Oral history interview with Allan Stump conducted by Jack R. Hall on February 18, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Stump discusses growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada and his career as a firefighter in the Clark County Fire Department. Stump describes how Las Vegas has changed and the construction boom during the 1960s. He goes on to discuss his life as a firefighter and tells several anecdotes about his calls.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Warren V. Turner conducted by Arnol D. Wilks on March 10, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Turner discusses arriving to Boulder City, Nevada in 1948 while working for the Bureau of Reclamation. Turner recalls aboveground testing of atomic weapons at the Nevada Test Site and describes the magnitude of the blasts. Turner also describes the development of Las Vegas, Nevada, specifically the growth in population, casinos, and hotels. Turner later discusses the natural environment surrounding the Las Vegas valley.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Robin Trout conducted by Phyllis McKinnon on October 17, 1985 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Trout discusses being a practicing obstetrician-gynecologist nurse in Las Vegas, Nevada. Trout discusses the education required to be a nurse compared to the kind of education and experience she feels a nurse actually needs. She talks about issues of malpractice in the medical field and malpractice insurance, her current work duties, and other aspects of working in the medical field.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with William Verzani conducted by James Little on March 15, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Verzani discusses his personal history and being a rancher in Searchlight, Nevada. Verzani describes life in Searchlight during the 1930s, and later moving to Las Vegas, Nevada. Verzani goes on to describe living in Las Vegas, and how the city has changed and expanded. He also talks about the murder of Bugsy Siegel, hunting in Nevada, and his career as a truck driver.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Byron Thornton conducted by Kay Harris on October 27, 1986 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Thornton discusses his personal history and arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1931. Thornton then recalls working for the Las Vegas Gas Company and starting his own concrete business. Lastly, Thornton describes installing petroleum gas tanks and pipes inside of homes used for testing atomic bombs at the Nevada Test Site and recalls the destruction caused by the explosions.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Betty Pomeroy conducted by Jackie Ogden on March 23, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Pomeroy discusses her personal history, education in Las Vegas, Nevada, and labor unions. She then describes Nevada politics, specifically being active with political campaigns. Later, Pomeroy discusses gambling and its significance to the Las Vegas economy, along with the consequences that come with gambling. Lastly, Pomeroy recalls social life, recreational activities, and her employment in the hospitality industry.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Nanyu Tomiyasu conducted by Samanthia Kerwin on March 11, 1974 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Tomiyasu discusses his family life, being raised on a farm, and enlisting in the United States Army some time between 1940 and 1944. Tomiyasu talks about growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada and witnessing changes in the city including hotel and casino construction and change in ownership. Tomiyasu describes transportation in Nevada and people moving to Las Vegas for job opportunities.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Diane C. Kneeland conducted by Claytee D. White on May 19, 2010 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Kneeland discusses the history of Las Vegas, Nevada and how the city has developed. Kneeland discusses her husband, William Coulthard, a former state assemblyman; the casinos she would visit on the Las Vegas Strip; and volunteering in the Junior League. Lastly, she describes life in Las Vegas during the 1950s, the entertainment available in Las Vegas, and nuclear weapons tests.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Carole Vilardo conducted by Derek Armstrong and Claytee D. White on August 11, 2015 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Vilardo discusses the implementation of a sales tax to further fund education in Nevada. She then describes her first legislative session in 1973 and describes Nevada property taxes. Later, Vilardo explains the significance of taxes and how changes in tax rates are made. Lastly, Vilardo recalls lobbying for certain bills and explains the tax structure in Nevada at the time.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Arthur D. Schlauder conducted by Geneva Beasley on June 30, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Schlauder discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1946. Schlauder also discusses his career with Las Vegas Machine, a machine shop and steel fabrication company. Schlauder later discusses being a member of social clubs such as the Purchasing Agents Association and the Kiwanis Club. Lastly, Schlauder discusses the change and growth of the Las Vegas Strip as well as the city overall.
Archival Collection
