Oral history interview with Phyllis M. Silvestri conducted by Claytee D. White on January 11, 2010 for the Voices of the Historic John S. Park neighborhood Oral History Project. In this interview Phyllis Silvestri discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada, specifically to the historic John S. Park neighborhood. She talks about interesting features of her home like a bomb-shelter. She then discusses how her children were discriminated against in the neighborhood when going outside to play because they are Italian.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with John Pocock conducted by Jeffrey J. Wild on March 08, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Pocock describes his history as an Irish immigrant, his move to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1950, and life in the city during the 1950s. He discusses housing availability in Las Vegas and the development of the city, including the construction of casinos which he claims encouraged the growth of Las Vegas. He talks about working in a casino that eventually became the Sands Hotel and Casino, organized crime in Las Vegas, and the future of the city. Pocock concludes by discussing how Las Vegas and the quality of its customer service in casinos has changed, his recreational activities, and nuclear weapons testing.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Bruce L. Woodbury conducted by Stefani Evans on September 27, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. Woodbury talks about serving as Clark County commissioner from 1981 to 2009. He discusses transportation accomplishments such as the CC-215 Bruce Woodbury Beltway, the Desert Inn Super Arterial, and the Monorail.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Isabelle Rice conducted by Angela Tampol in November 2021 for the Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Rice discusses her childhood in moving around the United States as a child in a military family until settling down in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2018. She reflects on the concept of a "model minority" and shares her experiences with racism and stereotypes that surround that idea. Rice also reflects on her memories of Taiwan, her grandparents, and her family.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Rossi Ralenkotter conducted by Claytee D. White on August 4, 2022 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Ralenkotter describes migrating to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1951 with his parents at the age of four. He shares early memories of the city, and talks about how it brought him to be president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). Ralenkotter is responsible for marketing and branding Las Vegas and Southern Nevada as the world's most desirable destination for leisure and business travel. Under his leadership, the LVCVA launched the most successful branding campaign in tourism history, "What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas." In 1971, Ralenkotter earned a master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and in 2008 was selected as Alumni of the Year. In 2009, he was honored with UNLV's Distinguished Nevadan Award. Throughout the interview, Ralenkotter recalls his many memories of the city throughout his life, including cruising Fremont Street, swimming at Lorenzi Park, participating in Helldorado parades, and watching the transformation of sports in the city.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Lomie Heard conducted by Stephen M. Singer on February 09, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Heard discusses education over the span of thirty years, and includes an overview on the building of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She also discusses Nellis Air Force Base, jet airplanes at Nellis, military families, and the Nevada Test Site.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Lenny Martin conducted by Betty B. Rosenthal on March 24, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Martin discusses the experiences of African American entertainers on the Las Vegas Strip in early Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Sherrill L. Ware conducted by Lawrence R. Gross on March 18, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Ware begins by discussing his service in the United States Navy stationed at Lake Mead before working as a gun manufacturer in Henderson, Nevada. He describes his experience with firearms, including participating in shooting competitions and hunting. Ware talks about life in Las Vegas, Nevada, how the city changed over time, and his career as an operating engineer. Ware also talks about labor unions and the difficulties they face from the companies they worked within, as well as mining in Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Louis Evans conducted by Jeannette Lonpergan on February 17, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Evans discusses his earliest recollections of the Nellis Air Force Base and the McCarran Airport. Evans also discusses the development of roads, employment, religious activities, housing, early above ground atomic tests, and environmental changes in Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Cranford Crawford conducted by Claytee D. White on May 27, 2016 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview Crawford discusses his early life and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1964. He talks about his involvement with the Las Vegas branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), working with African American community leaders, and the consent decree of 1971 alleging a series of violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Crawford describes his career with the Clark County Department of Family Services (DFS), issues of segregation in Las Vegas, and being involved with Les Femmes Douze (The Ladies Twelve). Lastly, Crawford discusses Las Vegas government, school integration, and becoming a Freemason.
Archival Collection