Oral history interview with Flora Jones conducted by Claytee D. White on July 19, 2007 for the UNLV @ 50 Oral History Project. In this interview Flora Jones discusses getting a job at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), in the admissions office. She then discusses her work environment, the UNLV Campus, downtown Las Vegas, Nevada, and the students she worked with. She also shares her opinions of many facets of UNLV today, including the new student union and recreational buildings as well as UNLV becoming a Research I institution.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Melville Smith conducted by Karl Kuopus on February 17, 1977 and February 23, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Smith describes his career working for the City of Las Vegas, Nevada in the Planning and Development Department. Smith discusses city planning, how Las Vegas has changed, and housing in the city. Smith also talks about nuclear weapons tests, his children, and why he moved to Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Lero Erbe conducted by Claytee D. White on February 04, 2014 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Erbe discusses her personal history and her career as an educator. She primarily describes her work in the Head Start education program in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she enrolled young children from low-income families to provide them a preliminary education before they began school. Erbe also recalls her husband and his work as a teacher and administrator in the Clark County school system. She also discusses what life in Las Vegas was like for her and her husband and the shows they enjoyed seeing on the Las Vegas Strip. Erbe's family member, Beau, is also present, and comments on a discussion about racial integration in the local school system.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Cathy Scott conducted by Dennis McBride on December 12, 2006 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In this interview, Scott discusses reporting about the murder of Roger Jameson, a gay man who was found dead outside of a gay bar in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 25, 1995. Scott describes the scene upon her arrival and her initial reactions to the homicide. She talks about the issue of homophobia in Las Vegas at the time and explains that other newspaper publications would not want to cover this story because this was not seen as a serious issue. Lastly, Scott talks about the double life that Jameson lived and how the public reacted to his story.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Charles Deaner conducted by Claytee D. White on April 4, 2011 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Charles Deaner discusses coming to Las Vegas, Nevada to practice law in the 1950s. He also discusses stories of his first law practice and legal case, as well as his insights and descriptions of the many changes that have occurred over the decades that he has lived and worked in the Las Vegas community.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Barbara Mowry conducted by Jon Sedlacek on February 16, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Mowry describes moving to Las Vegas, Nevada from California in 1949 to get a divorce, before remarrying and entering into the restaurant business with her new husband. Mowry discusses buying an established restaurant, the Villa Venice, with her husband, and the eventual fire that would destroy the restaurant in 1952. Mowry describes running the restaurant, the different kinds of recreation in Las Vegas during the 1950s, and how Las Vegas has changed since she moved there. Mowry also discusses the prejudice against African Americans in Las Vegas, and how her husband would have to let in African American performers such as Sammy Davis Jr. or Pearl Bailey through the back door of their restaurant.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mary Leo conducted by Rafael Reyes-Spindola on February 27, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Mary Susanne Kaime Leo moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1952. In the interview, Leo discusses community interactions during her childhood, as well as her employment with the Tropicana Las Vegas and the Riviera Hotel & Casino in the restaurant and sales departments. She also discusses the lifestyles of showgirls she interacted with.
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 Von Eisinger conducted by Marilyn Eisinger on February 13, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Von Eisinger discusses weather conditions of Las Vegas, Nevada, the Hoover Dam, political representation of the different regions within Nevada, hunting, fishing, and labor unions in Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Edward Tabor conducted by Mary Livingston on March 12, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Tabor discusses arriving in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1941 at the Las Vegas Army Air Corps Gunnery School (Nellis Air Force Base) where he did administrative work. Tabor then discusses his work in television, sales, and recalls the growth of gambling throughout Las Vegas.
Archival Collection