Oral history interview with Ernest Jackson conducted by Larry E. Cooper on March 1, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Jackson discusses his experiences in the Westside as a Black Las Vegas, Nevada resident. Jackson discusses the lack of property buyers on the Westside and his goals of improving the Westside by building on the land. Jackson also discusses his youth as a baseball star for Las Vegas High School in the 1950s.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Robert Kneoki conducted by Dave Harelik on March 14, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Kneoki discusses growth, crime, and religion in Nevada. He also talks about the silver mines, MX missiles, and transient people.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mark Matthews conducted by Marcus Harrison on March 30, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Matthews discusses his arrival to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1949 in an attempt to find better living conditions. Matthews then describes living through the Great Depression, and explains the hardships it brought upon many people. Matthews later discusses improvements in transportation throughout the city as more streets were paved.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Shannon Rabb conducted by Claytee D. White on December 20, 2022 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Rabb describes her experience living in the Herbert Gerson Housing Development on the Westwide of Las Vegas. She describes it as safe, as community, and as protection from the police. In this interview, Rabb discusses a wide variety of topics including gangs, drugs, Westside businesses, and family with an expanded definition.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Charles H. Finks conducted by Mildred Walker on March 04, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Finks discusses his life in West Las Vegas, Nevada. Finks also discusses the difficulties in finding a job as an African American, and the ways that African Americans had to present themselves while working in hotel or casinos on the Las Vegas, Nevada Strip.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Kathleen Fuson conducted by Lance Goss on March 04, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Fuson discusses her life in Las Vegas, Nevada including her employment history, her knowledge about the Boulder (Hoover) Dam, the desert’s flora and fauna, and the education system.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ruby Thomas conducted by Craig Hawkins on October 05, 1973 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Thomas discusses her career as a teacher in Las Vegas, Nevada and being member of the Retired Teachers Association. She then describes social and environmental changes, and the construction of Hoover Dam (Boulder Dam). Lastly, Thomas recalls the population growth and casino development in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Harley E. Harmon conducted by Perry Kaufman on April 14, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project. In his interview Harmon discusses the influences his family has had on the development of Las Vegas, Nevada and Clark County.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Cora Schwartz conducted by Marta Planzo on November 19, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Schwartz discusses her life experiences living in Goodsprings, Nevada. She talks about her family history, her husband's mining business, and the economic activities in Goodsprings.
Archival Collection