Oral history interview with Don Trippy conducted by Claytee D. White on October 21, 2015 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Trippy begins by describing his upbringing in Denver, Colorado and his early interests in art, which eventually lead him to study at the Colorado Institute of Art while working as an illustrator for the military in Fort Carson, Colorado. He discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1976 to work as an artist at Nellis Air Force Base creating paintings, and he explains how he made a bronze eagle sculpture as a memorial to fallen fighter pilots. Trippy talks about being a part of the Desert Sculptors group, which was a collective of local artists and sculptors who were briefly based in Lorenzi Park, where they also made the bust of David G. Lorenzi. Trippy also discusses constructing his own personal studio, taking art classes at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and specific artists he worked with or was friends with.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Tex Whitson conducted by David G. Schwartz on September 04, 2015 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Whitson discusses how he began playing poker, the growth of poker's popularity, and eventually the development of the World Series of Poker tournament. Whitson then recalls anecdotes of his interactions with Benny Binion, and the significance of the World Series of Poker to Harrah’s Las Vegas Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Barbara and David Lowe conducted by Claytee D. White on December 08, 2015 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. David Lowe begins the interview by discussing his family history, how they came to own a hotel in Goodsprings, Nevada, and life in the town during the early twentieth century. Barbara Lowe then describes her upbringing in San Francisco, California before moving with her family to Hawthorne, Nevada. She also discusses race relations there and in other Nevada and California towns. David Lowe then talks about his mother, Celeste Lowe, who became a writer and was later hired by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), where she worked in Special Collections at the James R. Dickinson Library. David continues, talking about his career in journalism, working at the Nevada Test Site, and the university hospital. They also discuss the controversy surrounding the UNLV mascot and the cultural differences between Northern and Southern Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Christina Frausto conducted by Claytee D. White on November 16, 2015 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Frausto discusses her personal history, her career as an artist, and owning an art gallery in Boulder City, Nevada and Las Vegas, Nevada. She describes her involvement with Desert Sculptures, the Boulder City Preservation Committee, and the Historic Boulder City Foundation.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Melissa Warren conducted by Claytee D. White on November 02, 2015 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. Warren begins by discussing her early history in Utah and how she started her career in advertising and public relations. She describes the work she has done for the Howard Hughes Corporation in coordinating the advertising for the Summerlin community in Las Vegas, Nevada before and after its construction. Warren also details how the Howard Hughes Corporation made its decisions on how to plan and structure the Summerlin community, how it handled education in the community, and various promotional events that were held for Summerlin.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Edward Baca conducted by Claytee D. White on January 28, 2016 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Baca opens his interview describing his parents and his youth in Wyoming. He then discusses moving to Bryce, Utah in the 1940s, his career in coal mining, and the process of removing coal from the mine. Baca describes his brief time working for the federal government, going to trade school to learn morse code, and working for the railroad. He then talks about switching careers to to work as an air conditioning insulator, and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1969. Baca then describes how he found religion, his efforts to learn more about Christianity, and forming a ministry where he preaches. He discusses his Christian radio program, his singing ministry, and his efforts to save a Christian radio station from closing. Lastly, Baca discusses his religious music albums, touring in a religious music group, and faith healing.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Roy D. Baker conducted by Dennis McBride February 08, 2004 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In this interview, Baker discusses Fred Schoonmaker, a Reno, Nevada gay activist and his husband, Alfred Parkinson. Baker details their efforts to create Stonewall Park, a town for LGBTQ members in Nevada that was never realized. Schoonmaker attempted to establish Stonewall Park three times in three different locations: Silver Springs, Nevada; Rhyolite, Nevada; and Thunder Mountain, Nevada. Baker talks about his personal relationship with Schoonmaker, his opinion on Stonewall Park, and legal issues that Schoonmaker faced during the development of the town. Baker describes opposition from local residents against Stonewall Park and Schoonmaker's health after being diagnosed with HIV.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Alana Brown conducted by Dennis McBride on May 26, 2008 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In this interview, Brown discusses establishing the Center Stage Inc. theater company in Las Vegas, Nevada with her partner, Lenore Simon. Brown describes the production of certain plays including
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Lori Lipman Brown conducted by Dennis McBride on September 12, 2005 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In this interview, Brown discusses Question 2 in the Nevada state elections of 2000 and 2002, which added an amendment to the Nevada constitution that banned same-sex marriage. Brown describes the process of introducing legislation that advocated for equal rights for the gay community and an incident where parties opposing her efforts hired a spy to observe her work. Lastly, Brown talks about the involvement of the Church of Latter-Day Saints and their opposition to same-sex marriage.
Archival Collection