Search Results

Oral history interviews with Dennis McBride conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on various dates in March, April, and May 2023 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. McBride goes into detail in this 4-session interview and covers a wide variety of topics, including: the history of Boulder City, working at various cultural institutions in Las Vegas, the evolution of the LGBTQ+ community in Las Vegas, researching his own history and publishing a book, and local advocacy groups. Digital audio available; no transcript available.

Oral history interview with Traci Roberts conducted by Claytee D. White on November 14, 2005 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Roberts opens her interview by discussing her family's history in Las Vegas, Nevada starting in 1969. Roberts then explains running her franchise business, Dream Dinners, a family meal preparation company. She discusses how the business works, their customers, and the benefits of using the service. She then talks about her childhood in Las Vegas, growing up on the Westside, and how in the 1970s Las Vegas was still underdeveloped. Roberts then describes teenage life in Las Vegas during the 1980s, her education at the University of Las Vegas, Nevada (UNLV), her own family, and her two other companies. Roberts then explains why she became a vegetarian, how she defends Las Vegas to outsiders, and her friendships with other born and raised Las Vegas residents. She also discusses her time at UNLV in depth and her advice for other entrepreneurs.

Lastly, Roberts details how family life can thrive in Las Vegas and her thoughts on how to open a business.

Oral history interview with Pete Barbutti (also spelled Barbuti) conducted by Lisa Gioia Acres on September 24, 2008 for the All That Jazz Oral History Project. Barbutti begins his interview by describing why his last name is spelled two different ways. He then discusses his introduction to music which occurred when he learned to play the accordion. He describes learning to play Polish music as a child, his family and childhood, and the importance of music in his family. Barbutti then recalls his performance history during the 1950s in bands such as the Polka Dots, Overtones, and Millionaires. He explains that while in the Millionaires the band was booked to play Las Vegas, Nevada at the Thunderbird Hotel and Casino. After the Millionaires broke up in 1962 he played the piano in Spokane, Washington. He then describes his role performing on the Steve Allen Show, how he got the job, and how the show lead to him working with Nat King Cole. He then discusses his family, their move to Las Vegas in 1955, and his guest performances on late night shows. Lastly, Barbutti tells an anecdote about proper venue set up and how performances can be impacted by poor planning and lack of knowledge.

The Nevada Test Site Oral History Project Records (approximately 1950-2008) consist of oral histories collected by University of Nevada, Las Vegas Department of History for the Nevada Test Site Oral History Project. The collection includes digital audio recordings of interviews, print and digital transcripts, and a small selection of digital video recordings. Some interviews have also been supplemented with photographs, letters, scientific articles, brochures, news clippings and ephemera about the Nevada Test Site.

Oral history interviews with Richard W. Bunker conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on July 18 2017, July 21, 2017, and September 28, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Bunker discusses the history behind a wide range of events that affected the daily lives of Southern Nevadans. He talks about his role in a consolidation attempt between the Clark County and Las Vegas, Nevada governmental structures that was halted by the courts in 1975. Bunker then recalls working as a member and Chair of the Nevada Gaming Control Board and his work with various casinos and hotels including Circus Circus, the Dunes, and the Aladdin. He discusses replacing key people at the Gaming Control Board, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Operation Yobo sting. He then speaks fondly of his longtime friends Jim Gibson, Judge Lloyd George, and Jim Joyce. Lastly, Bunker discusses water rights, supply, and management issues in Nevada as it relates to the Nevada Resort Association, Las Vegas Valley Water District, Southern Nevada Water Authority, and the Colorado River Commission.

The John S. Wright Faculty Papers (1951-1975) are comprised of faculty papers from and about Dr. John S. Wright who was considered one of the founding faculty members at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). The collection documents Wright's involvement in establishing UNLV as a separate university from the University of Nevada, Reno. The collection includes memoranda, correspondence, meeting minutes, and reports from different committees Wright was a part of including Academic Council, Faculty Senate, and other ad hoc committees.

The George Stewart Personal Papers (1914-2014) are comprised of military records and personal papers of George Stewart, a fifty-year Las Vegas, Nevada resident. The collection includes information about the Clark County Republican Party, Stewart's service in the United States Army Air Corps, and documents and photographs from Stewart's childhood in the Boy Scouts of America during the 1930s and 1940s. The collection also contains a personal scrapbook containing photographs, fliers, and memorabilia from his early education and military training. Stewart also collected menus and keychains from local Las Vegas, Nevada country clubs and casinos.