Oral history interview with Stella Fleming conducted by Suzanne Wright on February 24, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Fleming first talks about some of her work in welfare specifically, the early practices of the welfare administration. She also discusses her work with the Works Progress Administration, the American Red Cross, and the Nevada Emergency Relief Program. Fleming also discusses atomic testing, specific landmarks and locations, and the development of the city.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ron Slack conducted by John Wolf on February 19, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Slack discusses arriving in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1955 in search of job opportunities. He then recalls being drafted into the United States Army. He ends by describing his work as a slot manager at the Golden Nugget and the duties associated with the job.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Lonnie Pittman conducted by Beverly Williams on March 16, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Pittman, an African American man, describes the treatment and living conditions of African Americans in Las Vegas, Nevada during the 1950s. Pittman also discusses the job opportunities available to African Americans, segregation, and the quality of schooling available to African American children at the time.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Lucile Bunker conducted by herself on March 10, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Bunker recalls her early experiences and various jobs in Las Vegas, Nevada. She also describes her experiences as the wife of former Senator Berkeley Bunker and living in Washington, D.C.. Bunker then discusses her missionary work, the early above-ground atomic testing, and the building of Hoover Dam.
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 Paulette Morris conducted by Claytee White on January 06, 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Morris opens her interview by discussing traveling around the world as a child due to her father's career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Morris then talks about the school system in Morocco and how it gave her the opportunity to study ballet. She describes her audition process with the Paris, France based revue, the Folies Bergere. Morris discusses the Bluebell Girls, Margaret Kelly ("Madame Bluebell"), costumes, and the show schedule. Morris then recalls dancing in the Lido show at the Stardust Hotel and Casino, and her experiences in Las Vegas, Nevada during the 1960s. She ends the interview discussing her return to school, her job in retail, and her final thoughts on her experiences with the Bluebell Girls.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Leslee Thomas conducted by Claytee D. White on March 13, 2024 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. Thomas is the granddaughter of Larry Wilburn and daughter of Terry Wilburn, owners of Larry's Sight & Sound, a business institution in the Westside. The business, first located at 1318 D Street, was initially called Larry's Music Bar. The Music Bar moved to Owens Avenue and was renamed Larry's Sight & Sound. For 35 years until 1992, the music shop drew in stars and locals for its vinyl records, record players, and casssettes. In the interview, Thomas shares how she learned to work in the business, stay connected to family, and be a contributing member of the community. She describes her dreams for the Westside, which include giving tourists reasons to visit the Black community, capital investments, and marketing. Digital audio available; no transcript available.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Sally Halko conducted by Roberta Farmer on March 11, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Halko first talks about her family background, education, traveling, and church membership. She later talks about the development of Las Vegas, Nevada casinos, racial minorities, housing growth, Lake Mead, and the first theaters.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Isadore Washington conducted by Claytee D. White on February 07, 2008 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview Isadore Washington discusses playing with Wayne Newton when they were children and life on the Westside and joining the sheriff's department after high school and became the first black deputy sheriff. He also discusses people and places on the Westside in the eighties, medical care for blacks as far back as the fifties, and renting a room to entertainers after he bought his first house.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with James Cardle conducted by Dr. David Emerson on April 25, 2006 for the UNLV @ 50 Oral History Project. In this interview James Cardle speaks about how he came to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in August of 1985 and began teaching a class on wastewater treatment. He spoke about how he was a member of the curriculum committee, did research on the Yucca Mountain project, and also worked on setting up a master's program.
Archival Collection