Oral history interview with William Viera conducted by Ann Louise Pugh on an unknown day in October of 1971 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Viera discusses his work in real estate throughout Las Vegas, Nevada and describes the increase in value of homes, especially newer buildings. Viera later describes his thoughts on why the desert and other surrounding landscape areas would soon be developed.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Tyrone Williams conducted by Claytee D. White on August 25, 2006 for the UNLV @ 50 Oral History Project. Williams discusses arriving at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and his various jobs there. He recalls that blacks were not welcome on the Las Vegas, Nevada Strip unless they were going to work in one of the hotels or casinos. Williams then describes joining the Executive Housekeepers Association. The interview concludes with a short discourse on social life and positive aspects of life in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with LaVaun Hendrix conducted by Judy Laliberte on February 27, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. The two discuss how Hendrix originally came to Nevada, her occupational history, and differences between the school system in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hendrix explains how a changing school system has affected her job as a teacher and her students. She goes on to talk about the above-ground atomic tests, Helldorado, changes to the desert, and Nevada during World War II.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Kenneth Frogley conducted by Perry Kaufman in an unknown date in 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, Frogley discusses politics, Las Vegas, Nevada as a western town, hotel and casino industry growth, Helldorado parades, and his work as the first manager of the Desert Sea News Bureau (later known as the Las Vegas News Bureau).
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Helen Naugle conducted by Irene Rostine on October 31, 1996 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. Naugle opens her interview by discussing moving to Las Vegas, Nevada after she visited the city on a family vacation. She then talks about attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in order to obtain her real estate license. Naugle describes opening her own real estate office, the types of properties she brokered, and her participation in the Las Vegas Board of Realtors. She ends her interview by discussing her international business work and vacations.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Miguel Villarba conducted by David Islas on December 6, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
In this interview, Miguel Villarba shares his family's history growing up in Manila, Philippines and immigrating to the United States in 2016. He talks about first living in Chattanooga, Tennessee before moving to Las Vegas, Nevada to be near family when Miguel was in high school. Miguel Villarba shares stories of his grandfather's farm in Pangasinan, Philippines, the differences in city and town life across Manila, Chattanooga, and Las Vegas, and his educational plans. He also talks about Filipino culture and traditions, and racial discrimination.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Frank Cope conducted by Marianne Johnson on March 15, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Cope describes his occupation as distribution superintendent at the Las Vegas Valley Water District and meeting his wife who also worked for the water district as a secretary in the engineering department. Cope also mentions multiple organizations and committees that he was a part of.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Charles A. Bennett conducted by Michael E. Kulwin on March 05, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Bennett discusses early gaming figures, real estate, Howard Hughes, and casino development. Bennett also weighs in on the Carol Lombard plane crash tragedy, and the early atomic bomb tests conducted in Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Samuel E. Wright conducted by Claytee D. White on October 08, 2010 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Wright discusses Stokely Carmichael, the black power philosophy, and his remorse in the Washington riots. Wright also discusses job opportunities in Las Vegas, Nevada and the lack of commissioner support to build a public mass transit system. Wright then shares stories about the Westside neighborhood and other black neighborhoods of the 1980s. He talks about the closing of F Street and resulting protests in 2008 and 2009, and the creation of Symphony Park.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jennie Mead on March 04, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Mead discusses her career as a waitress at the Hacienda Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she had worked for twenty-one years at the time of the interview. Mead also describes how the Hacienda Hotel and Casino had changed over the years.
Archival Collection