Oral history interview with Celia Rivero Grenfell conducted by Patricia Holland on March 31, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Grenfell first talks about her family background in Mexico and later describes her family’s restaurant business. She also describes her education, recreational activities, Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada; and Helldorado. Grenfell discusses racial segregation and prejudice, El Rancho Vegas, Lorenzi Park, early churches, environmental changes, early air conditioning, and Grenfell’s early work in a laundry business.
On March 11, 1981, Melvin Thompson interviewed Richard F. Caldwell Sr. (b. 1919 in New Orleans, Louisiana) about his experiences living in Las Vegas, Nevada for over 49 years. The interview begins with Caldwell discussing his family and what brought him to Las Vegas. He then talks about working at the Nevada Test Site, the hotels and casinos that were built on the Strip, his experience working at some of those properties, and the way of life in Las Vegas in the 1940s and 1950s. The two also discuss politics, religion, and recreational gambling in the city. The interview finalizes with Caldwell’s account of the Westside of Las Vegas, African American entertainers who came to town to perform, and a brief mention of many specific historical sites in the city.
Oral history interview with Kathleen Cortez, Delores "Dee" Gammell, Kelli Hansen, and Sallie Samis conducted by Jerwin Tiu and Stefani Evans on January 26, 2024 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, three sisters of seven siblings, Delores "Dee" Gammell, Sallie Samis, and Kathleen "Kathy" Cortez, describe their beginnings in early Las Vegas alongside Dee's daughter, Kelli Hansen. This six generation family of Las Vegas natives trace their roots to Mexico and Delores, Sallie, and Kathleen all recall their childhood spent with family. Each sister eventually ended up leaving Las Vegas. However, each sister ended up returning to Las Vegas and settling in the city where they grew up. While they have their qualms about the city and it is different from when they were growing up, they savor the time they are able to enjoy as a family in the place where they all started.
Oral history interview with Everlena Brown conducted by Claytee D. White on June 15, 2016 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Brown discusses her upbringing in Moro, Arkansas and moving to Little Rock, Arkansas. She talks about the Little Rock Nine students and her experience attending a segregated school for African Americans. Brown recalls attending Clark County Community College (now College of Southern Nevada) and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), becoming a nurse, and the process of applying for nursing positions. Later, Brown discusses living in the Westside, entertainment on Jackson Street, and participating in church activities. Lastly, Brown describes changes in the Westside.
Oral history interview with Leon Green conducted by Claytee D. White on May 15, 2012 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Green discusses his personal history and growing up in West Las Vegas, Nevada. He talks about the African American community on the Westside, his educational experiences, and being involved in various church activities. Green describes the significance of spirituality in the African American community and how the Westside was deeply spiritual. He then talks about Westside community leaders Bishop C. C. Cox and Reverend Bennett, rioting on the Westside, and the community response to the changing racial climate. Lastly, Green discusses the growth and increase of businesses on the Westside.
Oral history interview with Paul Sogan conducted by Dennis McBride on May 16, 1995 for the Boulder City Library Oral History Project. Sogan opens the interview briefly discussing his childhood and then describes his involvement in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in Nevada during the 1940s. Sogan provides details about the daily activities of CCC members, their living quarters, and his specific projects. He also tells anecdotes about interesting or dangerous projects the CCC members were assigned to work on. Sogan then talks about Boulder City, Nevada. He describes the features of the city including the mines and churches and the CCC members' opinions of the city.