Oral history interview with Audrey Wickman conducted by Joanne L. Goodwin on June 24, 1996 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. Wickman opens her interview by discussing her upbringing in Kentucky, and her young adult life in Colorado. Wickman then talks about moving to Las Vegas, Nevada with her husband during the Depression to look for employment. She then describes the Mesquite Club in detail, including its members and the club's activities from the 1930s to 1950s. Audrey Swenson, Wickman's daughter, joins the interview at the end. She discusses what the Mesquite Club was like in the 1950s through 1970s, and being raised in Las Vegas as a child.
Oral history interviews with Gail S. McQuary conducted by Joanne L. Goodwin on April 14, 1997, April 25, 1997 and May 28, 1997 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. McQuary opens her interviews with a discussion of her childhood and her introduction to dance in California. McQuary then talks about getting recruited to perform in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Sahara Hotel and Casino while performing at a fair. McQuary goes on to describe her dance career in Las Vegas and the other casinos where she worked. McQuary also talks about how dancing and shows in Las Vegas changed throughout the years.
Oral history interview with Hazel Hedges conducted by Irene Rostine on October 29, 1997 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. Hedges opens her interview by discussing her move to Las Vegas, Nevada from Kansas in 1952. She discusses what it was like to move across the country at that time and her search for employment. Hedges describes her work as a waitress at the Thunderbird Hotel and her true interest, real estate. Hedges talks about her real estate career which began in 1960, how that job allowed her to see Las Vegas grow, and her success in the industry. Lastly, Hedges discusses organizations at the time that assisted in the training of women realtors and her own community work.
Oral history interview with Rodel Fuentes conducted by Tracy Fuentes on December 4, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
Rodel Fuentes tells stories of his upbringing in Manila, Philippines, where he was raised in a shared family home amongst his parents, siblings, aunts, and uncles. He talks about his parents' immigration to the United States and how he later joined them in Los Angeles, California where he met and married his wife. Rodel Fuentes shares the couple's decision to move to Las Vegas, Nevada, his work at Dunn Edwards paint company, and how he became a licensed general contractor and real estate agent where he now owns his own company. Rodel Fuentes discusses his thoughts on Las Vegas' diversity, affordability, restaurants, and Asian community. He also talks about experiencing anti-Asian hate, worsened by misconceptions and discrimination that came from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Oral history interview with Alice Key conducted by Claytee D. White on February 17 and March 24, 1997 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. In this interview Alice Key discusses being a chorus line dancer at the Cotton Club in Culver City, California and then moving to Las Vegas, Nevada after her dancing career ended. She then talks about working as a reporter, her involvement with the civil rights movement in Las Vegas, and creating the first all-black television show in the country: Talk of the Town.
Oral history interview with Kim Krantz conducted by Joyce (Marshall) Moore on February 26, 1996 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. Krantz begins her interview discussing her transition from an east coast dancer to a Las Vegas, Nevada dancer. Krantz discusses the performing scene at the time and the general distaste dancers had for showgirls. Krantz goes on to discusses the details of nudity in performances and the relationships show directors like Harold Minsky and Donn Arden had with their performers. Krantz also discusses her experiences as a dancer and her opinions about the treatment of African American dancers.
Oral history interview with Claude Trenier conducted by Claytee White on February 13, 1997 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN). Trenier discusses joining a band at the age of twenty two in 1941 and traveling around the country. Trenier describes working in Las Vegas, Nevada; Miami, Florida; and New York City, New York. Trenier also discusses the racism he saw as an African American performer, recalling that racial discrimination was especially fervent in Las Vegas. Trenier describes how many African American musicians and performers were allowed to perform in casinos, but not reside or lounge on the properties. Trenier also discusses the Moulin Rouge and his thoughts about its sudden closure in 1955. Finally, Trenier talks about his interactions with other entertainers at the time like Duke Ellington and Nat Cole King.
Oral history interviews with Diana Saunders conducted by Joyce (Marshall) Moore on May 23, 1996, conducted by Brigid Kelly on July 22, 2002, and conducted by Joanna Goodwin on August 12, 2002 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. In her interviews Saunders discusses her dance career in New York City, New York. Saunders discusses working on Broadway and touring internationally in Europe and Australia as a dancer. Saunders discusses working at the Dunes in Las Vegas, Nevada and her experiences as a dancer in Las Vegas. Saunders also talks about the lengths dancers had to go through to be successful.
The William E. Ferron Family Papers (1917-1976) are comprised of materials that document the lives of the Ferrons, one of the pioneer families of early Las Vegas, Nevada. It includes biographical material, speeches, and ephemera on patriarch William E. Ferron and his wife, Mary Ruth Cooper Ferron, as well as their two daughters, Barbara Ferron Doyle and Shirley Elizabeth Ferron Swanson.
The Junior League of Las Vegas' Records on the Morelli House Preservation Project contains the records of the Junior League of Las Vegas and the organization's efforts to preserve the Morelli House in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada from 1997 to 2017. Records are comprised of various internal and external planning documents, research files, advertising and publicity, correspondence, grant files, and photographs. Also included in this collection are scans of original planning documents and drawings used by Las Vegas, Nevada architect, Hugh E. Taylor, during construction of the Morelli House in the 1950s.