Oral history interview with John West conducted by Claytee D. White on August 10, 2000 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, West discusses his family background and arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1954. West describes his educational experiences in Las Vegas and his career as a clinical psychologist. He recalls his father’s career in medicine and becoming the first African American licensed medical doctor in Las Vegas. West then talks about attending entertainment events before race integration was introduced, and the voting patterns in West Las Vegas. Lastly, West discusses his father’s decision to remain living in West Las Vegas and operating his medical office there after integration.
Oral history interview with Mike Smith conducted by Claytee D. White on August 17, 2018 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Smith discusses his early life in Santa Clara, California and his early interest in art. He describes the first drawings he did, drawing political cartoons, and drawing about controversial ideas. Smith remembers moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1983 and becoming the cartoonist for the Las Vegas Sun. Smith describes his process in drawing political cartoons, working alongside Hank Greenspun, and newspaper syndication. Lastly, Smith explains the meaning of some of his cartoons.
Oral history interview with Clyde Perkins conducted by William G. White on October 03, 1989 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Perkins discusses his father’s half-interests in property containing portions of West Point and the Pickett Ranch in Moapa Valley, Nevada. He also describes the history of Moapa Valley and his experiences growing up in the area.
Oral history interview with Bren Armstrong conducted by an unknown collector on May 28, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. This interview covers local politics and local newspapers, such as The Las Vegas-Review Journal. Armstrong also mentions the local education system, employment opportunities in Nevada, Block 16, Boulder (Hoover) Dam, and the Westside. The interview concludes with a discussion on Hank Greenspun, the publisher of the Las Vegas Sun newspaper.
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.
Oral history interview with John J. Lee conducted by Claytee D. White on June 15, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Lee discusses his upbringing in North Las Vegas, Nevada. He talks about his initial interest in politics, being elected to the State Assembly District 3 and the Nevada State Senate. Lee describes the economic issues in North Las Vegas, running for Mayor of North Las Vegas, and being elected Mayor in 2013. Later, Lee discusses changes that he implemented as Mayor, obtaining permission to build new homes in North Las Vegas, and describes working with other Nevada politicians. Lastly, Lee talks about diversifying North Las Vegas.
Oral history interview with Patsy Leavitt conducted by Elizabeth Neumann on March 17, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Leavitt discusses her maternal grandmother, who brought her mother and uncle to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1931, and explains how her grandmother opened a boardinghouse that she ran until her death in 1948. She then discusses her father's family, who arrived in Las Vegas in the late 1920s and established a sand and gravel business. She discusses her education and marriage, and reflects on Las Vegas in the 1950s.