Archival Component
Oral history interview with Katherine L. Rankin conducted by Claytee D. White on June 16, 2014 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In the interview, Rankin discusses her childhood, her move to Las Vegas, Nevada, and her career as a librarian. Rankin talks about how she began her library career on the Gila River Reservation in Arizona before accepting a position as an audio and visual materials cataloger at University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) in the 1970s. Rankin later describes her work with the American Library Association, getting tenure at UNLV, and her role as a map cataloger in UNLV Special Collections and Archives.
Archival Collection
Archival Component
Oral history interview with D. D. (Ethel Dolores) Cotton conducted by Claytee White on February 14, 1997 and March 21, 1997 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. In this interview, Cotton discusses the beginnings of her dance career in New York City, New York. Later in the interview, Cotton discusses working in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Cotton Club and her interactions with other African American entertainers. Cotton also discusses race relations and her experiences as an African American dancer in Las Vegas. Cotton later goes on to discuss her career change in the service industry.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with J. D. Smith conducted by Albert Hewitt on October 31, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Smith begins by discussing his move to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1927 after buying an office for his dental practice. He describes life in Las Vegas at the time, how the city has expanded and changed, and his career as a dentist. Smith also talks about his time as president of the Nevada State Board of Education. He concludes by elaborating on other aspects of Las Vegas history, such as the crash of Carole Lombard's plane, the Helldorado Parades, and nuclear weapons testing.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with C. D. Williams conducted by Edwin R. Smith on July 07, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Williams discusses his career as a firefighter in Las Vegas, Nevada and the history of the Las Vegas Fire & Rescue Department. He describes his early history, moving to Las Vegas in 1942, and how he obtained his position in the Las Vegas Fire & Rescue Department. Williams also describes his training, the equipment they utilized, and how that equipment, as well as the fire department itself, has changed over time. He tells anecdotes of calls and his experiences in the department. Williams explains how the construction of the Basic Magnesium Plant and Nellis Air Force Base affected the fire department. He talks about how and why the Clark County Fire Department and North Las Vegas Fire Department were established, and how Las Vegas casinos paid the city for fire protection. Lastly, Williams discusses being drafted during World War II and his service as a military fire fighter.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Rob Schlegel conducted by Dennis McBride on various dates in March and April of 1998 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In the interviews, Schlegel recalls his early life in Port Angeles, Washington, his conservative Baptist upbringing, and his early experiences with literature. Schlegel then discusses working with newspaper publications in high school and college, understanding his sexuality during college, his first gay sexual experience, and his first trip to Las Vegas, Nevada. He recalls working with Robert Lloyd "Bob" Brown at the
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with J. A. Tiberti conducted by Claytee D. White on August 17, 2000 and August 24, 2000 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Tiberti begins by discussing his family history and his upbringing in the mining town of Morley, Colorado, and later in Detroit, Michigan. He describes moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1941, where he worked for the United States Corps of Engineers on the construction of Nellis Air Force Base and later established his construction company, J. A. Tiberti Construction Company. Tiberti talks about being a member of the City of Las Vegas Planning Commission, the duties and responsibilities that came with being on the Planning Commission, and describes how a construction company is run. He also discusses his wife, children, and how Las Vegas has changed and grown since the 1940s.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Eddie Anderson conducted by Dennis McBride on October 11 and 14, 2000 for the Las Vegas Gay Archives Oral History Project. Anderson speaks about his role in advocating for LGBT rights, specifically his participation in the various political and social movements during previous decades. Additionally, Anderson speaks about his experiences and involvement with the Democratic Party and the various individuals and political figures who assisted with his cause.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Kevin M. Kelly conducted by Dennis McBride on September 08 and 22; and November 10, 2000 for the Las Vegas Gay Archives Oral History Project. In the interviews, Kelly talks about his family and early life in Boston, Massachusetts with a focus on his Catholic upbringing. He recalls his law education, serving in the United States Army during the Vietnam War for eleven years, and discovering his sexuality in 1966 while working in the Boston City Hospital. Kelly then describes being discharged from the military due to allegations of being gay, and his family's reaction. He then recalls moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1978, where he was involved in a robbery and shooting incident with a male sex worker in 1982. Kelly goes on to recall the trial that proceed the incident and how it publicly outed him. He details how he was charged with felony sodomy and ultimately lost his job as a result of the trial. Finally, he talks about serving on a task force to investigate bias in Nevada's court system in 1992 and being honored in 1994 by the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada for his work.
Archival Collection