Oral History Interviews
Total records in this collection: 4056Print version of all records
| Narrator | Collection # | Date | Project | Content | Transcript | Tapes |
| Cohen, Myron | OH-02591 | 11/25/1975 | Arnold Shaw | Entertainment. Interviewer: Arnold Shaw | no | 1 |
| Cohen, Oscar | 05/21/1974 | Arnold Shaw | Entertainment. Interviewer: Arnold Shaw | no | 1 | |
| Cole, Natalie | 08/12/1983 | Arnold Shaw | Entertainment | no | 1 | |
| Cole, Tom | OH-02251 | 1/22/2015 | BELVOHP | Moved to Las Vegas in 1955. Caretaker of Kiel Ranch for a year in the early 1960s. Limo driver, dealer, and family man who believes in close kinship ties. He tells a story that demonstrates the power of love. | no | 0 |
| Cole, Woody | 11/22/1975 | Arnold Shaw | Entertainment. Interviewer: Arnold Shaw | no | 1 | |
| Coleman, Mark | OH-02950 | 2007 April 24 | Public School Principalship Oral History Project | Experiences as public school principal in Southern Nevada. | yes | 0 |
| Coleman, Rachel | OH-00234 | 07/24/1996 | Women in Gaming & Entertainment | CT247 .C636 2007 Worked in the back-of-the-house for various gaming venues, moved up the ranks of the Culinary Union Local 226; management position at Union Plaza as the head of housekeeping. | yes | 2 |
| Coleman, Samuel & Sherrill | OH-02590 | 2/16/2016 | AfAm | F850.N4 C643 2012 Samuel worked as a Pullman Porter. Born in Mississippi, migrated to Chicago, and became a man through the mentoring of other porters. Retired to Las Vegas where he and Sherrill live as active seniors in a complex in Summerlin. | yes | 0 |
| Coleman, Willie Del | OH-02255 | 11/25/2014 | AfAm - Student | Cook at the Landmark Hotel for 14 years; Culinary Union, became a drug lord and served 7 years in prison, returned to the community and educated his son sending him to UNR. | no | 0 |
| Coletti, Cynthia (Cindy) and Fordham, David | OH-02881 | 2016 October 27 | Building Las Vegas Oral History Project | F849.L35 C663 2016 This son of working-class divorced parents was raised by his mother in subsidized housing in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He talks about putting himself through college and moving to Las Vegas to live with his father in the summers. He recalls helping to raise his sisters, attending law school in Michigan, returning to Las Vegas, and working with and learning from zoning and land use attorneys Chris Kaempfer and Mark Fiorentino. He discusses moving from representing owners of billboards and telecommunication towers to representing clients to the cities of Henderson and North Las Vegas for such developments as Faraday Future, Aliante, and Skye Canyon. | yes | 0 |
| Coller, Jeffrey | OH-03210 | 2017 July 25 | Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project | Jeffrey Coller grew up in Las Vegas attending catholic schools. His priest saw great potential and sent Coller on scholarship to St. Joseph's in California for two years. He blossomed, returned to Las Vegas, and completed high school at Bishop Gorman while living as as emancipated minor and working at the El Cortez. After marriage and the Marine Corp, he landed at Harrah's in Reno where he moved through the hotel side of the house from change boy to Assistant Hotel Manager. His next adventure took him into real estate development and eventually in 1992 Coller moved back to Las Vegas and expanded his real estate business into land syndication. | no | 0 |
| Collier, Sylvester | OH-03183 | 2017 May 17 | African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project | Sylvester Collier has worked as an artist all his life including 20 years in the Air Force. After his last military assignment, Las Vegas, Collier found himself into the classroom of the Clark County School District teaching art after acquiring a master's degree at UNLV. Instrumental in helping Vicki Richardson and Harold Bradford start the Left of Center Art Gallery, Collier currently does most of his painting in his home studio unless he's at his summer home in Oregon. | no | 0 |
| Collins, Ed | OH-00406 | 03/15/1981 | Local Oral History Project-Roske | Personal background living in Las Vegas, how females came to be in Casinos, the first female jobs in Casinos, how the Culinary Union Came to help the workers in the Hotels, how showrooms became an important part in the casino business, helping Nick Kelly, dealer, gaming and gambling, hotel operations and incidents. | yes | 1 |
