Oral history interview with Ellis Rice conducted by Claytee D. White on April 09, 2014 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Rice discusses his personal history and growing up in St. Louis, Missouri during the 1960s. He describes his experiences attending Webster College in 1975 and talks about the increase of African American students at the time. Rice recalls starting his first company, African People Art Continuum (APAC) to help connect the arts and with the community. Later, he discusses the theater companies he was involved with, moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1991, and working with the West Las Vegas community to hold theater performances. Lastly, Rice talks about the music he writes and how it connects to his life story.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Alden Sharp conducted by Alex Ilic on March 01, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Sharp discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1938 for employment opportunities. Sharp also discusses his career as a pharmacist as well as changes in the city. Lastly, Sharp discusses atomic testing.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Marie Schamaun conducted by Elie Elias on February 21, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Schamaun discusses her personal history and the history of Las Vegas, Nevada. Schamaun discusses being a member of the first Methodist church in Las Vegas and her involvement with an auxiliary of the Optimist Club which helped young girls. Schamaun describes how Las Vegas and its casinos have changed since she first moved to the city in 1947, and how the city has changed socially. Schamaun also discusses nuclear weapons tests, youth centers in Las Vegas, and the important role the youth centers have in the city.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Kit Waldman conducted by Claytee D. White on October 09, 2000 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Waldman begins by describing her early life in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania during the Great Depression, which forced her family to move to Las Vegas, Nevada due to financial reasons. She discusses life in Las Vegas during the 1930s and 1940s and how the city has changed since then. Waldman also talks about her career working as an assistant at her brother's law firm and being a member in the Jewish community of Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ivan Jackson conducted by Sandy Steel on February 20, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. This interview covers Jackson’s life in Southern Nevada. Jackson talks about his work on the Union Pacific Railroad as well as working with the Hampton Construction Company. Jackson also discusses environmental changes due to a growing population in Southern Nevada and its impact on hunting. The interview concludes with a discussion on the development of North Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Raymond Roberts conducted by his wife, Genevieve Roberts, on March 13, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Roberts describes his career as a musician and as a draftsman. As a draftsman, Roberts designed schools and houses for architect Julius Gabriel. Roberts also helped design road improvements and community buildings for Clark County, Nevada as a civil engineer.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Tyrone Levi conducted by Veomia Hopkins on an unknown date in the 1970s for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project. Levi discusses the segregation African Americans faced in the areas of housing, education, and employment in Las Vegas, Nevada. He also talks about being the Director of State and Equal Rights Commission and a member of the Congressional Fellowship Program. Levi lastly recalls the above ground atomic tests and how Las Vegas, Nevada changed throughout his lifetime.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Charles Roland conducted by Claytee D. White on August 16, 2012 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. Roland begins by describing why his family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1952 and attending Las Vegas High School. He discusses the African American community in Las Vegas, working in a restaurant called Sill's Drive-In, and his father, who opened the Hamburger Heaven restaurants. Roland also discusses race relations in Las Vegas prior to integration, the Binion family, and how Las Vegas has changed.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Nathaniel Whaley conducted by John Grygo on March 06, 2013 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. Whaley talks about growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada and his adult life on the Westside, the historic Las Vegas neighborhood. Whaley discusses having a successful high school career as an accomplished athlete and being an Eagle Scout in the first black Boy Scout troop in the area. Whaley talks about going on to have a fruitful career as a mason and contractor that helped build the city of Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Charlotte M. Kelly conducted by Terri Lynn Truesdell on April 4, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Kelly discusses local history that she experienced as well as her reasons for moving to Las Vegas, Nevada. She also talks about Las Vegas' population growth and Nellis Air Force Base.
Archival Collection