Oral history interview with Nanyu Tomiyasu conducted by Samanthia Kerwin on March 11, 1974 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Tomiyasu discusses his family life, being raised on a farm, and enlisting in the United States Army some time between 1940 and 1944. Tomiyasu talks about growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada and witnessing changes in the city including hotel and casino construction and change in ownership. Tomiyasu describes transportation in Nevada and people moving to Las Vegas for job opportunities.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Stavan Corbett conducted by Nathalie Martinez on November 5, 2018 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. Barbara Tabach and Rodrigo Vazquez also participate in the questioning. Stavan Corbett is a member of the Latino community who has served as an educator and politician in Las Vegas. Growing up in Las Vegas, Stavan was exposed to various environments that all helped him shape his Latino identity. Stavan was able to appreciate the Catholic and Jewish cultures as well. During the 1970s and '80s his experiences with first and second generation Latinos played a large role in his identity formation, especially as a student. He was the first in his family to graduate from high school and college. Stavan worked in the hotel industry and moved on to work with troubled youth and eventually become a member of the Nevada State Board and the Clark County School Board. His continued work with the Latin Chamber of Commerce has also allowed him to be involved with the Latino Youth Leadership Conference. Subjects discussed include: Identity Struggle, Interracial Relationships, Working in the Hotel Industry, Clark County School District, and Cultural Assimilation.
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Oral history interview with Douglas Peterson conducted by Claytee D. White on March 16, 2018 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Peterson discusses his early life. He recalls getting hired to the Music Department at Nevada Southern University (now University of Nevada, Las Vegas) in 1967. Peterson talks about his career at UNLV, his involvement with the Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society, and performances that he directed. Lastly, Peterson discusses the decrease of live music in Las Vegas shows.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Lambert VanDerMeer conducted by Eric H. Newton on February 28, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, VanDerMeer discusses his birth in Holland, living in Chicago, Illinois and Southern California, and finally settling in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1926. VanDerMeer also talks about his marriage in Las Vegas and running a dairy and ice house. Other subjects VanDerMeer discuss include the the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, the growth of Las Vegas over time, and the history of Las Vegas from 1926 to 1955.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Edward Butera conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee White on July 28, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. Butera discusses moderating an American Institute of Architects (AIA) panel entitled "A City Growing Up" and working as a mechanical engineer for JBA Consulting Engineers. He goes into detail about his first casino project, Stardust Hotel and Casino, and working on all Steve Wynn properties in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with John Gallagher conducted by Patrick W. Carlton on May 31, 2002 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Gallagher discusses his career in higher education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) as an educator and an administrator. Gallagher also describes his membership in the Las Vegas, Nevada chapter of the Rotary Club and that organization's relationship with UNLV. He concludes the interview by drawing distinctions between Las Vegas and cities of the Pacific Northwest.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Willie Thompson conducted by Claytee D. White on November 25, 2019 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Thompson discusses his early life in Tulsa, Oklahoma and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1995. Thompson recalls the Doolittle Senior Center, the Moulin Rouge Hotel and Casino, and his involvement in the Martin Luther King Jr. parade. Lastly, Thompson talks about volunteering with the Mirage Reading Program.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Janzon Stewart conducted by Claytee D. White and Karen Shank on May 28, 2010 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview Janzon Stewart discusses his family history, how his grandfather William T. Stewart brought his family to Alamo, Nevada, his family ranch, and life on the ranch.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mike Markoff conducted by an unidentified collector on an unknown date in the 1970s for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Markoff discusses the Boulder (Hoover) Dam from a construction worker's perspective. Markoff then discusses the negative environmental effects that casinos and other buildings had on Las Vegas, Nevada. Markoff later discusses hunting around the Las Vegas, Nevada area.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Elaina Blake conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on September 19, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. Blake discusses being the first woman elected to head the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce. She also discusses serving as vice chairman and chairman of the Clark County Planning Commission. Blake then talks about her involvement with the United Way, saving the YMCA from closure, and the Focus School Project in 1989. She then discusses working with major local builders such as Pageantry Homes, Heers Brothers, and Christopher Homes. Blake lastly discusses creating Blake and Associates and becoming became a real estate developer.
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