Oral history interview with Bertha Gresh conducted by Gary Eagleson on November 30, 1974 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Gresh discusses the history of Las Vegas, Nevada. Gresh then talks about mining and offers details surrounding specific mines, such as the Black Hawk Consolidated or Ran [Rand] Mine, the Techatticup Mine, the Wall Street Mine, and the Duncan Mine. Gresh then discusses the early days of Boulder City, Nevada and Henderson, Nevada. She also briefly mentions Block 16.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Harold Chatterson conducted by Herman Grijalva on October 17, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Harold Chatterson discuses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada, working as a construction worker, the First National Bank of Nevada, homesteading, atomic-bomb testing, Howard Hughes, the Las Vegas Strip, the Helldorado Parade, and the 1942 crash of Carole Lombard's plane.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Howard Heckethorn conducted by Richard Eitland on February 15, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Mr. Heckethorn describes going to school in the early days of Las Vegas, Nevada. He also talks about many notable teachers he had, as well as the development of the Las Vegas area. Heckethorn also discusses his arrival to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1930, and recalls the Old Mormon Fort, El Rancho, The Last Frontier, and the tourism that gambling brought to the city. Heckethorn discusses the 1960s, and the impact Howard Hughes had in the development of hotels and casinos.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with LaVaun Hendrix conducted by Judy Laliberte on February 27, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. The two discuss how Hendrix originally came to Nevada, her occupational history, and differences between the school system in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hendrix explains how a changing school system has affected her job as a teacher and her students. She goes on to talk about the above-ground atomic tests, Helldorado, changes to the desert, and Nevada during World War II.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Harrie Fox Hess conducted by Scot Siegel on February 26, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Hess discusses how he felt as a young adult moving to Las Vegas, Nevada, his contributions to Nevada through his work as a psychologist, and the first law to be drafted on psychology certification in Nevada. Hess then describes the Wildcat Lair as an important site of social recreation for early Las Vegas youth. He also discusses how workers from the Great Depression paved the way for industrial success in gambling due to their employment on the Boulder (Hoover) Dam.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Patricia Marchese conducted by A. D. Hopkins on July 02, 1999 for the Las Vegas Review-Journal First 100 Oral History Project. In the interview, Marchese discusses her parents and her early life in Tampa Bay, Florida, her husband and children, and arriving in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1972. She talks about her work in serigraphy (screen printing) with the United States Bureau of Reclamation while in Las Vegas. Marchese also recalls her work with the City of Las Vegas and Clark County developing art and cultural programs including Jazz Month and the Las Vegas Junior Symphony. Other subjects Marchese covers include art exhibits, performing arts, and the growth of the Las Vegas art community.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Leo Lewis conducted by Kenneth "K. J." Evans in 1999 for the Las Vegas Review-Journal First 100 Oral History Project. In the interview, Lewis discusses Las Vegas, Nevada's resort industry and assisting to develop the College of Hotel Administration (William F. Harrah College of Hospitality) at University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Lewis also talks about teaching casino management at UNLV and UNLV's collaboration with international resort industries. A woman, possibly Lewis's wife, Lucy Lewis, is also present in the interview and elaborates on their travels during UNLV's international resort programs, including Tiananmen Square, China during the 1989 protest.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Florence and Jerry Vallen conducted by Kenneth "K. J." Evans in 1999 for the Las Vegas Review-Journal First 100 Oral History Project. In the interview, Jerome "Jerry" Vallen discusses his early life in Philadelphia, focusing on his family history and marrying Florence. Jerry then talks about his children, his education in hotel management, and his arrival to Las Vegas, Nevada with Florence in 1967. Jerry and Florence recall the establishment of the College of Hotel Administration, later known as the William F. Harrah College of Hospitality, at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Other subjects they cover include the Clark County school system and the programs available for the students' professional development.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mary Hausch conducted by Claytee D. White on April 07, 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Hausch discusses her upbringing in Ohio and her career in education journalism during the 1960s and 1970s. She describes attending Ohio University during the protest movements against the Vietnam War and how the Kent State University shootings affected college life. Hausch then talks about working at the Las Vegas Review-Journal during the 1970s, where she covered the education system of Las Vegas, Nevada as it began enforcing racial integration in its schools. She explains how race relations were at the time and Nevada's busing program.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Susanne E. Morrow conducted by Dennis McBride on September 29, 2000 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. Morrow begins by discussing her childhood in a military family, her marriage and children, and her move to Genoa, Nevada in 1961. She then talks about her move to Carson City, Nevada in 1962 and her twenty-nine year career as a journalist and city editor for the Nevada Appeal newspaper. The remainder of the interview focuses on Morrow's memories of the 1965 assault on then Chief Justice of the Nevada Supreme Court, Frank McManee, and the subsequent judicial actions and court decisions that reflected attitudes toward homosexuality prevalent in society at the time.
Archival Collection