Oral history interviews with Dennis McBride conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on various dates in March, April, and May 2023 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. McBride goes into detail in this 4-session interview and covers a wide variety of topics, including: the history of Boulder City, working at various cultural institutions in Las Vegas, the evolution of the LGBTQ+ community in Las Vegas, researching his own history and publishing a book, and local advocacy groups. Digital audio available; no transcript available.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with David L. Weide conducted by Claytee D. White on May 31, 2007 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Weide discusses his career as a geologist, teaching geology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the history of the University of Las Vegas, Nevada. Weide begins by explaining the history behind the name "Blue Diamond Village," how he came to study geology at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the employment process at UNLV. He describes the geological history of Nevada, hosting his own folk music program on the local radio station, KNPR, and his opinions on UNLV's intention to become a "Research One" institution.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Flora Jones conducted by Claytee D. White on July 19, 2007 for the UNLV @ 50 Oral History Project. In this interview Flora Jones discusses getting a job at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), in the admissions office. She then discusses her work environment, the UNLV Campus, downtown Las Vegas, Nevada, and the students she worked with. She also shares her opinions of many facets of UNLV today, including the new student union and recreational buildings as well as UNLV becoming a Research I institution.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Thomas J. Schoeman conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on July 18, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. Schoeman discusses his childhood, education from the University of New Mexico, and the architectural community within Las Vegas, Nevada. He also talks about Jack Miller and Associates Architectural Studios projects and his favorite Las Vegas buildings.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Samuel Smith conducted by Claytee White on June 17, 2011 and June 22, 2011 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Smith discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1978 and working as a fire inspector until he retired in 2003. He also discusses organizing free reading and math classes to help people prepare for the firefighter exam.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Charles A. Bennett conducted by Michael E. Kulwin on March 05, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Bennett discusses early gaming figures, real estate, Howard Hughes, and casino development. Bennett also weighs in on the Carol Lombard plane crash tragedy, and the early atomic bomb tests conducted in Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Betty Blevins conducted by Emily Powers on March 18, 2008 for the Heart to Heart Oral History Project. Blevins discusses her career as an operating room nurse at Sunrise, Southern Nevada Memorial, and Valley Hospitals. She also talks about the first open heart surgery, the first corneal transplant, and the first kidney harvest for a transplant in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Rick Tilman conducted by Nicholas Christie on February 28, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Tilman discusses his personal history and his educational background. Tilman then describes changes in Las Vegas, Nevada and how gambling helped the Las Vegas economy grow. He later recalls atomic bomb testing, local politics, and the rise of crime throughout Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Norman A. Craft conducted by Claytee D. White on August 06, 2015 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Craft discusses Henderson, Nevada in the 1940s, Victory Village, and Townsite housing and schooling. He then describes teaching at Rancho High School in Las Vegas, Nevada and recalls the application of the Title IX ruling on education. Lastly, Craft discusses race relations at Rancho High School, school riots, and the passing of the Civil Rights Act.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ramon Martinez conducted by Dr. David Emerson on April 24, 2006 for the UNLV @ 50 Oral History Project. In this interview Ramon Martinez discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1968 to accept a position at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), which was known as the University of Nevada, Southern region at the time. He also discusses helping with accreditation efforts, the growth and change of UNLV, and his teaching style.
Archival Collection