Oral history interview with Georgia Adras (b. 1916) conducted by Robin L. Hayes on March 02, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Adras relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada from Farmington, Utah in 1936. This interview covers education, religion, ad raising a family in Nevada. During the interview Adras also discusses the building of the Boulder Dam, road conditions, grocery shopping in the early days, and the Strip.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Helen Daseler conducted by Claytee D. White on October 09, 2007 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Daseler discusses mining work in Colorado, living in Europe, working for the United States government, and opening the Las Vegas Day School.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Kenneth Ousley conducted by Patricia van Betten on October 02, 2009 for the History of Blue Diamond Village in Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Ousley discusses his personal history and moving to Blue Diamond, Nevada with his family. He talks about the work his father did as a miner at the Blue Diamond Mine and describes life in the village during the 1930s. Ousley recalls his visits to Las Vegas, Nevada and the construction of Boulder Dam (Hoover Dam). Lastly, Ousley talks about Cottonwood Ranch and the Blue Diamond school.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with D. Taylor conducted by Claytee White on July 25, 2014 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Taylor recalls the 1984 Culinary Workers Union Local 226 citywide strike for improved health coverage for employees. He also talks about the history of the labor union, its leadership, and the union representative structure giving a larger voice to the racially diverse workforce in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with William Viera conducted by Ann Louise Pugh on an unknown day in October of 1971 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Viera discusses his work in real estate throughout Las Vegas, Nevada and describes the increase in value of homes, especially newer buildings. Viera later describes his thoughts on why the desert and other surrounding landscape areas would soon be developed.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Oscar Goodman conducted by David Schwartz on January 05, 2009 for the Remembering Jay Sarno Oral History Project. In this interview, Goodman discusses initially meeting Jay Sarno and representing him as his lawyer. He remembers the allegations of organized crimes within Sarno’s properties, Las Vegas gaming at the time, and Sarno’s involvement with the development of Las Vegas. Lastly, Goodman talks about becoming Mayor of Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Sarah Ortiz conducted by Rodrigo Vazquez on December 20, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Ortiz discusses being born and raised in Austin, Texas and spending the majority of her life there before attending the Columbia Publishing Course in Manhattan, New York. Ortiz describes her family's many moves throughout the city of Austin and the changes that have since happened in the city. Ortiz recounts her trajectory in the publishing industry, which led her from Manhattan back to Austin, and eventually to Las Vegas, Nevada. Ortiz is currently the program and festival director for The Believer magazine and the Black Mountain Institute. She writes about what she and her colleagues hope to achieve with the magazine and annual festival, and about the changes that she hopes to see for Las Vegas' publishing and literacy industry.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Francis Cortney conducted by Derek Bellow on February 16, 2001 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Cortney reflects upon his roughly 20-year career as a junior high school administrator with the Clark County School District (CCSD) from the 1960s to the 1980s. He discusses his upbringing and decision to become a teacher, describes the process by which he became a principal, and discusses challenges that he faced as principal. He expresses his opinion of standardized testing, and reflects upon having the Francis H. Cortney Junior High School named in his honor.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Raquel Ward conducted by Claytee D. White on March 25, 2010 for the UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection. In this interview, Ward discusses her upbringing and family background in Tierra Blanca, Veracruz, Mexico. She remembers completing nursing school in Mexico, arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1958, and attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Ward talks about moving to Boulder City, Nevada, raising her children in Las Vegas, and the increase of organized crime during the 1960s. Lastly, Ward discusses the fast growth of the Hispanic community in Las Vegas during the 1970s and Hispanic representation in political positions.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Steven Kalb conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on January 05, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Kalb discusses his early life in North Hollywood, California. He recalls moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1953, growing up in the Twin Lakes area, and recreational activities he participated in. Kalb talks about attending Arizona State University (ASU), studying construction engineering, and the formation of his father's company, George F. Kalb Construction. Kalb describes the first construction projects the company completed, forming Kalb Construction Company, and working on standalone projects. Lastly, Kalb discusses the future of the construction industry.
Archival Collection