Oral history interviews with James Dean Leavitt conducted by Claytee D. White on September 27 and October 4, 2022 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Leavitt recalls his role in establishing a medical school at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), now known as Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine. Leavitt was elected to the Board of Regents in 2004 while Jim Rogers was interim Chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE), and he suggested the creation of an ad hoc committee Health Science Center Committee. In 2009, Leavitt became Chairman of the Board of Regents, Dan Klaich became Chancellor, and in the following year, Dr. Mark Doubrava joined the board. In May 2014, the planning dean was hired, Dr. Barbara Atkinson, and the UNLV School of Medicine was officially established on August 22, 2014.
Oral history interview with Larry Woodrum conducted by Janet Farley on February 15, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Woodrum discusses banking in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Oral history interview with Vern Willis conducted by Perry Kaufman in the 1970s for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In his interview Willis discusses the telephone company in Las Vegas, Nevada. He talks about the telephone industry both from a utility and customer perspective.
Oral history interview with Barbara Wilde conducted by Candy Lorman on September 27, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Wilde discusses her early life growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada and recalls her experiences living there as a local. Wilde lastly discusses general changes that Las Vegas has underwent.
Oral history interview with Skip Allen conducted by Henry Perzchala on February 27, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Allen discusses working in human resources for the military, as well as working for his father in the Las Vegas Strip area. Allen also describes recreational activities, his views on morality as a Las Vegan, and some of his experiences in hospitality industry.
Oral history interview with Allan Kelly conducted by David Crawford III on March 28, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Kelly talks about living and growing up in early West Las Vegas, Nevada in the 1940s and 1950s. He specifically talks about his experiences growing up in a predominantly white neighborhood.
Oral history interview with Wilford "Witt" C. Olive conducted by Gordon R. Brusso on April 13, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Olive discusses local live entertainment venues during the 1930s and 1940s in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Oral history interview with Mary Kreuzer conducted by Patricia Kohlman on December 15, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. The two discuss Kreuzer’s childhood, as well as the different addresses that she’s lived at in Las Vegas. The interview concludes with a discussion on entertainment and small businesses before the population boom in Southern Nevada.
Collection is comprised primarily of newspaper clippings on various topics related to Las Vegas, Nevada and Southern Nevada spanning from 1909 to 2007. The files were gathered and organized by the Las Vegas Library and include topics such as ghost towns in the Southwest and Western region of the United States, politics and government, education, gaming, and religious life in Las Vegas and Nevada. The files document topics of interest to the residents of Nevada. The files also contain biographical information on prominent individuals associated with Las Vegas and Nevada.
Oral history interview with Jonce T. Clement conducted by Terrance L. Fairchild on March 07, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Clement discusses social and economic changes in Las Vegas, Nevada. Clement then shares the development of the Las Vegas Strip and the first casinos to begin operating.