Oral history interview with Quincella Rivers conducted by Claytee D. White on November 20, 2019 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Quincella Rivers began by talking about where she grew up, her family life and history with the arts, and her childhood. She recalls moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1979 to finish college at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and talks about different jobs and organizations she has participated in. Rivers serves as co-chair of the Youth in Arts for Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) Sorority, President of the Las Vegas Society, Inc., Advisory Board of Forgotten Song Foundation, and sings with Sweet Adeline International. She talks about the histories of some of the organizations, how she helped out in each of them, what their goals were, and what they did for the community. Lastly, she talks about racism in Las Vegas in the past and her personal experience with racism and segregation.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Phillip L. Cook conducted by Richard Strahan on March 3, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Cook first talks about his parents' move to Nevada and discusses how the school system has changed over time. He then describes the first businesses that opened up in the Downtown and Strip areas of Las Vegas, Nevada before discussing prostitution, Block 16, and recreational activities available to youth. Cook also talks about the first television sets and telephone systems made available, and he moves on to talk about the prices of things such as movies and haircuts when he was younger. The interview then moves to discussions on the Old Ranch, racial discrimination, school integration, the crime rate, and the school system in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Hazel Geran conducted by Claytee D. White on August 30, 2000 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Geran gives insights into the black experience in Las Vegas, Nevada. Geran describes her perspective of living on the Westside and the businesses that thrived there in the past, and why she remained in west Las Vegas. She also gives a peek into her family life including Catholic schools, family outings and an insightful story regarding racism and the difficulty of getting a housing loan in the 1950s.
Archival Collection
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.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Paul Richert conducted by Mark Ferrario on March 29, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Richert briefly describes his personal history in Las Vegas, Nevada, observing nuclear weapons tests, and meeting then-Senator John F. Kennedy while he was campaigning in Las Vegas for the U.S. presidency. Mainly, Richert discusses his career as a police chemist, and later his work helping to improve education in the Clark County School District as an assistant principal.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Bud Bodell conducted by an unidentified collector in the 1970s for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Bodell discusses Six Companies, the building of the Boulder (Hoover) Dam, and the development of the local sheriff’s department and the police department. Bodell also discusses the impact of gambling on the local economy, and the development plans and construction of the Las Vegas, Nevada Strip hotels.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mei Yang conducted by Jourdin Wilson on November 10, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) professor and graduate coordinator Mei Yang talks about her family and childhood in Shanxi Province, southwestern China. She shares her educational background pursuing her bachelor's and master's degrees in China before immigrating to the United States to earn her PhD in Computer Science from the University of Texas, Dallas. Mei Yang talks about her move to Las Vegas, Nevada, her work and professorship at UNLV, and her thoughts on pursuing a STEM (science technology engineering math) career as a woman. She shares how she raises her daughters in the United States away from her husband overseas, the Chinese community within Las Vegas, and traditions she celebrates.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ryann Juden conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on August 23, 2016 and November 3, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project.
Ryann Juden, an Assistant City Manager, talks about the growth of North Las Vegas under the leadership of Mayor John Lee. He shares information about Mayor Lee's partnership with Brookings Institution for real estate development and electric vehicle negotiations with Faraday Future by Dr. Qiong Liu.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Norman Forsythe conducted by Bill Cunningham on March 04, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Forsythe discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada and joining the City of Las Vegas and Clark County Fire Departments. He also goes into detail about fighting the fire at the El Rancho Vegas in 1960 and his responsibilities as a battalion chief. The interview concludes with Forsythe talking briefly about his family’s recreational activities and his experience as a baseball coach.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Clare Woodbury conducted by James Greene on January 28, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Woodbury discusses his personal history and medical background. He then describes social life in Las Vegas, Nevada, education, and his involvement with the Clark County School District. Later, Woodbury discusses some of the issues surrounding education at the time and suggest solutions.
Archival Collection