Oral history interview with Dr. John P. Watkins conducted by Claytee D. White on April 29, 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Dr. Watkins talks about his schooling, his medical career, and medicine and medical practitioners in Las Vegas, Nevada from the mid-1950s. He recalls how he met his wife, Frances (née) O’Rourke, and the Las Vegas places he, Frances, and their sons John and Brian lived. In particular, he describes their Desert Inn Country Club neighbors and neighborhood, where he and his family lived for fourteen years. He then discusses Las Vegas as a gateway to outdoor activities.
Oral history interview with Max Velasquez conducted by Janice F. Hurtubise on March 08, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Velasquez discusses his personal history as a construction worker in Las Vegas, Nevada. He describes the construction projects he worked on and the differences between 1950s construction and construction at the current time. Velasquez goes on to discuss the government regulations workers had to follow, how water pipelines were laid, and the types of equipment used in construction. Lastly, Velasquez talks about the bidding process for contractors and environmental changes in Las Vegas.
Oral history interview with Rosina Goodwin conducted by Bruce Eubank on March 15, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Goodwin first talks about her family background before discussing the Las Vegas Strip, the Stewart Ranch, and Twin Lakes. She also talks about schools, Boulder (Hoover) Dam, the atomic testing, and her work as a telephone operator. The latter part of the interview includes discussion on changes in Las Vegas, the Helldorado Parade, and changes in weather.
Oral history interview with Greg McCurdy conducted by Claytee D. White on March 7, 2013 and August 21, 2013 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. McCurdy discusses growing up in the early Westside neighborhood as a boy and his work as a police officer with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD). He then talks about retiring after 30 years of service and his following career overseeing the Homeland Security and Law Enforcement Investigations Group at the LVMPD.
Oral history interview with Norman Forsyth conducted by Steve Flinte on March 19, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Forsythe discusses arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada and his time as a firefighter with the Las Vegas Fire Department and the Clark County Fire Department, where he eventually became a battalion chief. Forsythe also talks about the history and development of Las Vegas, the prices of land, some notable fires, including the El Rancho Vegas fire, and what he recalls about the aboveground atomic testing.
Oral history interview with Douglas Reynolds conducted by Dr. David Emerson on June 16, 2006 for the UNLV @ 50 Oral History Project. Reynolds discusses joining the University of Nevada, Las Vegas’ engineering faculty in 1983 and writing a report that led to the founding of the engineering college. He also talks about the report’s accreditation with the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
Oral history interview with Deborah Cameron conducted by Dennis McBride on August 17, 2006 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In this interview, Cameron discusses the lesbian community in Las Vegas, Nevada, the organization Women of Nevada (WUN), and founding the organization, L Club. She describes other lesbian organizations and clubs that she was a member of and explains why gay clubs were important in forming supportive communities. Lastly, Cameron talks about the disbandment of the L Club.
Oral history interview with Tad Porter conducted by Joseph H. Cutchin III on October 17, 1972 for the UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection. In this interview, Porter discusses his early life and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1939. He remembers the Carole Lombard plane crash accident, the construction of Hoover Dam, and social changes in Las Vegas since the 1940s.
Oral history interviews with Tamara Pickett conducted by Dennis McBride on November 01, 2002 and November 08, 2002 for the Las Vegas Gay Archives Oral History Project. In these interviews, Pickett discusses her early life and the traumatizing experiences that occurred during her childhood. Pickett remembers serving in the United States Army, beginning her transition to Tamara, and completing a sexual reassignment surgery in 1999. Later, Pickett talks about her activism work in Las Vegas, Nevada, campaigning for improved health care for transgender veterans, and her involvement with the transgender community in Las Vegas.
Oral history interview with William Star conducted by Tony Morneau on September 15, 1973 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Star discusses moving from Brooklyn, New York to Henderson, Nevada in 1955. In 1959, Star moved from Henderson to Las Vegas, Nevada to run a family-owned pawn shop. Star goes into detail about atomic bomb testing, the growth of Las Vegas, and gambling.