Oral history interview with Vernon S. Caples conducted by Cheryl Caples on February 25, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Vernon S. Caples (born August 7th, 1891 in St. Johns, Oregon) discusses the history of Las Vegas, Nevada. Vernon describes what Las Vegas was like in the early days, from the Red Light District to the Nellis Air Force Base. He also mentions the implementation of a government program that was set in place to aid senior citizens living in Las Vegas.
Oral history interview with David Pearl conducted by Joseph A. Hawk on March 14, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Pearl begins by describing life in Las Vegas, Nevada and how it has changed since the 1940s. Pearl discusses his history organizing community sports events, as well as organizing a game with the national Russian basketball team and other exhibition events for American sports teams. He then talks about his career as the executive director of the Runnin' Rebels Club at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and how he raised money for the athletics department. Pearl also talks about his other jobs, his interest in athletics, being a referee for boxing matches, and the Helldorado Parades.
Oral history interviews with Julia Payne conducted by Claytee D. White on February 11, 2004 and March 07, 2004 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In the first interview, Payne discusses arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1961. She describes discrimination, redlining on the Westside, and recalls the lack of integration at the time. Payne then discusses Jackson Street and compares it to the Las Vegas Strip. Lastly, Payne talks about Cove Hotel, Hank’s Place, Colony Club, and the decline in African American businesses on Jackson Street. In the second interview, Payne discusses welfare rights, changes to the Westside and growth of suburban areas. She describes her employment with the Southern Nevada Drug Abuse Council and becoming the first African American substance abuse counselor. Lastly, Payne discusses her position as Executive Director of Nevada Treatment Center.
Oral history interview with Henry Jimenez conducted by Andres Moses on May 23, 2006 for the UNLV @ 50 Oral History Project. In this interview Henry Jimenez discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in July of 1998, attending middle school and high school in Las Vegas, and attending University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He also discusses being in many UNLV student organizations like student government and the Latino fraternity. He then discusses taking over the chairmanship of the Ways and Means Committee for the UNLV student government.
Oral history interview with Kenneth L. Berger conducted by Claytee D. White on April 15, 2019 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Berger discusses his upbringing in St. Paul, Minnesota and his career in the United States Army. He remembers his employment with Edgerton, Germeshausen, and Grier (EG & G), flying aircrafts, and his initial interest in firearms. Lastly, Berger talks about becoming a member of the Boulder Rifle and Pistol Club in Boulder City, Nevada.
Oral history interview with Lorraine Longhi conducted by Stefani Evans on March 31, 2023 for the Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. Longhi recalls growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada through eigth grade until she moved to Arizona. After graduating from high school and Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Communication, Longhi worked for the Arizona Republic newspaper, where she covered education and city government. Longhi identifes as mixed race and speaks of a Las Vegas childhood punctuated with annual visits to her father's family in Yonkers, New York, and her mother's Taiwanese family in Taipei. In this interview, she discusses favorite Taiwanese and Italian foods she remembers from her childhood, and memories of cultural festivals at Chinatown Plaza. She also recalls first experiencing questions about her personal identity in Arizona, remarking in retrospect on the diversity of her childhood in Las Vegas. Longhi returned to Las Vegas in March 2022 to begin work as assistant city editor at the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Oral history interview with Lee Washington conducted by Aleya Ford Wheaton on November 30, 2014 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Washington discusses his personal history, moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1963, and his initial reactions to the city. He talks about his employment at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino as well as joining the Culinary Workers Union in 1974. Washington then describes church activity that he and his family were involved in at Most High Church and his church's significance to the West Las Vegas community. Lastly, he talks about the development and growth of businesses on the Westside.
Oral history interview with Albert Schouten conducted by Roger DeSart on February 26, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Schouten discusses his family background in Las Vegas, Nevada dating back to 1924 and recalls growing up in Las Vegas. Schouten then describes the changes that the city went through and growth of Las Vegas at large. Later in the interview, Schouten discusses the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the opening of Boulder (Hoover) Dam with President Roosevelt, the increase in number of schools, and the construction of Nevada Southern University (later University of Nevada, Las Vegas). Lastly, Schouten shares his thoughts on how Las Vegas lost its sense of community, and discusses the increase of crime in Las Vegas.
Oral history interview with Luella Knuckles conducted by Paul Gentle on February 28, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Knuckles talks about her life in Las Vegas, Nevada in the 1950s and 1960s. She specifically talks about the conditions and treatment of the African-American community.
Oral history interview with Suzy Maufus conducted by Bernard Timberg on January 27, 1974. Maufus discusses the changes Las Vegas, Nevada went through, from a small town to a big sprawling city. The interview concludes with Maufus discussing the rise of crime as Las Vegas grew.