Oral history interviews with the family of Joe Louis conducted by Claytee D. White on November 18, 2014 and February 06, 2015 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In these interviews, the family of Joe Louis discuss his life and career as a famous African American boxer from the 1930s to 1950s. They describe charity fights he held to raise money for the Navy Relief Fund during World War II, which later became an issue for him when the Internal Revenue Service claimed he still owed taxes on the money he raised despite it being donated. The family discusses what it was like growing up and meeting celebrity friends of Louis', such as Frank Sinatra and Muhammad Ali, Louis' involvement with the Moulin Rouge Hotel-Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Louis' status as an African American sports hero. They also detail his eventual retirement from boxing, his job working as a greeter at Caesars Palace, and his death.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Nick Robone conducted by Claytee D. White and Barbara Tabach on December 21, 2017 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. In this interview, Nick Robone, born and raised in Nevada, details his process of healing after being shot during the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest music festival. He discusses the events of that Sunday night and how he has learned to view life in a more positive light. Robone mentions various coping mechanisms that have helped him, including being open about his experience and talking about it with other survivors as well as pursuing his passions.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Larry Woodrum conducted by Janet Farley on February 15, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Woodrum discusses banking in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Tony Moreo conducted by Claytee D. White on September 13, 2007 for the UNLV @ 50 Oral History Project. In this interview, Moreo compares growing up in New York to his life in Las Vegas, Nevada. He explains how he did not perform as well as other students back when he was in school, but then describes a major turning point in his life was when he studied culinary arts in college. In the rest of the interview, Moreo talks about moving to Las Vegas to pursue a career in culinary arts. He discusses staying in various hotels and sampling the food in their restaurants. Lastly, Moreo expresses a desire to see the city remodeled and improve its infrastructure.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Orville Farmer conducted by Louis (unknown last name) on September 24, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Farmer discusses the ruins in Overton, Nevada and working at the Nevada Test Site as a welder.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Joseph Ostunio conducted by Claytee D. White on December 20, 2017 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. In this interview, Joseph Ostunio discusses his early childhood in Las Vegas, Nevada and how he grew to love country music. He talks about the Route 91 Harvest music festival, which he attended with his friend in 2017. He describes the events of that weekend and the shooting on that Sunday, October 1, 2017, during which his friend was shot. Ostunio ends the interview with his feelings regarding Las Vegas and what he has learned about himself from this experience.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Marienne Shaver conducted by her granddaughter, Alice Penwell, on March 21, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Shaver describes visiting and moving to Reno, Nevada from Michigan and later staying in Nevada to teach. Shaver talks about moving to Las Vegas, Nevada and being involved in the local girl scouts organization, church, and women's club. Lastly, Shaver discusses the growth of Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Wendy Starkweather conducted by Claytee D. White on April 9, 2021 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Wendy Starkweather (born 1949) served as the public face of Lied Library 20 years ago when the building was first constructed. She discusses her time at Lied Library with specific references to her most memorable moments and her favorite aspects of the library's architecture. Wendy also talks about her retirement from UNLV in 2010 and how she has kept busy in recent years by traveling, reading, and participating in the political arena. Subjects discussed include: Lied Library, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and Book Clubs.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Shauna Hughes conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on August 31, 2016 and October 11, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In the first interview, Hughes discusses her early life in New York and later moving to Ohio. She talks about attending John Carroll University, moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1982, and being a founding member of the Southern Nevada Association of Women Attorneys. Hughes recalls being appointed Henderson City Attorney, the early development of Green Valley, and the rapid growth of that area. Hughes then describes the Pacific Engineering and Production Company of Nevada (PEPCON) explosion in 1988. In the second interview, Hughes discusses her work as Henderson City Attorney. She describes collaborating with elected city officials, the development of the Galleria Mall, and the establishment of Nevada State College (NSC). Lastly, Hughes talks about community support for new infrastructure in Henderson.
Archival Collection