Archival Component
Oral history interview with Lily Teo conducted by Stefani Evans on February 7, 2022 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
Lily Teo discusses her upbringing in Singapore, her education, her religious beliefs, and converting from Buddhism to Catholicism. She talks about her husband, her early married years, and what life was like as a young mother of three children. Teo shares how she started a catering business to feed construction workers and was responsible for shopping for ingredients, preparing all meals and tea, and cooking the food on site in her temporary kitchen. She talks about her children, the faiths they practice and languages they speak including English, Malay, and Mandarin, and the customs and traditions they practice, such as celebrating Lunar New Year and other holidays. Lily's daughter, Stella, sits in on the interview and expands on her mother's recollections.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Wilfred Voss conducted by Ann Chetelat on March 02, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Voss discusses his personal history and employment experiences. He goes on to describe his employment at the Hoover Dam (Boulder Dam) as a laborer and recalls the construction process. Voss then discusses his involvement with the Masonic Lodge in Boulder City, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Leslie W. Edwards conducted by John Porter on March 19, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Edwards provides an overview of rural Panaca, Nevada history starting in the early 1900s. Edwards describes how life operated for rural Nevadans and also describes his family's experiences on their farm.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Dennis Wilson conducted by Lisa Gioia-Acres on October 2, 2007 for the All That Jazz Oral History Project. In this interview, Wilson discusses his early life in Arabi, Louisiana and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1971. He recalls playing a variety of woodwind instruments for Wayne Cochran, the C. C. Riders, and traveling across the United States during the 1970s. After traveling internationally for a brief period, Wilson returned to Las Vegas and began playing for bands in Las Vegas casinos. He recalls working on musicals such as Avenue Q, Spamalot, and Phantom of the Opera. Lastly, Wilson discusses teaching music as a paraprofessional at Johnson Junior High.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mary Ward conducted by Irene Rostine on March 14, 2012 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. Ward discusses moving to Nevada in the 1950s with her husband to live closer to his family. She describes living in both Pahrump and Las Vegas, Nevada, and the commute between both cities. Ward then talks about the various places she was employed including the County Commissioner's office and the local telephone company. She also worked as a telephone operator at the Frontier Hotel and Casino, Sands Hotel and Casino, and the Flamingo Hotel. She goes on to talk about the duties telephone operators had, how important the union was for telephone operators because of unfair retribution, lack of stability, and the need for worker's rights. Additional comments are provided by a person identified as Opal.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Marlena Shaw conducted by Claytee D. White on December 12, 2017 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Shaw discusses her early life in New Rochelle, New York and growing up in a musical family. She talks about her initial interest in singing, her career as a jazz singer, and performing with Count Basie in Las Vegas, Nevada. Shaw recalls recording her first studio album, and the discrimination she faced as an African American musician. Shaw describes performing at the Sands Hotel and Casino, touring around the world, and working with multiple recording labels. Later, Shaw remembers performing with Sammy Davis Jr. Lastly, Shaw discusses the significance of spirituality in her life, and her first time performing with a symphony orchestra.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ora Bland conducted by Claytee D. White on March 04, 2021 for African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project.
Ora Bland speaks to what she knew of her husband's secretive work at Area 51 of the Nevada Test Site, businesses in the Westside community, and her work in the downtown Las Vegas post office. In addition to her life experiences, Ora shares her thoughts on her community, the state of homelessness that many experience in her surrounding neighborhood, and her activities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jay Duarte conducted by David Schwartz on January 27, 2017 for the Slot Operations Oral History Project. Duarte gives a description of the various positions and roles he has held in Station Casinos and other properties on the Las Vegas, Nevada Strip. Duarte then explains how the slot department works with other casino departments, and later describes the qualities that make both good and bad slot managers.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Herb Tobman conducted by Stephen Tidwell on April 23, 1986 for the UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection.
In this interview, Herb Tobman discusses his upbringing in the Bronx, New York, his Russian-Jewish ancestry, and his service in the United States Navy. He talks about his move to Las Vegas, Nevada with his wife in 1952 and his employment history, starting with his ownership of a used furniture store and the Western Cab Company; his executive casino work as general manager of the Moulin Rouge Hotel and the Aladdin Hotel and Casino; and as president of the Stardust Resort and Casino and Fremont Hotel and Casino. Tobman shares his involvement in the community, how the city of Las Vegas has grown and changed, and the happiness he and his family have experienced living in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection