific Northwest promotional campaign, being on the Board of Directors at the Chamber of Commerce, and being a member of the Convention Authority. He also mentions working with Bobby Calhoun, Maxwell Kelch and the Earl Brothers. He describes Las Vegas, Nevada as the “Entertainment Capital of the World.”
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Jerry Cade conducted by Dennis McBride on various dates in February, May, June, July, and November of 2003 for the Las Vegas Gay Archives Oral History Project. In these interviews, Cade recalls his early life in Kermit, Texas, his education, his Methodist upbringing, and understanding his sexuality during high school and college. He then talks about traveling to Spain in January 1976 where he met his first romantic partner. Cade then describes moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1981 to work at the Community Health Centers of Southern Nevada. He also discusses other relationships he had since moving to Las Vegas, his political activism, working on the first American Medical Association panel to study AIDS in 1983, and his first AIDS patient in August 29, 1985. Cade then elaborates on the history of AIDS in Las Vegas, AIDS support and advocacy groups in Las Vegas, the public perception of AIDS and the gay community, and the repeal of Nevada's sodomy law.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with M.J. Christensen conducted by Rick Maggot on October 23, 1974 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Christensen recalls living in Las Vegas, Nevada during the crash of Carole Lombard’s plane and describes local reactions to the early aboveground atomic tests. He also discusses family, religious life, and the Mormon Church. Christensen speaks about his time as the head of the Merchant’s Bureau, president of the Chamber of Commerce, and the president of the Southern Nevada Better Business Bureau. He also discusses being an assemblyman for eight years and serving for four years as a senator in the state of Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Carmen Mahan conducted by Nathalie Martinez and Barbara Tabach on November 18, 2019 and August 19, 2020 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project.
Carmen discusses her personal history growing up in Barranquilla, Colombia and her professional aspirations in her present work; she is the founder of the Colombian Association of Nevada, a former member of the Professional Latina Women organization in Las Vegas, and has worked with Senator Harry Reid as a representative of the Colombian community related to voting rights and access. Subjects discussed include: Colombian Association of Nevada; National Hispanic Leadership Summit
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jessie Evans conducted by Bernard Timberg on January 18, 1974 and February 04, 1974 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Evans discuss life as a Native American and places such as Shoshone, Nevada, Owyhee, Nevada, Saint Thomas, Nevada and Winnemucca, Nevada. Later in the interview Evan's brother Henry Dave is introduced and the two of them briefly give a demonstration of the Shoshone language.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Gordon Christie conducted by Larry DuRussel on June 30, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Christie discusses working on the building of the MGM Grand Hotel, Fremont Hotel, Sahara Hotel, Desert Inn Hotel, and the Frontier Hotel. He also discusses religion, politics, family life in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the growth of Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Roy Waite conducted by Dale Haley in approximately 1974 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Waite begins by discussing his athleticism, being a part of the first basketball team in Las Vegas, Nevada, and his general store in Bunkerville, Nevada. Waite lists the different social organizations and boards he was affiliated with, describes the arrival of the railroads, and the ranch he used to own near Bunkerville. He talks about the construction of Hoover Dam (Boulder Dam) and how Southern Nevada has changed socially and environmentally. Waite also discusses smelting lead for bullets and relocating Native American remains away from a grave site that would be submerged by Lake Mead.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Stavan Corbett conducted by Nathalie Martinez on November 5, 2018 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. Barbara Tabach and Rodrigo Vazquez also participate in the questioning. Stavan Corbett is a member of the Latino community who has served as an educator and politician in Las Vegas. Growing up in Las Vegas, Stavan was exposed to various environments that all helped him shape his Latino identity. Stavan was able to appreciate the Catholic and Jewish cultures as well. During the 1970s and '80s his experiences with first and second generation Latinos played a large role in his identity formation, especially as a student. He was the first in his family to graduate from high school and college. Stavan worked in the hotel industry and moved on to work with troubled youth and eventually become a member of the Nevada State Board and the Clark County School Board. His continued work with the Latin Chamber of Commerce has also allowed him to be involved with the Latino Youth Leadership Conference. Subjects discussed include: Identity Struggle, Interracial Relationships, Working in the Hotel Industry, Clark County School District, and Cultural Assimilation.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jack Schofield conducted by Suzanne Becker on January 13, 2009 for Voices of the Historic John S. Park neighborhood. Schofield highlights his service as a fighter pilot in both World War II and the Korea conflict, his family genealogy, and his devotion to being an excellent educator, businessman, family man, and politician. Schofield describes his affection for the John S. Park Neighborhood and some of the changes that have occurred.
Archival Collection