When Mr. Elmer Hilsinger arrived from the Los Angeles area in 1942, to work as a Refractory Inspector in the Engineering Department at Basic Magnesium Incorporated (BMI), little did he know the town site would grow to be known as Henderson, Nevadain a few short decades. Mr. Hilsinger’s oral history provides a glimpse of the work being done by women at BMI, including women working as chemists, truck drivers, and secretaries. His words attest to the strong work ethic demonstrated by women at the plant during the “war work” period. Through Mr. Hilsinger’s story, we are also provided with an account of what daily life was like for a married couple, including Mr. Hilsinger’s life with his wife who worked as a waitress at Anderson Camp. In addition, Mr. Hilsinger’s oral history touches on the evolution of safety rules within the plant, the transition from the American Federation of Labor Union to the Congress of Industrial Organizations Union, and the role prostitution played during the tim

On February 26, 1980, collector Ward Murashige interviewed Nancy Horden (born February 7th, 1921 in Las Vegas, Nevada) in James Dickenson Library at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The interview covers Nancy’s family background, and life in Nevada, including home life, recreation, and hobbies. During this interview, Nancy also discusses local development, and the social and environmental changes that have occurred over the span of her lifetime in Las Vegas, Nevada.