Eva G. Simmons was born in Somerville, Texas December 31, 1938. She grew up in Austin, Texas. Simmons moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1963. She worked for the Clark County School District, and has an elementary school in North Las Vegas, Nevada named for her. Eva Goins Simmons never imagined moving to Las Vegas, Nevada, but she moved here twice: Once briefly in 1957 to be with her sister and then again continuously in 1963 after graduating from University of Texas, Austin and marrying her husband George Simmons.
Transcript of interview with Lovey McCurdy by Greg McCurdy, March 19, 1981. Mrs. McCurdy discusses her memories of Las Vegas when she arrived in 1951, as well as her employment and family.
Two-session interview with Katherine M. Joseph by Claytee White, October 25, 2004, and September 5, 2007. Joseph is a community activist and was a co-worker of Lubertha Johnson, and involved with Operation Independence. In the interview, Johnson discusses her family, her employment, and life on the Westside.
Oral history conversation with Rose Hamilton, Carolyn Haywood, Marilyn Armstrong, Hannah Johnson, Bobbie Gilmore and Delores (Dodi) Johnson. The group shares memories of how they and their families came to live in Las Vegas during the late 1940s and early 1950s.
Eddie & Johnie Wright met met, married in 1957, and raised their family in Las Vegas. Johnie arrived in Las Vegas in 1941, teaching first grade at the Westside school, eventually becoming a nurses aide. Eddie came to Las Vegas from Arkansas, and became the first black ticket agent at the local Greyhound station.
Transcript of interview with June and Lewis Whitly by Claytee D. White on November 2, 2007. June and Lewis Whitley moved to Las Vegas as newlyweds in 1958. June worked as a maid and then found a position with Centel Telephone and was on the Board of the Clark County Community College. Lewis worked at Test Site as a cook and later for the Clark County Fire Department.
Helen Anderson came to Las Vegas in 1962 from Arkansas, and had her daughter, Karen, in 1967. The pair discusses the family business, Hamburger Heaven, and other businesses on Jackson Street and the Westside. They also talk about hte changes in the neighborhood and their work with the West Las Vegas Citizens for Hope group, and Karen's family services business.