Oral history interview with Leo Dunbar, Harry Hall, Harold Wadman, Carl Merrill, and Mary Ann Merrill conducted by Dennis McBride on June 24, 1986 for the Boulder City Library Oral History Project. The interviewees discuss their early lives and families, moving to Nevada, and starting work on the Hoover Dam. They recall memories of living in Boulder City, Nevada during the Great Depression and beyond, and share information about the construction of the dam and the city as well as personal stories about their lives in Southern Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Kaweeda Adams conducted by Kim Kershaw on March 05, 2004 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Adams reflects upon her career as a teacher in Louisiana from the 1980s to the 1990s, and as a teacher and administrator with Nevada’s Clark County School District (CCSD) from the 1990s to the early 2000s. She discusses her upbringing, and how her upbringing influenced her pursuit of education. She describes the process by which she became a teacher and eventually administrator, and compares her experiences working in Louisiana and Nevada. She discusses how these experiences shaped her philosophy of education, as well as changes that she has observed in the students over time. She describes her regular job duties, as well as challenges that she faced as a school administrator such as teacher dismissal and evaluations.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Joan Olson Griffith conducted by Sharee Schrader on April 12, 2005 for the History of Blue Diamond Village in Nevada Oral History Project. Griffith begins by discussing why she moved to Blue Diamond, Nevada with her family due to job opportunities at the Blue Diamond Plant, where they manufactured wallboard, in 1956. She describes life in Blue Diamond and rural Nevada, the education available in the village, and Blue Diamond's proximity to Bonnie Springs Ranch and structures made for the filming of Western themed media. Griffith concludes by discussing how Blue Diamond has changed since the 1950s and being a Sunday school teacher for eighteen years.
Archival Collection
The Ned V. Bearden Sr. Photograph Collection contains black-and-white photographic prints and negatives of early Las Vegas, Nevada Fremont Street hotels, casinos, as well as Las Vegas businesses and residences between approximately 1940 to 1960. These photographs detail air conditioning units installations by Bearden throughout Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
The Byrd Wall Sawyer Photograph Collection contains color photographic slides depicting Byrd Wall Sawyer’s home, the Carson House, in Carson City, Nevada; towns and cities; and landscapes throughout Nevada between approximately 1950 to 1970. Nevada towns and cities primarily depicted include Belmont, Manhattan, Reno, and Dixie. Nevada landscapes include Carson River, Carson Mountains, Olinghouse Canyon, Washoe Lake, King’s Canyon, Lake Winnemucca, Washoe Valley, and Lake Tahoe.
Archival Collection
The Q. B. Bush Papers are comprised of Q. B. Bush's personal papers dating from 1957 to 2018 and document Bush's work in Westside Las Vegas, Nevada casinos including the Moulin Rouge, Town Tavern, and the El Morocco. The collection also documents Bush's involvement with the Dealers Security Association and the association's effort to provide better working conditions for African American casino employees. Included are both original photographs and copies of photographs that document the African American casinos where Bush worked, as well as the Bush family at various events.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ethlyn Barneby conducted by Claytee White on October 16, 2002 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. During this interview Barneby discusses her experiences as a resident of Boulder City, Nevada during the 1940s. Barneby also discusses life with her husband, a member of the National Guard, and her husband’s employment as an operator for the City of Los Angeles, California during the construction of the Hoover Dam. She also describes their experiences moving back and forth between Boulder City and Los Angeles as well as the growth of Boulder City in relation to Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Richard D. Chase conducted by Helen Rondthaler on October 17, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Chase discusses the history of Las Vegas, Nevada from 1945, touching on topics such as the housing shortage during the 1940s, The Red Rooster swingers’ club, Billy Moore, Sam Larson, Ira Goldring, atomic bomb testing, and the Nevada environment. Chase discusses the importance of construction-based labor to the development of Southern Nevada. Chase also explains at length the impact of the Nevada Test Site on his construction company.
Archival Collection
The Dorothy Ray Photograph Collection on Southern Nevada, approximately 1900-1946, depicts infrastructure in Caliente, Nevada in the early to mid-twentieth century. The collection also contains images of a flash flood that occurred in 1905 in Carp, Nevada and Stine, Nevada that washed away roads and railroad tracks. This collection provides historical documentation about early to mid-century Caliente, Nevada.
Archival Collection
The Fanny’s Dress Shop Photographs (1930-1982) show one of Las Vegas’ premier women’s clothing stores. The collection includes images of Fanny Soss’ shop on Fremont Street, her store in the Flamingo Hotel, and Helldorado parades. Images include shop window displays.
Archival Collection