Oral history interview with David Ober conducted by Stefani Evans on October 11, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Ober discusses his upbringing in Tucson, Arizona and talks about his parents’ careers. He recalls moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1989 to work for his father’s home building business, R. A. Homes, and opening his real estate company, Jorant Commercial. Ober describes joining Temple Beth Sholom, his involvement with the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association, and developing the Desert Shores community. Later, Ober discusses his mother’s career as a teacher in the Clark County School District (CCSD) and her contributions in designing the first program for visually impaired students. Lastly, Ober talks about CCSD naming a school in honor of his parents.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with George Ward conducted by Charles P. Hall on March 11, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Ward discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1942 and his experience in the city as an African American. Ward describes the jobs African Americans were hired for in Las Vegas during the 1940s and his teaching career. He describes segregation and discrimination in the school system and in casinos. He also talks about how African American police officers were only allowed to patrol West Las Vegas, housing availability, and organized crime in the city. Lastly, Ward talks about his involvement in local politics, the beginnings of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the development of Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Greta Peay conducted by Kali Woods on November 11, 2015 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. Peay, a school administrator with the Clark County School District (CCSD) discusses Las Vegas education experiences in Nevada that are relevant to racial inequities across the country. Peay also comments on studies that show Nevada schools at the bottom of national rankings when comparing Black graduation rates, the school-to-prison pipeline, and low enrollment in college-prep courses for Black high-school students.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Chris Guinchigliani conducted by Suzanne Becker on July 20, 2007 for the Voices of the Historic John S. Park Neighborhood Oral History Project. Guinchigliani discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in the 1980s and teaching at a middle school. She also discusses involving herself in the teachers’ union as well as serving in various leadership positions.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Joseph E. Sullivan conducted by Heather Comer on March 14, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Sullivan discusses his personal history growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada after moving there from Denver, Colorado in 1928. Sullivan describes the history of Las Vegas and some of its particular aspects, including the Helldorado Festival and how snakes were driven out of the Lake Mead area to create the lake. He also describes working in one of the first Las Vegas clubs and his latest career owning a slot machine company. Sullivan goes on to discuss the development of McCarran International Airport, how Las Vegas has changed, and the future of the city.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Zoe Albright conducted by Barbara Tabach on October 16, 2018 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. In this interview, Albright describes her work as a volunteer for the Red Cross and helping comfort those who came into the Metro Police Station after the 1 October shooting, searching for family and friends who were present at the Route 91 Harvest Festival. In addition to being a Red Cross volunteer, Albright is also a personal trainer, nutrition consultant and resident of Las Vegas since 1988.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Dale Anderson conducted by Patrick Carlton on July 12, 2002 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Anderson reflects upon his upbringing and educational background that preceded his teaching career. He discusses how he was hired to teach at Washington State University in 1966, and later the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) in 1984. He discusses his employment within the universities, and various administrative positions that he held, including department chair and dean. He also describes his working relationship with other individuals, and challenges that he faced as an administrator.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Anne Kellogg conducted by Claytee White on July 25, 2007 for the Voices of the Historic John S. Park Neighborhood Oral History Project. Kellogg discusses her parents setting up their first home in the John S. Park Neighborhood and living in the same neighborhood even though they moved to larger houses. She also discusses being a freelance journalist and owning a stationery store in the Holsum Lofts in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Gene Collins conducted by Claytee White on August 31, 2000 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview Gene Collins speaks about how his family lived in West Las Vegas, Nevada, which at the time was a thriving community where African Americans owned their own businesses. Gene talked about how the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. led to a riot and how it inspired him to run for state assemblyman where he was instrumental in getting the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday bill to pass. He spoke about his time as the president of the Las Vegas National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) where he addressed the lack of African Americans in the gaming industry in addition to filing the largest equal employment opportunity commission suit filed in the state of Nevada against the Mirage Hotel and Casino.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mike Meade conducted by Steve Gortz on February 28, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Meade speaks about growing up in Tonopah, Nevada before its decline in population, his move to Elko, Nevada and eventually to the city of Las Vegas. Moreover, he talks about the development of the Strip, the differences between Las Vegas and rural Nevada, as well as the changing environmental landscape. Meade also spends time discussing the controversy surrounding the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) dormitory at the time of this interview, the attitude of locals, and his opinion on brothels and prostitution. Lastly, Meade talks about the city’s pollution, the sports and recreation throughout the whole of the state and ends by reading a poem about Nevada from a Bicentennial book.
Archival Collection