Oral history interviews with Ralph Denton conducted by Donalene V. Ravitch on February 24, 1980 and March 16, 1980 for the UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection. In these interviews, Denton recalls growing up in Caliente, Nevada. He talks about aspects and events in the community both during his life and before his birth, including the school system, housing, mining, the importance of the railroad, the stagecoach, the advent of legal gambling, farming, and the periodic flooding. He also discusses Caliente's population and the increase in ethnic minorities and Mormons in the area, the importance of politics, Franklin Delano Roosevelt's whistlestop visit to the town, and the economy during the depression.
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.
Oral history interview with Mary Sparrow conducted by Robert Tolbert on March 20, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Sparrow discusses her career as a telephone operator and the history of Las Vegas, Nevada. Sparrow describes her duties as an operator before the advent of the dial system, the growth of Las Vegas, and life in the city during the 1950s.
Oral history interview with John Brooks conducted by Jeff Kennedy on February 28, 1979 for the Ralph Roske ORal History Project on Early Las Vegas. During the interview Brooks discusses gaming, education, the early above-ground atomic blasts, the Boulder Dam, and social and environmental changes in Nevada. Brooks also discusses the Old Ranch, economic changes, religion, politics, family life, the Navy, sports, the railroad, Fremont Street, and the hotels on the Las Vegas, Nevada Strip.
Oral history interview with George Dickerson conducted by Perry Kaufman on an unknown date in the 1970s for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Dickerson shares his impressions of Las Vegas, Nevada from when he first visited in the 1940s. Dickerson also discusses practicing law in Las Vegas and the development of the profession throughout the years.
Oral history interview with Harry M. Reid conducted by Nancy Worthen on March 09, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Reid discusses his personal family history and the history of Searchlight, Nevada. Reid mainly focuses on mining and its relation to Searchlight. Reid also talks about the Nellis family and William Nellis, a fighter pilot. Nellis Air Force Base was renamed in his honor in 1950.
Oral history interview with Mattie M. Wormwood conducted by Judy Williams on March 09, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Wormwood discusses growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada. She also shares the changes Las Vegas went through during times of segregation and discrimination.