Oral history interview with Grant Snow conducted by Elizabeth Nelson Patrick on November 16, 1982 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Snow discusses arriving to St. Thomas, Nevada in 1925. Snow also describes teaching in St. Thomas, the significance of mines to the region, and increase of local businesses.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Sachiko Young conducted by Mikaela Nettlow on December 5, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
Sachiko shares her upbringing in Fukoka, Japan and how she and her family moved frequently as a child. She talks about meeting her husband, an American military man, while visiting family in Tokyo. Sachiko discusses their marriage and birth of their child, their move to San Jose, California, and their travels back and forth from Japan before settling in Las Vegas, Nevada. She shares stories of visiting casinos with friends, working in hotel coffee shops, and what life was like for her and her family. Sachiko also talks of how she and her husband both faced racial prejudice from their families and the difficulties of learning English as a second language.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Marion Earl conducted by Robert Pearce on March 13, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Earl discusses relocating to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1923, serving as a member of the board of directors for the Chamber of Commerce, and then being elected president of the chamber in 1941. He also discusses being elected justice of the peace in 1934, and serving for two terms.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Gertrude Toston conducted by Claytee D. White on July 21, 2006 for the UNLV @ 50 Oral History Project. Toston discusses attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) in the 1960s. She also discusses working as a customer service representative for Western Airlines for 27 years before going back to UNLV to work on her master's degree in special education. She then talks about working as a graduate teaching assistant and student teacher advisor at UNLV and as a teacher at Brinley Junior High.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Joe Friedman conducted by David Schwartz on May 26, 2015 for the Table Games Management Oral History Project. In this interview, Friedman discusses his career working in Nevada casinos including Sahara Tahoe, Hard Rock, Green Valley Ranch, Wynn, Palms, and MGM Grand.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Grant Sawyer conducted by Perry Kaufman on May 12, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Sawyer discusses his campaign for Governor of Nevada and the differences between northern Nevada and southern Nevada social life. He then describes winning the election for Governor, the gaming industry, and explains why gaming was significant to his political career. Lastly, Sawyer discusses the Nevada Gaming Commission before and after he was Governor, and actions that he took against organized crime.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Steve Schiller conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on September 01, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Schiller discusses his upbringing in Fillmore, California. He describes attending the California Polytechnic State University, studying structural engineering, and explains the type of work he does on buildings. Schiller then talks about the demolition of The Harmon Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, buildings he has done planning for, and collaborating with building owners when constructing a new building. Later, Schiller discusses the development of the Bellagio Hotel and Casino, the Venetian, and Paris Las Vegas. Lastly, Schiller talks about the lasting issues that resulted from the Great Recession in 2007.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Virginia James conducted by Claytee D. White on various dates in October and November 2004, and March and July 2005 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In the interview, James describes her experiences as a dancer with the Texas Copa Girls at the Sands Hotel and Casino, and with the
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Gertrude Rudiak conducted by Claytee D. White on January 11, 2007 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Rudiak discusses her personal history and being a member of the Jewish community of Las Vegas, Nevada. She describes her husband being stationed in Las Vegas while serving in the United States military, their move to Las Vegas in the 1940s, and his law career after military service. Rudiak discusses race relations in Las Vegas during that time and her husband's efforts to pass a law to end segregation in Nevada as a state assemblyman. Rudiak's son, Richard Rudiak, also speaks, and talks about political history in Nevada during the late 20th century. They conclude by discussing the opening of a Jewish school in Las Vegas, the history of Jewish people in the city, and how Las Vegas and its casinos have changed.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Leroy Payne conducted by Claytee D. White on January 29, 2013 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Payne discusses working for Lockheed Overseas Corporation during World War II and his construction career in Las Vegas, Nevada. Payne describes traveling around England while employed by Lockheed Corporation and performing procurement duties for United States military bases. He also describes meeting and marrying his wife in Belfast, Ireland in 1943. Payne concludes by discussing their move to Las Vegas during the 1960s and his work in housing development constructing different neighborhoods and communities.
Archival Collection