Oral history interview with Otha Bolden conducted by an unknown interviewer on July 05, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Bolden discusses social and environmental changes that have taken place in Nevada over the span of twenty years. Her husband, Mr. Bolden also weighs in on the discussion, adding his personal accountant of the storm of 1964, and his views on integration and employment in Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Cindy Baca conducted by Barbara Tabach on May 22, 2019 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project.
Cindy Baca, born and raised in Las Vegas, talks about her family and occupation as a librarian at Escobedo Middle School. Cindy's twin daughters were present and injured during the Route 91 Festival and October 1 shooting. She describes their experiences and the Random Acts of Kindness project she piloted at her school after the incident.
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Oral history interview with Emma Oliver conducted by Jan Marshall on March 19, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Oliver discusses her personal history and the history of Las Vegas, Nevada. Oliver discusses how Las Vegas has changed, casinos in Las Vegas, the Mormon Church, and the race riots at a shopping center in North Las Vegas in 1968. Oliver also discusses race relations between white and African American children in schools.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with David Yancy conducted by Claytee D. White on September 19, 2022 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: A Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Yancy recalls moving to Las Vegas, Nevada with his parents in 1963, living on the Westside, and many of the businesses within the area's commerce and entertainment corridor. He attended Rancho High School, and went to the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, one of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). After graduation, Yancy worked in insurance and then became the auditor for the State of Arkansas. In 1976, he returned to Las Vegas and worked thirty-one years for the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC), and he recalls laying out the grids and designing the bus routes for Las Vegas.
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Oral history interview with Jinetta Daniels conducted by Rani Dunn on November 30, 2014 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Daniels talks about her upbringing in Mississippi and traveling to Las Vegas, Nevada by bus in 1962. She continues discussing her work as a maid at the Dunes Hotel, her membership in the Victory Baptist Church, and comments on various church and community leaders in the Westside. She also mentions her concerns about the closure of F Street in 2008 and her hopes for the revitalization of the Westside community.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Melissa Warren conducted by Claytee D. White on November 02, 2015 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. Warren begins by discussing her early history in Utah and how she started her career in advertising and public relations. She describes the work she has done for the Howard Hughes Corporation in coordinating the advertising for the Summerlin community in Las Vegas, Nevada before and after its construction. Warren also details how the Howard Hughes Corporation made its decisions on how to plan and structure the Summerlin community, how it handled education in the community, and various promotional events that were held for Summerlin.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Gloria Hewitt conducted by Claytee D. White on June 21, 2016 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Hewitt discusses her early life in Cleveland, Ohio. She recalls attending Talladega College in Alabama, her teaching experience in Chicago, Illinois, and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1991. Hewitt talks about her interests in politics, organizing an event to register people to vote, and being a founding member of the Southern Nevada Coalition of Concerned Women (SNCCW). Lastly, Hewitt discusses the importance of education and parental involvement in schools.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Clinton Wright conducted by Claytee D. White on October 13, 2005 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. Clinton reflects on the societal changes he observed over the years, particularly in the black community of the Westside and North Las Vegas, Nevada. He recalls how he changed his personal thoughts about raising his children in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Oral history interview with Paulette Morris conducted by Claytee White on January 06, 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Morris opens her interview by discussing traveling around the world as a child due to her father's career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Morris then talks about the school system in Morocco and how it gave her the opportunity to study ballet. She describes her audition process with the Paris, France based revue, the Folies Bergere. Morris discusses the Bluebell Girls, Margaret Kelly ("Madame Bluebell"), costumes, and the show schedule. Morris then recalls dancing in the Lido show at the Stardust Hotel and Casino, and her experiences in Las Vegas, Nevada during the 1960s. She ends the interview discussing her return to school, her job in retail, and her final thoughts on her experiences with the Bluebell Girls.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Leslee Thomas conducted by Claytee D. White on March 13, 2024 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. Thomas is the granddaughter of Larry Wilburn and daughter of Terry Wilburn, owners of Larry's Sight & Sound, a business institution in the Westside. The business, first located at 1318 D Street, was initially called Larry's Music Bar. The Music Bar moved to Owens Avenue and was renamed Larry's Sight & Sound. For 35 years until 1992, the music shop drew in stars and locals for its vinyl records, record players, and casssettes. In the interview, Thomas shares how she learned to work in the business, stay connected to family, and be a contributing member of the community. She describes her dreams for the Westside, which include giving tourists reasons to visit the Black community, capital investments, and marketing. Digital audio available; no transcript available.
Archival Collection