Oral history interview with Dan McKenzie conducted by Connie Degerness on February 12, 1975 for the Boulder City Library Oral History Project. In this very short interview, McKenzie explains why he came to Nevada from Arizona, finding work on the Hoover Dam construction in April 1930, and then lists all of his subsequent work in maintenance and mechanics during the dam's construction.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Janet Savalli conducted by Irene Rostine on September 21, 1996 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. Savalli begins her interview by discussing her move to Las Vegas, Nevada as a child in 1945. Savalli then goes on to discuss her 46 year long career at the Southern Nevada Telephone Company. She describes rising through the company starting as an operator and ending as a community relations coordinator. Savalli discusses the company's merger with Sprint and the changes this brought about including the creation of a union and wage and benefits changes. Savalli ends her interview by talking about atomic testing, and how the testing grew to be a part of Las Vegas culture at the time.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Marko Dobro conducted by Elizabeth Nelson Patrick on August 8, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Dobro discusses World War I, Tonopah, Nevada, and Goldfield, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Christina Gruber conducted by Barbara Tabach on March 2, 2019 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. In this interview, Gruber shares her experience living in Las Vegas, Nevada since 1997 and as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), mother of two, and physical fitness enthusiast. She recalls being shot during the Route 91 Harvest Festival and being rescued by strangers. She recalls the chaos of the evening, but also how strangers worked together to comfort each other amidst the terror. She discusses dedicated her athletic races to those who were murdered that evening, and how it has helped her recovery. Digital audio and transcript available.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Tyrone Williams conducted by Claytee D. White on August 25, 2006 for the UNLV @ 50 Oral History Project. Williams discusses arriving at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and his various jobs there. He recalls that blacks were not welcome on the Las Vegas, Nevada Strip unless they were going to work in one of the hotels or casinos. Williams then describes joining the Executive Housekeepers Association. The interview concludes with a short discourse on social life and positive aspects of life in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Steven Ligouri conducted by Claytee White on January 20, 2010 for the Voices of the Historic John S. Park Neighborhood Oral History Project. Ligouri discusses his career as a sculptor making jewelry in his father's business and making the statue High Scaler at Hoover Dam. He also discusses living in the John S. Park Neighborhood and on a family farm in North Las Vegas, Nevada and Boulder City, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Beverly Mathis conducted by Claytee D. White on July 20, 2016 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Mathis discusses her early life in Trenton, Tennessee. She talks about experiencing discrimination, the importance of voting, and attending the University of Tennessee at Martin. Mathis describes moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1976 and being an African American elementary teacher at the time. Lastly, Mathis discusses her thoughts on education in Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Hugh Shirkey conducted by Patricia van Betten on February 04, 2010 for the History of Blue Diamond Village in Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Shirkey discusses his personal history and arriving to Blue Diamond, Nevada in 1950. He talks about his employment at the Blue Diamond Mine as an electrician. Shirkey describes what life was like at the village as a single worker, the development of the mining plant, how the plant was managed, and traveling to Las Vegas, Nevada. Lastly, Shirkey recalls moving to Las Vegas and retiring from the mining plant.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Art Ham conducted by an unknown interviewer on April 24, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Art Ham discusses Las Vegas, Nevada business and law after World War II.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Peter Fabbi conducted by unnamed interviewer in approximately 1974 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Fabbi shares that he was born and raised in Carrara, Italy and immigrated to the United States in 1896. After working as a stone cutter in New York and Connecticut, he moved to Tonopah, Nevada. He eventually became the manager of the Merchant's Hotel in Tonopah before opening a bakery in that city. Fabbi speaks at length on a variety of subjects, including stories about his businesses, the Great Depression, politics, fraternal organizations, and his family and friends.
Archival Collection