Oral history interview with Dave Pugsley conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on October 21, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Pugsley discusses his early life in Salt Lake City, Utah and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1963. He talks about his father’s employment with Young Electric Sign Company (YESCO) and the Nevada Test Site. Pugsley recalls his initial interest in architecture, drawing a construction document for the Home Builders Association while in high school, and attending the University of Utah for a degree in architecture. Pugsley then talks about building planning for schools in Clark County, the process of designing a school, and the challenges that arise. Lastly, Pugsley discusses building planning for Lied Library and the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV).
Oral history interviews with Jane Fielden, Laura Jane Fielden Spina, and Bob Fielden conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on May 27, 2016 and June 27, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In the first interview, Jane and Robert discuss their upbringing and early interest in architecture. They talk about arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1964, and forming their construction company RAFI Architecture and Design. They talk about changes in the Las Vegas economic structure during the late 1970s, and projects for the library district, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), and Maryland Parkway. In the second interview, Laura Jane discusses her upbringing in Las Vegas, Nevada. She talks about becoming an interior designer and becoming president of RAFI Architecture and Design. Lastly, Jane, Laura, and Bob discuss improving the quality of lives through architecture.
Oral history interview with Agnes and Emory Lockette conducted by Claytee D. White on March 11, 2005 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Emory discusses his education in architectural and structural engineering. Agnes describes her education in early childhood education, teaching in the Westside and at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Emory then recalls his employment at the Bureau of Reclamation. Lastly, the two share their active involvement with the Boulder City, Nevada community.
Oral history interview with Edward Vance conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on September 16, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Vance discusses his upbringing in Redfield, South Dakota. He talks about his move to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1987, teaching architectural drawing at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), and the first projects he worked on in Las Vegas. Vance describes the financial aspects of architecture, the challenges of meeting building regulations, and benefits that new buildings bring to city life. Lastly, Vance discusses founding Ed Vance & Associates Architects.
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.