Oral history interview with Jean Rambo conducted by Mary Fitzgerald on April 29, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Rambo discusses her career as a nurse in Las Vegas, Nevada. She describes her initial impressions and responsibilities as a nurse in Las Vegas, as well as the construction of Southern Nevada Memorial Hospital (University Medical Center). Lastly, Rambo discusses her experiences in nursing school.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Lois Mathews conducted by Pat Kohlman on December 07, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Mathews discusses early life in Boulder City, Nevada. Mathews also discusses the changes that Boulder City, Nevada had as a result of the population growth in Southern Nevada. Mathews later describes her various visits to Las Vegas, Nevada and recalls attending shows at the casinos on Fremont Street.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with William Rehn conducted by Melissa Valentine on February 15, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Rehn discusses how he believes people have changed in Las Vegas, Nevada since he moved there in 1939. Rehn bemoans how African Americans were treated and segregated in Las Vegas, and describes his career as a political cartoonist. He describes clubs in Las Vegas and their connection to organized crime, as well as the inner workings of the casinos and their relation to the economy.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Saul Willis conducted by Claytee D. White on January 14, 2014 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Willis discusses his personal history and moving from Sondheimer, Louisiana to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1968. He talks about living in West Las Vegas, nightlife entertainment in the area, and community leaders at the time. He then recalls the increase of drug use in the Westside, being incarcerated for a year, and starting an automobile mechanic business. Lastly, Willis discusses his experience with the Las Vegas court system and the continued development of the Westside.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Bill Richardson conducted by Gretchen Schroeder on May 10, 2008 for the History of Blue Diamond Village in Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Richardson discusses living in Nelson, Nevada and later moving to Blue Diamond Village, Nevada where his father worked in the mines. He describes education in the Village and the homes that were built there. Later, Richardson talks about his father’s lumberyard, which received lumber from Mount Charleston, and Las Vegas, Nevada in the 1940s. Lastly, he describes his employment at the Nevada Test Site as a forklift operator.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Richard J. Ronzone conducted by Edna Goodman on March 08, 1985 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Ronzone discusses education in Tonopah, Nevada, and his early life in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ronzone also discusses his business, “Ronzone’s Department Store,” and the growth of local businesses in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ronzone then gives his opinions of the changes that occured in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Phyllis M. Silvestri conducted by Claytee D. White on January 11, 2010 for the Voices of the Historic John S. Park neighborhood Oral History Project. In this interview Phyllis Silvestri discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada, specifically to the historic John S. Park neighborhood. She talks about interesting features of her home like a bomb-shelter. She then discusses how her children were discriminated against in the neighborhood when going outside to play because they are Italian.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Stanley Paher conducted by Javier Romero on March 04, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Paher describes his personal history in Las Vegas, Nevada and the layout of the city when its population was only eight thousand people. Paher describes the development of bigger casinos in Las Vegas and the evolution of the Strip. Paher also discusses his career as a writer and publisher, writing about the ghost towns of Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Dal Peterson conducted by Daion Dall on February 28, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Peterson recalls the opening of Boulder (Hoover) Dam, and the significance of the Helldorado Parade. Peterson later discusses environmental and social changes throughout Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Helen Smith conducted by Emily Powers on March 04, 2008 for the Heart to Heart Oral History Project. Smith discusses working as a nurse at Southern Nevada Memorial Hospital, which is now the University Medical Center, and for the Nevada State Industrial Insurance System. She also talks about the Eighth Street Hospital, St. Rose de Lima Hospital in Henderson, Nevada, and Sunrise Hospital.
Archival Collection