Oral history interview with educator Beula Jane Adams (b. 1902) conducted by Maureen Conner on May 11, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Born in Smithfield, Nebraska, Adams relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1932. During the interview Adams explores and highlights the role of education in relation to the social development of Nevada. Adams discusses presidential visits, early above ground atomic tests, and her involvement in local politics.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Bonnie and Billy Wilkinson conducted by Claytee D. White on May 10, 2008 for the History of Blue Diamond Village in Nevada Oral History Project. The Wilkinsons open the interview by discussing their personal histories. Billy recalls moving to Jean, Nevada in 1940 where his father worked on the railroad, and eventually settling to Blue Diamond, Nevada in the 1950s. The two describe the Four Mile brothel, Bonnie Springs Ranch, and their experience as a married couple in Blue Diamond. Bonnie talks about her employment at the Blue Diamond Gypsum Corporation plant and describes going to school in Blue Diamond. Lastly, the two discuss West Las Vegas, Nevada in the 1950s and share anecdotes of their lives in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Edwin "Tony" Wuehle conducted by David Schwartz on December 21, 2006 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Wuehle discusses his early life in Hettinger, North Dakota and his career as an educator. He recalls his first experiences playing poker, participating in home poker games while living in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and using a pseudonym as a player. Wuehle then talks about writing a book, founding the Gamblers Book Club Press in Las Vegas, Nevada, and writing for religious publications. Later, Wuehle explains the tension between participating in religion and playing poker. He describes Las Vegas poker rooms during the 1960s and 1970s and shares his thoughts on online poker. Lastly, Wuehle discusses why casinos use prop players and his efforts to organize a poker tournament to raise funds for Bay de Noc Community College in Michigan.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Al Storey Jr. conducted by Cammie Perry on March 11, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Storey discusses arriving in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1932 with his family. Storey then discusses the development of Fremont Street, and recalls the growth of casinos around that area. Storey later describes the social changes in Las Vegas, entertainment, and the first paved roads around Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mazie Martin Jones conducted by Jane P. Kowalewski on November 03, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Jones discusses her father, Doctor Royce Martin, the first doctor to own a private practice in Las Vegas, Nevada. Jones then explains how her father first arrived in Southern Nevada and his different investments in real estate, hospitals, and hotels. She goes on to share her father’s hotel pursuits after retiring from medicine in the late 1940s.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Dr. Percy Poon conducted by Lisa Gioia-Acres on February 05, 2007 for the UNLV @ 50 Oral History Project. Poon discusses arriving at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1989 to teach finance and his career as the dean of the College of Business. He also recalls the different styles and contributions of university presidents Robert Maxson and Carol Harter. Other topics discussed include early Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Chris Spotted Eagle conducted by Claytee D. White and Stephen Pastorino on January 16, 2025 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Spotted Eagle recalls growing up on the Paiute Reservation in Las Vegas, and shares that part of his family is from the Moapa Band of Paiutes. Spotted Eagle's paternal grandfather, Raymond Anderson, was a fabricator and ironworker for YESCO where he helped create the "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign designed by Betty Willis. He shares how the reservation began as a 10-acre plot of land and is now over 4,000 acres. Growth followed various successful enterprises: a smoke shop, three 18-hole golf courses with a wedding chapel, and now, the cannabis industry.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Thomas Young Jr. conducted by Stefani Evans on October 20, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Young Jr. discusses his early life in Ogden, Utah and his father’s sign manufacturing business, Young Electric Sign Company (YESCO). Young Jr. recalls the company’s growth, the management style that his father used, and the early signs they designed. He talks about the jobs he held at the company, the use of neon gas in signs, and bringing their company to Las Vegas, Nevada. Lastly, Young Jr. describes the early signs that were done for Las Vegas properties, moving neon figure signs, and building a headquarters in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Dr. John E. Craddock conducted by Melody Craddock on April 10, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview John Craddock discusses the development of Twin Lakes and Lorenzi Park, atomic testing, hunting in Nevada, and the development of different local airports.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Hermi and John Hiatt conducted by Jeff van Ee on April 02, 2010, April 03, 2010, and April 25, 2010 as part of the UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection. In these interviews, Hermi and John Hiatt discuss their involvement in shaping the Red Rock Audubon Society, cataloging native plants, and the national Christmas Bird Count event. They later describe mapping around Southern Nevada, establishing boundaries for the sale of public lands, and the groundwater system under the Las Vegas, Nevada valley.
Archival Collection