Oral history interview with Jill Roberts conducted by Barbara Tabach and Claytee D. White on March 20, 2018 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. In this interview, Jill Roberts discusses her position as the CEO of the Trauma Intervention Program (TIP) of Southern Nevada. She also delves into her part-time work at the coroner's office as a death investigator and discusses her personal background in Las Vegas, Nevada after she moved to the city in 1977. She describes the role TIP had during the aftermath of the October 1, 2017 mass shooting, where well-trained volunteers were dispatched to hotels, hospitals, and anywhere else the survivors reached in order to provide emotional and practical support. Throughout the interview, Roberts emphasizes that the assistance provided to those in a traumatic event depends on each individual's needs. She shares a few examples of what the TIP volunteers had helped with after the shooting, including listening to the survivors' stories as well as providing information on the situation, helping separated loved ones find each other, arranging travel for some survivors to go back to their homes, and procuring clothes and shoes for those who needed them. Roberts also discusses the gratitude TIP had received after the shooting, including the thank you cards sent by Sandy Hook High School.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Thomas Cooper conducted by Irene Rostine on August 04, 2011 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN). Cooper begins his interview by describing his journey from Dublin, Ireland to Ohio, California, and eventually Las Vegas, Nevada to work for the Centel Telephone Company and Centel Business Systems. Cooper explains his job responsibilities and talks about what phone companies and telecom systems were like in the 1950s. Cooper goes into detail about the tools and equipment needed to install telecom systems in hotels and businesses. He also talks about the technology that made manual operators obsolete.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Hank Greenspun conducted by Perry Kaufman in 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Hank Greenspun discusses the newspaper industry, the Las Vegas Sun (local Las Vegas, Nevada newspaper), the Las Vegas Review-Journal, economic expansion in Las Vegas, Nevada, atomic testing, and the Local 226 Culinary Union.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Perry Dickerson conducted by Bryce Gracie on February 21, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Dickerson discusses the history of Las Vegas, Nevada from his perspective. In particular, he discusses telephone companies’ improvements, McCarren Airport growth, boat races at Lake Mead, Golden Nugget Hotel, Greyhound Depot bus station, the plane crash near Sloan Highway, Nellis Air Force Base, Lorenzi Park, Old Salt Lake Highway, Downtown Las Vegas, and Stardust Raceway.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Mando Rueda conducted by David Schwartz on September 02, 2003, September 04, 2003, September 09, 2003, September 12, 2003, September 25, 2003, October 02, 2003, October 09, 2003, October 23, 2003, and November 20, 2003 for the UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection. In these interviews, Rueda discusses his career in the gaming industry. He talks about serving in the United States military during the 1950s and becoming a slot machine repair manager for Harrah’s properties in Reno, Nevada and in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Rueda recalls his relationship with Bill Harrah, being promoted to shift manager in 1970, and the methods of surveillance used before security cameras. Later, Rueda discusses the impact on casino operations after the passing of Bill Harrah in 1978, and becoming director of gaming. He remembers obtaining a gaming license to operate in New Jersey, and the opening of Harrah’s Marina in Atlantic City. Lastly, Rueda talks about the gaming industry in Las Vegas, Nevada and compares casino operations from the 1970s to the late 1990s.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Christie Young conducted by Dennis McBride on October 18, 1998 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In the interview, Young talks about her early life in Reno, Nevada and her experiences with race and sexuality during this time. She then describes attending University of Nevada, Reno in 1974, getting pregnant, having an abortion, and the social implications of abortions. Young recalls moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1979 to study anthropology at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, learning about gay culture, and attending the Metropolitan Community Church. She then explains joining gay rights organizations as a straight woman, gay rights activism in the 1980s and 1990s, and stories of individuals within the Las Vegas gay community.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ora Bland conducted by Claytee D. White on March 04, 2021 for African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project.
Ora Bland speaks to what she knew of her husband's secretive work at Area 51 of the Nevada Test Site, businesses in the Westside community, and her work in the downtown Las Vegas post office. In addition to her life experiences, Ora shares her thoughts on her community, the state of homelessness that many experience in her surrounding neighborhood, and her activities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Gloria E. Hernandez conducted by Nathalie Martinez, Maribel Estrada Calderon, and Rodrigo Vazquez on December 07, 2018 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. Gloria E. Hernandez starts the interview by recalling her childhood and early years in Jalisco, Mexico. Hernandez relates her experiences during her immigration to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1987. Hernandez discusses her career and her first job in the hospitality industry at the Frontier Hotel and Casino. Gloria shares her role in the longest labor strike in United States history while she was working at the Frontier. Gloria talks about her membership and involvement in the Culinary Workers Union Local 226, primarily talking about her role as a union organizer.
Archival Collection