Oral history interview with Melvin Green conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on September 23, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Green discusses his upbringing in Louisiana and growing up in a family of farmers. He recalls moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1983, working for Nevada Partners, and his involvement in the redevelopment of the Westside School. Green talks about his architect firm, KME Architects, and lists projects his company has worked on in Las Vegas. Lastly, Green describes presenting new designs to community members and partnering with church leaders to build community housing.
Oral history interview with John Klai II conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on August 15, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Klai discusses his upbringing in North Dakota. He recalls attending the University of North Dakota and transferring to North Dakota State University to study architecture. Klai talks about moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in the late 1970s, and his employment at Marnell Corrao Associates. Klai describes founding an architecture firm, Klai Juba Wald Architects + Interiors in 1995, and talks about the firms involvement with the architecture program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Lastly, Klai discusses sponsoring a lecture series at UNLV, and awarding scholarships to UNLV architecture students.
The Harry Hayden Whiteley Architectural Records are comprised of architectural records (1931-1970) created and/or maintained by the American architect Harry Hayden Whiteley and/or his architectural firm, known as Harry Hayden Whiteley and Associates. This collection includes 30.21 linear feet of materials including 45 items from over 30 projects. The collection focuses on his work in the Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada areas. The materials feature both architectural drawings and project files. Architectural drawings include pencil and ink on tracing paper preliminary sketches and mounted artist’s renderings used for presentations and promotional materials. Project files include project correspondence, photographs, and structural calculations. The drawings also contain work from the architect Paul Revere Williams. The collection includes architectural drawings for hotels, shopping plazas, residential developments, and office buildings.
The Harry Hayden Whiteley Photograph Collection (approximately 1940-1967) contains photographic prints and one photographic negative depicting buildings, people, and project locations associated with the Las Vegas, Nevada architect Harry Hayden Whiteley. There is also one album containing photographs of contemporary churches compiled by Whiteley between 1953 to 1958.
Oral history interview with Steven Kwon conducted by Stefani Evans on October 1, 2024 for the Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Kwon begins by describing his childhood in Seoul, Korea as the youngest of three children during the Korean conflict. In 1960, he served his compulsory military service, which was 18 months for students. In 1964, he followed a friend's recommendation to go to Denmark and attend the folk high school (now the International People's College) to immerse himself in the Danish language, history, and community. He spent one year at the folk high school and later attended the College of Building Technology at the University of Denmark. While he was in his final year, Las Vegas, Nevada architect James McDaniel recruited him to join his firm, which he did in December 1974. After working with McDaniel for one year, he joined Jack Miller Associates for three years and David Welles/Architronics before opening his own design/build firm, GKG Builders in 1986, which he claims was the first Las Vegas firm to offer both services. Soon after arriving in Las Vegas, he joined the Lions Club and Rotary International and, in 1986 created Southern Nevada's first Asian Chamber of Commerce. He also worked with various politicians at different levels of government to encourage South Korean investment in Las Vegas and Nevada, eventually forming a sister-city relationship between Las Vegas, Nevada, and An San, Korea. Lastly, Kwon recalls how he came to design and build the International Peace Education Center (IPEC) on Bermuda Road for the Reverend Sun Myung Moon, founder of the Unification Church, shortly before Moon passed away.
Oral history interview with Walter Zick conducted by Maureen Kelly Ryan on February 22, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Zick discusses architecture and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada to work at the Basic Magnesium Plant.
Oral history interview with Judy and Harry Campbell conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on October 04, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Judy discusses her early life in St. John’s, Newfoundland and her move to Ottawa, Canada. Harry discusses his upbringing in Ogden, Utah and his initial interests in architecture. He recalls moving to Las Vegas, Nevada to work for architect Julius Gabriel, construction planning for the Four Queens, and planning for the home of Jerry Mack. Later, Judy talks about her move to Boulder City, Nevada in 1974, her involvement in interior design, and her initial interests in residential real estate. Later, Harry recalls his work with the construction planning of federal court rooms, working with Las Vegas architects, and the process of becoming a licensed architect. Lastly, Judy and Harry talk about the development of Lake Las Vegas.
The Jerde Partnership Records (1992) is comprised of architectural planning documents used for designing the Fremont Street Experience and Treasure Island Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Design records for the Fremont Street Experience include concept proposals, sketches, notes, brochures, and a presentation book. Also included are copies of handwritten design notes and sketches and a drawing schedule for the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino.
Oral history interview with Lucile Spire Bruner conducted by Alice Cowles Brown on March 03, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Spire Bruner discusses her husband Elmo Bruner's career as an architect and appraiser in Las Vegas, Nevada from, 1947 to 1973, World War II, her religious affiliation with the Unitarian Fellowship Church, and her involvement with organizations such as American Institute of Architects, engineering societies and architectural registration and examination boards.
Oral history interview with DeRuyter O. Butler conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on September 15, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. Butler begins with discussing his early life and joining Steve Wynn's Atlandia Design in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1982. He then talks about moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1986. The interview focuses on the design and development of various Las Vegas casinos.