Oral history interview with Ronald Marshall conducted by Barbara Tabach on March 14, 2012 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Marshall talks about living and working on the Walking Box Ranch outside of Las Vegas, Nevada when it was owned by Rex Bell, Sr. and Clara Bow. He discusses moving with his mother, younger brother, and step-father from Tucson, Arizona when his step-father was hired as ranch manager by the Bell's, the kind of work they did on the ranch, from building fences and a windmill to herding and branding cattle. He also discusses his friendship with Rex Bell, Jr. and how the Bureau of Land Management's decision to reduce cattle grazing impacted the business. Fianlly, he spends time identifying and discussing various cattle brands and farming implements for the interviewer.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Nanyu Tomiyasu conducted by Mark French on April 12, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Tomiyasu begins by discussing his father's immigration from Japan to North America in 1898, and his move to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1916. He talks about his father's work in agriculture and the types of crops grown in Las Vegas during the early twentieth century. Tomiyasu also discusses his own upbringing in Las Vegas, how the city has changed and grown, and his education. Tomiyasu describes the Native Americans of Southern Nevada, the environmental changes caused by the construction of the Hoover Dam (Boulder Dam), and his experiences as a Japanese American in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Elbert Edwards conducted by Layne Covington on October 16, 1986 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Edwards first talks about his family background before talking about what it was like to live in Panaca, Nevada. Edwards later talks about his wife’s and his political involvement, and his involvement in education. He then discusses Hoover (Boulder) Dam, his job as a registrar in the Selective Service, and the effects that the World War II years had on Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Rodrigo Vazquez conducted by Nathalie Martinez and Barbara Tabach on May 24, 2021 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project.
Rodrigo was raised in a mixed status Mexican family. He was born in Mexico and immigrated to the United States at the age of three, later becoming a citizen when he was in the 8th grade. Rodrigo is currently a graduate student worker for the Latinx Voices Oral History Project and reflects on what he has learned. He also discusses what the past year of the Coronavirus pandemic has been like for him.
Subjects discussed include: Latinx and Mexican identities, COVID-19 era, and Latinx Voices Project oral historian
Archival Collection
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 Larry Mason conducted by Nathalie Martinez on September 14, 2018 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Mason discusses his upbringing by his Mexican immigrant parents in East Los Angeles, California and attending New Mexico State University. He describes receiving an athletics scholarship for basketball, playing in the European League, and earning a master's degree in education. Mason then talks about moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1984 to become Director of Admissions at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, being elected to the Clark County School Board in 1993, and his work at the College of Southern Nevada as Vice President of Diversity and Cultural Affairs. Lastly, Mason explain his involvement with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, minority students in STEM fields, his vision for public education, and the various community activities he has been involved in.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Isaac Barrón conducted by Maribel Estrada Calderón and Claytee D. White on March 27, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. Isaac Barrón was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. His father entered the United States as a Bracero. Barrón attended Rancho High School and earned his bachelor's degree in secondary education from UNLV. He currently teaches history at Rancho High School and serves as North Las Vegas' Councilman. In this oral history, Barrón recalls his youth in North Las Vegas, navigating the presence of gangs, and his path to being a community activist and advocate for North Las Vegas youth. He has led volunteer efforts for community improvement projects, including the plans for a new public library. He holds the distinction of being the first Latinx member of the North Las Vegas City Council and Southern Nevada's first Hispanic Mayor Pro Tempore. In 2013, he was elected to represent Ward 1 and was reelected for a second term in April 2017. He discusses being Mexican American, the Coalition of Pan American Organizations, the Hispanic Student Union, the Bracero Program, and Rancho High School.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Buddy Frank conducted by David Schwartz on January 03, 2017 for the Slot Operations Oral History Project. Frank discusses his career in slot operations, including the positions he held in both Nevada and California casino properties. Frank also discusses the utilization of free play as a marketing strategy and the use of Ethernet technology in slot machines. He then talks about how much slots have changed since his start in the business, millennials, skill-based gaming, and the future of slot machines.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with William Evans conducted by Aaron Bullock on April 24, 2004 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Evans reflects upon his 40 year-career as a teacher and school administrator, starting with the Clark County School District in 1963. He discusses his experiences teaching in West Las Vegas, his experiences with school integration, and the influence of his life experiences on his philosophy of education.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Benjamin Buckles conducted by Irene Rostine on October 11 and 23, 1995 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN). In his interviews, Buckles discusses visiting Las Vegas, Nevada in the 1940s and eventually settling in Henderson, Nevada in 1950. He describes working for Rheem Manufacturing Company at the Basic Magnesium Incorporated (BMI) industrial complex. Buckles discusses the presence of a union at the manufacturing plant and describes working conditions and benefits. Buckles also talks about the security of the complex and the crime rates of the surrounding area. Lastly, he describes his recreational interests and his wife.
Archival Collection