Oral history interview with Lonnie Pittman conducted by Beverly Williams on March 16, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Pittman, an African American man, describes the treatment and living conditions of African Americans in Las Vegas, Nevada during the 1950s. Pittman also discusses the job opportunities available to African Americans, segregation, and the quality of schooling available to African American children at the time.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Audrey James conducted by Claytee D. White on July 20 and July 27, 2012 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. James discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1952 and working as an elementary school teacher. She also discusses starting a project to provide books for children in African countries, being an active church member, and volunteering in a food bank operation.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Marzette Lewis conducted by Claytee White on October 30, 2012 and November 14, 2012 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. Lewis first discusses the murder of her father at the hands of the Ku Klux Klan in Quitman, Mississippi, then visiting and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in the 1950s. Lewis also discusses the proponents of good neighborhood schools in lieu of bussing children all over the country.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mary R. Lyles conducted by Lisa Ellis on March 18, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, Lyles discusses moving to Nevada from California in 1949 and experience of racial discrimination as an African American. Lyles also discusses her religious beliefs, her work as a maid and pantry waitress, and her experiences as a single mother raising eight children.
Archival Collection
In this interview, focused on the John S. Park neighborhood of Las Vegas, Arne Rosencrantz discusses his childhood growing up in Las Vegas. He talks about local businesses, including his father's furniture store, as well as schools and churches in the neighborhood.
Arne Rosencrantz remembers living on Beverly Way from 1954 to 1970. Like so many others from that era, he attended Fifth Street School, John S. Park Elementary School, John C. Fremont Middle School and graduated from Las Vegas High School. As a Jew, he was in a small minority, but fondly recalls growing up in the dense Mormon population of John S. Park Neighborhood. As a youngster, life in Las Vegas was filled with fun. The desert provided opportunity to hunt lizards and rabbits. Kids walked to school without concern. They played ball and found the Strip casinos welcoming to locals. He tells how the social issue of segregation of the 1960s did not affect him personally, but how local movie theatre owner Lloyd Katz fought to make his Huntridge and Fremont theatres integrated. He also reminisces about his father opening Hollywood Furniture and later Garrett's Furniture, which Arne operated until retiring in 2001. During the interview, he lists other furniture companies and the strong assortment of other retailers and restaurants that served the neighborhood.
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