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 Dr. Patrice Johnson conducted by Kiley Veigel on November 16, 2009 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Johnson reflects upon her more than 20-year career as a teacher and school administrator in California and in the Clark County School District. She discusses her upbringing and how she always wanted to be a teacher, her training to become a teacher, and experiences in teaching. She describes her path to becoming a school principal, and eventually assistant superintendent for the Clark County School District. She also discusses how her family life has shaped her approach to teaching, in addition to regular job duties that she faced as a teacher and administrator.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Justin Beltram conducted by David G. Schwartz on July 07, 2016 for the Slot Operations Oral History Project. Beltram describes how he transitioned from a property role to a corporate role and some of his mentors throughout his career. Beltram also discusses his different approaches to local and transient customers, the major changes in general to slot machines since he started in the industry, and his thoughts on the future of slot operations.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Isaac Barrón conducted by Maribel Estrada Calderón and Claytee D. White on March 27, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. Isaac Barrón was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. His father entered the United States as a Bracero. Barrón attended Rancho High School and earned his bachelor's degree in secondary education from UNLV. He currently teaches history at Rancho High School and serves as North Las Vegas' Councilman. In this oral history, Barrón recalls his youth in North Las Vegas, navigating the presence of gangs, and his path to being a community activist and advocate for North Las Vegas youth. He has led volunteer efforts for community improvement projects, including the plans for a new public library. He holds the distinction of being the first Latinx member of the North Las Vegas City Council and Southern Nevada's first Hispanic Mayor Pro Tempore. In 2013, he was elected to represent Ward 1 and was reelected for a second term in April 2017. He discusses being Mexican American, the Coalition of Pan American Organizations, the Hispanic Student Union, the Bracero Program, and Rancho High School.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Tyrone Levi conducted by Veomia Hopkins on an unknown date in the 1970s for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project. Levi discusses the segregation African Americans faced in the areas of housing, education, and employment in Las Vegas, Nevada. He also talks about being the Director of State and Equal Rights Commission and a member of the Congressional Fellowship Program. Levi lastly recalls the above ground atomic tests and how Las Vegas, Nevada changed throughout his lifetime.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Linh Fee conducted by Cecilia Winchell, Stefani Evans, and Jerwin Tiu on February 4, 2022 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
Linh Fee talks about her family life growing up in Oahu, Hawaii, how her parents met in Vietnam, and memories of her childhood with her six siblings. She shares how she moved to Las Vegas, Nevada to find work after graduating from college at the University of Hawaii and her brief time working in the hospitality industry as a cocktail server. Fee discusses her career change to become a dental hygienist and life with her husband and three children.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ben Mammina conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on October 21, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Mammina discusses his early life in Chicago, Illinois, and his work renovating movie theaters and building hotels. Mammina moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1994 and he recalls developing master plans for Caesars Palace Hotel and Casino, attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), and obtaining a degree in civil engineering. He then describes the development of security technology and its effect on building planning. Lastly, Mammina discusses the process of choosing a building master plan.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Melvin Green conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on September 23, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Green discusses his upbringing in Louisiana and growing up in a family of farmers. He recalls moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1983, working for Nevada Partners, and his involvement in the redevelopment of the Westside School. Green talks about his architect firm, KME Architects, and lists projects his company has worked on in Las Vegas. Lastly, Green describes presenting new designs to community members and partnering with church leaders to build community housing.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Peg Crockett conducted by Claytee D. White on May 21, 2012 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Crockett begins by discussing her move to Las Vegas, Nevada as a child in 1937 with her family. Crockett then describes meeting her husband, George Crockett, the owner and operator of Alamo Field, known today as McCarran International Airport. Crockett chronicles earning her pilot's license at eighteen years old and operating the air field with her husband in the late 1940s. Crockett then recounts meeting Howard Hughes when he landed his plane at Alamo Field and his involvement both in Las Vegas and aviation. Lastly, Crockett talks about ongoing development and construction of new casinos in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Hazel Gay conducted by Claytee D. White on December 02, 1995 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Gay discusses her husband being the first African-American mortician in Las Vegas, Nevada, as well as being the assistant manager at the Sands Hotel and Casino and an executive at the Union Plaza. Gay also discusses running dress shops and working as a display artist and retail clerk in other shops.
Archival Collection