Oral history interview with Morse Arberry conducted by Brittany Thompson and Andrew Thomas on November 20, 2015 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Arberry discusses his personal history and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1958. He talks about his father's employment at the Nevada Test Site and the issues of segregation at the time. Arberry recalls attending the Westside School and talks about school integration. He then describes his career in legislation, working on bills to improve the integration process, and the impact that the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) had on the level of education among adults in the community. Lastly, Arberry discusses the West Las Vegas community, the significance that religion had on African Americans, and the increase of law enforcement in the area.
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.
Oral history interview with Dale Everett conducted by John Everett on March 07, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Everett discusses the weather, wildlife, and hunting in Las Vegas, Nevada. He also shares his views on prostitution and gambling in the city.
Oral history interview with Richard E. Schroeder conducted by Richard Harrah on February 26, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Schroeder discusses arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1951 to work as a carpenter for the Desert Inn. Schroeder then describes changes in Las Vegas, gambling, and the development of the Las Vegas Strip. Lastly, he discusses the history of some of the hotels and casinos on Fremont Street.
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.
Oral history interview with Essie Boyd conducted by Claytee D. White on September 16, 2008 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Boyd describes life in Las Vegas, Nevada as an African American during the 1940s. She begins by discussing what the Las Vegas Strip was like at the time and her experiences working at the Flamingo Hotel, the Desert Inn, and the Desert Inn Country Club. Boyd describes the history of the casinos where she worked and the individuals she met through her work, including prominent African American entertainers and influential Las Vegas families such as the Greenspuns.
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.
Oral history interview with Lena Brass conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on January 17, 2017 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Brass discusses her upbringing in Winsboro, Louisiana and describes living during segregation. She recalls moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1975 with her husband, her employment at Nevada State Bank, and participating in the Martin Luther King parade. Brass then talks about the advancement of banking technology, the utilization of computers, and her experience as an African American bank manager. Later, Brass talks of her mentors, her faith, and the economic downturn of Jackson Street businesses in the Westside. Lastly, Brass discusses the future of the African American community in Las Vegas, the Westside, and business networking with the church community.
Oral history interview with George Bach conducted by Mary R. Parrish on February 27, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Bach discusses topics such as the Nevada Test Site, the Alamo, African Americans in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Carpentry Union of 1980, and Fong’s Garden.
Oral history interview with James L. Willcox conducted by Carol Benner on March 04, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Willcox discusses working in a research office at the Nevada Test Site for the National Weather Service as a research meteorologist. Willcox later discusses the overall changes to Las Vegas, Nevada, specifically the effects that population increase had on the desert.