The James "Dee" Donithan Collection of Nevada Test Site Photographs (approximately 1970-1999) consist of 8x10 photographs depicting flowers, landscapes, wildlife, workers, work sites, and testing equipment at the Nevada Test Site. The photographs were printed by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Mercury, Nevada, and collected into a binder by James "Dee" Donithan.
Oral history interview with George Durkin conducted by Claytee D. White on July 26, 2024 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Durkin describes his childhood in Schenectady, New York, where he first became interested in music. After college, Durkin enrolled in a master's program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and worked at Strip locations behind some of the great entertainers in the industry. While at UNLV, he studied with composer, arranger, and musician Don Hannah, and became a life-long friend of his son, Paul Hannah. Durkin explains that while he currently works in real estate, he still plays in shows when possible and is a regular percussionist for the Las Vegas Philharmonic. Over the years, Durkin played for many entertainers in Las Vegas, including Robert Goulet, Dorothy Hamill, Julio Iglesias, Dionne Warwick, Liberace, Joan Rivers, Sammy Davis, George Burns, and many more. Digital audio available; no transcript available.
The Gue Gim Wah Papers (approximately 1940-1985) consist primarily of incoming correspondence (largely written in Chinese) to Gue Gim Wah at the Prince Mine in Pioche, Nevada. Also included are Wah's naturalization certificate, a map of the Prince Mine Bunkhouse, brochure of the Lincoln County Civic Association, and a small amount of photographs including a black-and-white photograph of Gue Gim circa 1940s.
The Maria Burston Wheeler Papers date from approximately the 1850s to 1933 and record Maria Walker's childhood and voyage from Liverpool, England to Salt Lake City, Utah in the United States through her manuscript "My History." The manuscript details her and her family's trans-Atlantic journey as well as her own journey as a married woman, Maria Burston Wheeler, to Las Vegas, Nevada to establish the Mormon Fort located there. Her manuscript details daily life at the fort.
The Sidney R. Whitmore Collection (approximately 1885-1970) contains land deeds and other documents about Mount Diablo, Nevada; documents detailing parts of his family history; and eight framed paintings of landscapes and portraits.
Oral history interview with Carrie McCoy conducted by Claytee D. White in Fordyce, Arkansas, approximately 1995 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, McCoy explains how she and her husband left Fordyce for Las Vegas, Nevada in 1942, seeking better economic prospects. After several years, McCoy returned to Fordyce to raise their four children and work as a housekeeper for several white families. After her oldest children were grown she returned to Las Vegas in 1961, first finding work at a small motel and then spending nine years working in housekeeping at the Flamingo Hilton Hotel. Finally, she returned to Fordyce in 1972. She ends the interview talking about comparative race relations between Fordyce and Las Vegas, differences in work practices, union activities, and church involvement.
Oral history interview with Allard Roen conducted by David G. Schwartz on October 31, 2003 for the UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection. In this interview, Roen talks about the history of the Desert Inn Hotel, the Desert Inn Country Club, and the Desert Inn Golf Course and Tournament of Champions. He shares numerous stories and anecdotes about Las Vegas, Nevada casino-hotel figures, including Cecil Simmons, Morris "Moe" Dalitz, Wilbur Clark, and Howard Hughes. He also talks about the formation of the Nevada Resort Association, property development, and negotiating with labor unions and construction companies, including his 1960 work with the NAACP's James McMillan to eliminate racial segregation at the Desert Inn and Stardust hotels.
Oral history interview with Frederic Apcar conducted by Nancy Hardy on July 19, 2003 for the Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Apcar describes his birth and early life in Paris, France, his parents' divorce, working from a young age, and, at the age of sixteen learning to dance ballet and tap. He talks about his first dancing job at the Folies Bergere in Paris, going on tour for several years with Josephine Baker, and on his return to Paris, dancing with the Lido before signing a contract for a three-month job at the Copacabana in New York City, New York. He then discusses his move to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1959, where he produced the Las Vegas Les Folies Bergere, Vive les Girls with Ron Lewis, and Casino de Paris. He also talks about Donn Arden as the other major show producer on the Strip during this period.
Oral history interview with Inez and Edward Harper conducted by Claytee D. White on July 18, 1996 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, the Harpers talk first about their upbringing and education in Fordyce, Arkansas. Inez Harper explains how she came to Las Vegas, Nevada at the age of sixteen with her first husband in 1953; Edward Harper explains that he came two years later, working in construction until his marriage to his first wife and moving to Los Angeles, California in 1957. The couple met after his return to Las Vegas in 1960 and married in 1962. Together they discuss employment opportunities, income, the living conditions on the Westside and the entertainment venues on Jackson Street. They also remark on their perspective of race relations and discrimination in Las Vegas in the 1960s and 1970s.
Oral history interview with Harold Minsky conducted by an unidentified interviewer on August 15, 1973 for the UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection. In this interview, Minsky discusses his upbringing, education, and early work history in the entertainment business. He talks about his desire to join the family business despite his father's encouragement to study law. He speaks at length about how his father, Abe, and his three uncles started their burlesque business in a building owned by his grandfather. He explains what caused the split between his father and uncles and explains that the only bad advice his father gave him was to stay in New York City, New York. He also discusses his take-over of the business and many of the dancers that worked in burlesque.