Oral history interview with Garland Ronnow conducted by Bertrand Giry on February 11, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Ronnow discusses his personal history after moving to Las Vegas, Nevada from Panaca, Nevada in 1923. Ronnow describes the first general store in Las Vegas, which his family owned. Ronnow describes how Las Vegas has grown since he first moved there, as well as the different businesses he helped his father run.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Marilyn Martin conducted by Irene Rostine on October 09, 1996 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN). Martin opens her interview by discussing moving to Nevada in 1963 with her husband and two small children. Martin describes her career with the Southern Nevada Telephone company as a customer service representative. Martin compares the requirements to work for the phone company in New York state with the lesser requirements of Nevada. Martin goes on to discuss her training, salary, and her overall experiences at the telephone company.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Janet Adams conducted by Glodene Sawyer on October 13, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Adams (born in Scotland) discusses her move to Las Vegas, Nevada from California with her husband. Adams also briefly discusses early churches, the above-ground atomic testing, President Kennedy’s visit, and her enjoyment in recreational fishing.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Carolyn Hutcheson conducted by Barbara Tabach on May 2, 2022 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Hutcheson, a native of Houston, Texas, discusses relocating to Las Vegas, Nevada with her husband Floyd in 1989. At the time, she worked for Quality Mechanical and later for the Perini Building Company when the Cosmopolitan was under construction. Throughout the interview, Hutcheson recalls what it was like making Las Vegas her home in the late 1980s. Digital audio available; no transcript available.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Shannon Rabb conducted by Claytee D. White on December 20, 2022 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Rabb describes her experience living in the Herbert Gerson Housing Development on the Westwide of Las Vegas. She describes it as safe, as community, and as protection from the police. In this interview, Rabb discusses a wide variety of topics including gangs, drugs, Westside businesses, and family with an expanded definition.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ward W. Wengert conducted by Robert D. Myles on March 01, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Wengert discusses his personal history and Las Vegas, Nevada history. Wengert describes living in Las Vegas, observing the nuclear tests, and economic and environmental changes of Las Vegas. Wengert also discusses how Las Vegas has developed and changed, and flooding in Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with David L. Washington conducted by Claytee D. White on March 18, 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Washington discusses his personal history, education, experiences in the military, and becoming a firefighter in Las Vegas, Nevada. Washington talks about his employment at the Las Vegas Fire & Rescue department, explains the procedures for certain fire emergencies, and what it was like when women joined the department in the 1960s. Finally, he recalls becoming the City of Las Vegas Fire Chief.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with David L. Weide conducted by Claytee D. White on May 31, 2007 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Weide discusses his career as a geologist, teaching geology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the history of the University of Las Vegas, Nevada. Weide begins by explaining the history behind the name "Blue Diamond Village," how he came to study geology at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the employment process at UNLV. He describes the geological history of Nevada, hosting his own folk music program on the local radio station, KNPR, and his opinions on UNLV's intention to become a "Research One" institution.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Joan Johnson conducted by Kim Geary on March 25, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Johnson discusses her personal history and her reasons for originally moving to Las Vegas, Nevada. Johnson recalls early Las Vegas entertainment, as well as the development of businesses and their unions.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Brad Nelson conducted by Stefani Evans on October 30, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. Nelson recalls planning various parcels, the village of Silver Springs, the village of Fox Ridge, the Fountains, and the Green Valley Athletic Club. He discusses the Green Valley ethos of planning for a good quality of family life by making space for churches, schools, and parks; providing a variety of housing price points, public art, working with homeowners' associations, and Single Point Urban Interchanges (SPUIs).
Archival Collection