Oral history interview with Valerie Wiener conducted by Barbara Tabach on January 20, 2015 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. In this interview, Wiener discusses her childhood and being raised in Las Vegas, Nevada in the 1950s as well as the academic path that led her career into politics. Throughout Wiener’s interview, she highlights the traditions of the small, but growing Las Vegas Jewish population in the 1960s. Wiener also discusses her community service work and her life mantra of giving.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with George Albright conducted on April 13, 1972 for an unspecified project. In this interview, Albright first talks about his background in operating appliance businesses before discussing his role in creating building plans for the Hoover (Boulder) Dam. He later talks about his experience working with the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, the Clark County Board of County Commissioners, and specific details on how conventions were planned in the various Las Vegas Strip properties.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Stephen Round conducted by Claytee D. White on October 25, 2017 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. In this interview, Stephen A. Round, a career military contractor, describes his experiences during the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada. Round mentions moving to Las Vegas in 2013 and in later years staying at the Aria on the evening of October 1. He describes the chaos of the shooting and the 12-hour-plus lockdown at the Aria hotel and casino. The day after the shooting, Round built a memorial around the shooting site and protected it. Once the memorabilia of that first site was taken to the Clark County Museum, he moved to protect the second memorial at the "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign where crosses devoted to the victims had been placed. Along with his preservation of the memorials, Round describes his preparation of a book that was signed by many who visited the sites. Round explains that he was able to see some of the best and worst of humanity during those days of watching and caring for the memorial sites as well as helping any victims, families of the victims, and sympathizers of the Las Vegas 2017 shooting.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jerald Arthur Nelson conducted by Phillip Dean Nelson on February 28, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Nelson discusses the history of law enforcement in Southern Nevada since 1960s. He also talks about his work experience as a patrolman for the Henderson Police Force.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Otis R. Harris Jr. and Tisha Harris conducted by Claytee White on September 15, 2010 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In their interview Otis and Tisha talk about growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada during a time of racial change. Otis discusses working for the convention and visitors authority, working on economic development for West Las Vegas, and serving as an Assemblyman. Sylvia "Tisha" Harris discusses working as a teacher in Las Vegas for 29 years. Tisha and Otis also discuss how they have remained active in the community and operate Unibex Global Corporation.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jack Cherry conducted by Cheryl Mawhinney on March 20, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Jack Cherry, M.D. (b. 1897 in Little Rock, Arkansas) discusses about his experiences as a practicing physician in Southern Nevada. Dr. Cherry first discusses the steps he took to initiate the building of what would become the Southern Nevada Memorial Hospital, where he would later become the hospital administrator. The interview concludes with Cherry’s opinion on the modern practice of medicine.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Bernard Lee Brown conducted by Marcus Brown for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Brown discusses his work at various gaming properties on the Las Vegas Strip and in Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada, owning his own shoe business, working at the Nevada Test Site, racial discrimination, and the role of unions. He also discusses the overall changes of Las Vegas over time.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Edward C. Perkins conducted by Judith Plaster on November 03, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Perkins discusses his personal history after moving to Boulder City, Nevada in 1942 following his employment by the United States Bureau of Mines. Perkins discusses the Basic Magnesium Plant in Henderson, Nevada and magnesium's uses during World War II, gold mines in California and Nevada, and other mining operations throughout the state of Nevada. Perkins also discusses his career with the United States Bureau of Mines and life in Boulder City.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Marinka Melanie Hunter conducted by Claytee D. White on April 15, 2019 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Hunter discusses her early life in Cuba and immigrating to the Unites States in 1959. She remembers moving to New York City, New York, becoming a burlesque dancer, and performing internationally. Lastly, Hunter talks about burlesque shows in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the Burlesque Hall of Fame.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Charmaine Lai conducted by Cecilia Winchell and Stefani Evans on November 24, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
Charmaine recounts her childhood growing up Hakka Chinese in South Africa. She discusses both the positives of growing up in South Africa, including the beautiful scenery and her family's cooking and traditions, and the negatives including the discrimination she faced in school and in her work. Charmaine also talks about her immigration to the United States, raising her three children, and her work as a real estate agent.
Archival Collection