Oral history interview with John Pappas conducted by Adrienne O'Neal on March 02, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Pappas candidly discusses his career as a dealer working in various casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pappas describes the differences between dealing in illegal gambling operations in New York City, New York and dealing for casinos in Las Vegas. Pappas discusses the differences between law enforcement in Las Vegas and on the east coast, and how he feels law enforcement is prejudiced against Italians. Pappas also discusses how he feels politics and minority groups have changed New York City for the worse.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Rodrigo Vazquez conducted by Nathalie Martinez and Barbara Tabach on May 24, 2021 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. Rodrigo was raised in a mixed status Mexican family. He was born in Mexico and immigrated to the United States at the age of three, later becoming a citizen when he was in the 8th grade. Rodrigo is currently a graduate student worker for the Latinx Voices Oral History Project and reflects on what he has learned. He also discusses what the past year of the Coronavirus pandemic has been like for him. Subjects discussed include: Latinx and Mexican identities, COVID-19 era, and Latinx Voices Project oral historian.
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Oral history interview with Ruth Poirier conducted by Joanne Goodwin on February 05, 2003 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. Poirier opens her interview by discussing her partner Doris Pressler, who had passed away before the interview. She describes Doris' upbringing, her role in the first band at the Roseland Ballroom in New York, and explains how an all-women band in the 1930s and 1940s was a phenomenon. Poirier then discusses her own history, including how she became involved in music and all-women bands, and how she met Doris. Poirier describes in detail the importance of music to her family, the types of music she played, and what it was like to be a musician during the Depression. She talks about her relationship with Doris and recalls early interactions with other gay youths. Poirer ends her interview explaining why she and Doris decided to settle in Las Vegas, Nevada, and describes their impressions and involvement with the local LGBTQ+ community.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Howard Wasden conducted by Gillian Collins on an unknown date in the 1970s for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Wasden discusses arriving in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1925 and working for the railroad. Wasden explains how the railroad was a predominant economic asset for Las Vegas at the time. He then describes living on the Westside "Old Town", education in Las Vegas, attending the University of Nevada, Reno, and eventually becoming a teacher. Lastly, Wasden discusses the population growth, development of the Las Vegas Strip, and his role as principal of West Charleston School.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jack Cherry conducted by Cheryl Mawhinney on March 20, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Jack Cherry, M.D. (b. 1897 in Little Rock, Arkansas) discusses about his experiences as a practicing physician in Southern Nevada. Dr. Cherry first discusses the steps he took to initiate the building of what would become the Southern Nevada Memorial Hospital, where he would later become the hospital administrator. The interview concludes with Cherry’s opinion on the modern practice of medicine.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Paul Warner conducted by James E. Guessman on October 27, 1971 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Warner discusses arriving to Southern Nevada in 1925 and recalls personal experiences in Las Vegas, Nevada. Warner then discusses city growth and changes, including the development of Fremont Street and the Las Vegas Strip. Lastly, Warner shares his opinions on the future of Las Vegas' economics and local government.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Larry Mason conducted by Nathalie Martinez on September 14, 2018 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Mason discusses his upbringing by his Mexican immigrant parents in East Los Angeles, California and attending New Mexico State University. He describes receiving an athletics scholarship for basketball, playing in the European League, and earning a master's degree in education. Mason then talks about moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1984 to become Director of Admissions at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, being elected to the Clark County School Board in 1993, and his work at the College of Southern Nevada as Vice President of Diversity and Cultural Affairs. Lastly, Mason explain his involvement with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, minority students in STEM fields, his vision for public education, and the various community activities he has been involved in.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Vassili Sulich conducted by Gerald A. Villa on March 23 and May 4, 2002 for the UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection. In these interviews, Sulich recalls his upbringing and his experiences as a child during World War II, his study of ballet, and the beginning of his professional life with several ballet companies in France. He then recounts his move to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1964 to produce the Folies Bergere (Las Vegas) at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino, a position he held for nine years. In 1972 he began teaching ballet at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and formed the Nevada Ballet Theatre. He continues talking about his philosophy of dance, the changing perspective of male ballet dancers, and the process of working as the artictic director of a ballet company, and the extreme toll constant practice and performance have on the physical and emotional state of dancers. Finally, he discusses his resignation from the Nevada Dance Theatre and a ballet he choreographed in his mother's memory.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ellen Cosgrove conducted by Claytee D. White on August 19, 2019 for the UNLV School of Medicine Oral History Project. Ellen Cosgrove discusses her early family life and education, continuing to her higher education, where she graduated with a master's in Russian history and later entered Hahnemann Medical College where she specialized in internal medicine. She then describes her family life and her husband, Jefferey Fahly. Cosgrove goes on to talk about different communities in New Mexico welcoming people with different ethnic backgrounds, and how she participated in various organizations that helped improve the health of the community and solve issues that prevented patients from receiving care. In 2014, she was hired by Barbara Atkinson to build a medical school at UNLV. Lastly, Cosgrove discusses the UNLV School of Medicine educational program, which is based in bioethics, community engagement, wellness, and problem-based learning.
Archival Collection