Oral history interview with Dale Everett conducted by John Everett on March 07, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Everett discusses the weather, wildlife, and hunting in Las Vegas, Nevada. He also shares his views on prostitution and gambling in the city.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Harvey N. Dondero conducted by Elizabeth N. Patrick on August 9, 1984 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. This interview consists of Dondero's address before the Kiwanis Club during a luncheon meeting at the Fremont Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dondero gives observations on the growth of the education system in Las Vegas. He also answers questions after the address by audience members regarding the future of Nevada’s education system.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Leslie H. Smith conducted by Claytee D. White on November 02, 2017 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Smith discusses his life in Las Vegas, Nevada. He recalls anecdotes of the city during the 1950s and 1960s, growing up near downtown Las Vegas, and the influence of organized crime. Smith talks about starting a construction contracting firm and changes in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Nathalie Martinez conducted by Rodrigo Vazquez and Barbara Tabach on June 24, 2021 for Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project.
Nathalie Martinez, one of the original members of the Latinx Voices project team, dicusses her personal history and the history of her parents who immigrated to the United States from Colombia and El Salvador. She shares her educational background and experiences working as an interviewer for the Latinx Voices project before its culmination and her graduation in 2021. Nathalie also talks about her work on the project's podcast and her work linguistically translating the interviews from Spanish to English.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with George A. Deverell conducted by Sharon M. Smith on April 26, 1985 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Deverell discusses working in the gaming industry, general Nevada history, World War II, and being raised under the Mormon religion.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mike Devere conducted by an unnamed interviewer on September 24, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Mike Devere discusses atomic testing, the Las Vegas Strip, recreational activities, and cultural changes in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Murl Emery conducted by James M. Greene on October 18, 1974 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Emery discusses living in Southern Nevada, particularly in the areas from Searchlight, Nevada to Nelson, Nevada. He also discusses the building of the railroad, mining in Nevada, and the books that were written about his discoveries and explorations during his life.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ron M. Portaro conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on July 27, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. Portaro speaks about Built-Rite Construction, moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1993, and meeting notable Las Vegas men such as Pastor Paul Goulet Arnie Adamsen, and Charlie Kajkowski. Potaro also discusses how these experiences enabled him to benefit his church, his family, and his adopted community.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with DeRuyter O. Butler conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on September 15, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. Butler begins with discussing his early life and joining Steve Wynn's Atlandia Design in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1982. He then talks about moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1986. The interview focuses on the design and development of various Las Vegas casinos.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Russell K. Grater conducted by Frederick Dougan on February 10, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Grater first talks about his move to the Southern Nevada area and his work that impacted the Hoover (Boulder) Dam project. He then talks about the town of St. Thomas, Nevada, the Lost City, and the activities of tourists. Grater also talks about his work in excavation, the indigenous American Indian tribes of the area, findings on petroglyphs, and the types of wildlife that were found in the area. He later talks about findings related to fossils, gold mining, the effects of World War II on the Hoover Dam project, and vegetation in the area.
Archival Collection