Oral history interview with Hazel Geran conducted by Claytee D. White on August 30, 2000 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Geran gives insights into the black experience in Las Vegas, Nevada. Geran describes her perspective of living on the Westside and the businesses that thrived there in the past, and why she remained in west Las Vegas. She also gives a peek into her family life including Catholic schools, family outings and an insightful story regarding racism and the difficulty of getting a housing loan in the 1950s.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Alma Whitney conducted by Claytee D. White on March 03, 1996 and May 28, 1996 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. Whitney opens the interview by talking about her life in Tallulah, Louisiana. She discusses race relations in Tallulah and how she traveled from Tallulah to Las Vegas, Nevada. Whitney describes her first job as a maid at the Desert Moon Motel, and her move later to the Desert Inn Hotel. Whitney discusses her career of over 30 years at the Desert Inn along with her promotion from maid to supervisor. Whitney also describes a time when Desert Inn employees went on strike for three weeks.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Carey Burke conducted by Terri Goodsell on March 12, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Burke talks about his schooling at St. Joseph’s Catholic School and Rancho High School. Burke also talks about the recreational activities he took part in during schooling, such as going to Lake Mead and joining a YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) camp. Burke then describes the Helldorado customs and his hobby of collecting gaming memorabilia.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Elton Garrett conducted by Dennis McBride on November 10 and 11, 1986 for the Boulder City Library Oral History Project. In these interviews, Garrett talks about hitchhiking into Nevada in 1928, the beginning of his journalism career in 1929, and the development and construction of the Hoover Dam and Boulder City. He relates anecdotes about events and people during this early period and talks about the choice of The Six Companies, Incorporated to build the dam. He continues, talking about the impact of prohibition, bootlegging, and illegal gambling before 1931. Later he talks about his work as an educator in Boulder City, and the decision by the city to work toward self-government and incorporation.
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 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 Robert Shipley conducted by Claytee D. White on October 15, 2018 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Shipley discusses his early life in Chicago, Illinois and upbringing as a musician. Shipley recalls being the drummer for The Emotions, Natalie Cole, and performing at the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas, Nevada. He talks about the special treatment musicians had, and the respect that Steve Wynn had for performers. Lastly, Shipley remembers performing for Diana Ross, the challenges he faced as an African American musician, and his decision to retire.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Judge Angel conducted by Denise M. Beverstein on November 29, 2014 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Judge Angel shares the reasons she moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2005. Angel discusses her career in media production, detailing her positive impact radio show on KLAV1230 AM. Angel talks about the growth of Las Vegas' historic Westside and the businesses that have aided that growth. She also shares her impressions of the African American community in Las Vegas, as well as her hopes for the future of the community.
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 Richard G. McCracken conducted by Claytee D. White on September 30, 2014 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. McCracken discusses multiple labor unions in Chicago, Illinois and Las Vegas, Nevada. He recalls various strikes, women in union leadership positions, and how the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 was different from the typical labor union in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection