Oral history interview with Richard E. Schroeder conducted by Richard Harrah on February 26, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Schroeder discusses arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1951 to work as a carpenter for the Desert Inn. Schroeder then describes changes in Las Vegas, gambling, and the development of the Las Vegas Strip. Lastly, he discusses the history of some of the hotels and casinos on Fremont Street.
Oral history interview with Jeanne P. Chretien conducted by Cynthia L. Reeves on February 26, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Chretien discusses her early education, first occupations, political activity, and involvement in groups such as the Girl Scouts in Las Vegas, Nevada. She also talks about her religious activity, enrolling into Nevada Southern University (now known as the University of Nevada, Las Vegas), and the changes in Las Vegas over time.
Oral history interview with Junell Bowman conducted by Anna Huddleston on March 09, 2014 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Bowman begins by describing her early history as a singer in California, performing on the radio, different orchestras, and nightclubs before marrying her husband and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1958. Bowman discusses becoming a sketch artist after managing an unsuccessful business, doing portraits and caricatures of people in the casinos, at conventions, and on the Las Vegas Strip. She talks about the celebrities and entertainers she met and did caricatures for while working at casinos like the Stardust and Riviera, and the amount of work that went into being a professional sketch artist.
Oral history interviews with Patricia Iannuzzi conducted by Claytee D. White on March 6, 2018 and November 30, 2022 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In the first interview, Iannuzzi discusses her early interest in library sciences. She talks about her educational experience and becoming a reference librarian. Iannuzzi describes the development of resource repositories, education reform, and the evolution of the internet. Iannuzzi recalls the first online databases, electronic resources, and improving undergraduate education. Lastly, Iannuzzi discusses her employment at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the importance of information literacy. In the second interview, Iannuzzi discusses accomplishments from her time as Dean of UNLV University Libraries, particularly her role in the creation of the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV.
Oral history interview with Frank Mathews conducted by Pat Kohlman on December 07, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, Mathews discusses his life as a teacher at J. D. Smith Middle School in Las Vegas, Nevada from 1953 to 1975. He discusses traveling through the city during its early stages of growth, employment, and home construction in various Las Vegas Valley locations including Lorenzi Park (currently known as Twin Lakes), Hyde Park, and North Las Vegas, Nevada.
Oral history interview with Kevin Orrock conducted by Claytee White on December 04, 2015 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Orrock focuses on Summerlin, Nevada, the 22,000-acre, award-winning, master-planned community on the west side of the Las Vegas, Nevada. He discusses Summerlin’s physical layout, its history, its development, and its future. He also talks about the development and future of Downtown Summerlin; its balance of private, charter, and public schools; and the ways the company selects its residential builders.
Oral history interview with Harry Brown conducted by James Hopkins for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. During the interview, Brown describes some of his experiences from being in the Sheriff’s Mounted Posse, the equivalent of a modern search and rescue team, which was deputized by the sheriff. Brown additionally describes the tradition of the Helldorado parades, in which he was a part, and he provides his overall thoughts on living in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Oral history interview with Eldon E. Gearing conducted by Claytee D. White on February 07, 2013 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Gearing begins by describing how he developed his skills as a sheet metal worker through apprenticeships and his time in the United States Navy during World War II as an aviation metalsmith. Gearing discusses his air conditioning business and the contracting work he did for homes and casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada during the late 1950s and 1960s, including at Caesars Palace and the Tropicana. Other topics of discussion include rising drug use in the United States, his political opinions on issues such as welfare and government restrictions, and the future of Las Vegas.
Oral history interviews with Nona Carroll conducted by Claytee D. White on July 06, 2018 and July 16, 2018 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In the first interview, Carroll discusses her family background and early life in St. Louis, Missouri. She recalls moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1987, her employment with Computer Software Analyst, Inc., and working at Nellis Air Force Base. In the second interview, Carroll talks about her community involvement in Las Vegas and her membership with the Summerlin Women’s Club. Lastly, Carroll discusses the organization J.U.G.S. (Justice, Unity, Generosity, Service, Inc.) and the Girl Friends, Inc.
Oral history interview with Clay Lynch conducted by Linda M. Trust on June 28, 1973 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, Lynch discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada from Illinois in July 1955, his education at the University of Pittsburgh, Nevada social welfare programs, and Las Vegas, Nevada casino showrooms. Lynch also briefly discusses his work as a United States Army engineer training officer, as well as a transportation engineering consultant and contractor for his company, Lynch Brothers.