| Collins, Gene | OH-00144 | 08/31/2000 | Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project | CT247 .C64 2007 Gene Collins worked as an operator's engineer at the Nevada Test Site and later trained as an engineer. He worked with youth groups in Las Vegas, was a state assemblyman, and was instrumental in getting the Martin Luther King holiday bill passed. He was president of the Las Vegas chapter of the NAACP | yes | 3 |
| Collins, Gene | OH-02697 | 2009 July 16 | Boyer Early Las Vegas | Mr. Gene Collins came to Las Vegas to stay around 1966. He discusses the job market here and delineates his work experience and career as culinary employee, operation engineer, and finally as electrician at the Nevada Test Site. Gene first joined the NAACP at the age of 21 and credits his grandfather's example as motivation. Coaching Little League sports and interacting with those young people convinced him that he could make a difference by speaking up for them. He became a Nevada State Assemblyman to help bring diversification, jobs, and businesses to the black community. Mr. Collins was voted in as president of the NAACP in Las Vegas from 1998 to 2001. He details the accomplishments of the NAACP during those years and discusses the means by which they were met, including marches and protests. He mentions the Most Improved commendation from the national association, meeting with Winnie Mandela, and kudos from Terry Lenny for the NAACP's part in being able to introduce gaming into Macau. Mr. Collins' closing comments include thanks to past generations, his wish for future generations, and mention of Assembly Bill 99. He also refers to President Obama's address to the NAACP National Convention in 2009. | yes | 0 |
| Collins, Will | OH-00407 | 05/04/1998 | Dennis McBride Oral Interview | yes | 8 | |
| Collins, Will | OH-02542 | 2005 June 8 | Las Vegas Gay Archives Oral History Project | Interviewed by Dennis McBride | no | 1 |
| Colton, Annie Victoria | OH-00245 | 02/28/1973 | *NO TAPE* TRANSCRIPT ONLY General Nevada History 1905 - 1973 | yes | 0 | |
| Colton, George Gordon | OH-00246 | 10/09/1973 | *NO TAPE* TRANSCRIPT ONLY Searchlight Nevada, Original Gold Strike in Searchlight. Development of the Duplex Mine. History of Searchlight Nevada. | yes | 0 | |
| Colton, Gordon | OH-00246 | 10/03/1973 | *NO TAPE* TRANSCRIPT ONLY The history of Searchlight Nevada | yes | 0 | |
| Colton, Rodney A. | OH-00249 | October 1973 | *NO TAPE* TRANSCRIPT ONLY General History of Southern Nevada and Las Vegas 1918 - 1973 | yes | 0 | |
| Community Conversations | OH-02650 | 3/30/2016 | AfAm Collab | Panel composed of students and community narrators who discussed working with each other, the value of the interchange, the value of oral history, and they related stories of the experience. | no | 0 |
| Cone, Regina; Cone, Lotea; Cone, Maurice | OH-03400 | 2018 March 01 | African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project | This is a family from Fordyce, Arkansas, one of the primary migratory feeder towns to funnel blacks into Las Vegas. Lotea, born in 1922, migrated to Las Vegas in 1953 with her 5 year old daughter, Regina. Maurice, a nephew and first cousin to Regina was born in Las Vegas in 1962. The three generations of one family told three different stories that included collective memories of the Westside business area - Mr. B's Clothing Store, two Mexican stores, the Heritage Lounge, Gilbert's, and many other businesses. Maurice shared memories of gangs coming into the neighborhood and attending high school and Rancho. Regina told the popular coming of age narrative of a happy, well-adjusted young women attending Las Vegas High School. Subjects: Big Jim Tatum, Nellis, Jackson Street, segregation, Snyder's, Willie Mae, Jesse Scott, John Edmond, Loyce Cone | no | 0 |
| Conedy, Cliff | OH-02729 | 2015 June 02 | Table Games Management Oral History Project | Circus Circus; Fremont; Little Caesars; Fremont; Mint; El Rancho; Imperial Palace; MGM Grand (new); Flamingo; Caesars Palace | yes | 0 |
| Conerly, Evelyn | OH-03578 | 2019 March 11 | Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project | From Tallulah, Louisiana, Evelyn Conerly migrated to Las Vegas with her family in early childhood. Her memories include Helldorado parades, being bused to school, and participating in a pen pal program. She was only taught by white teachers until high school at Las Vegas High School where she joined the Spirit Club, Future Business Leaders, and the Soul Club. in a field of 36 girls, she became a debutante in 1978 through the Les Femmes Douze organization. Conerly's work life included three years at the EPA and a long career in banking. Today, she is the author of Wrapped Up in Clovers, a book of love and faith. Subjects: Helldorado, Sixth Grade Centers, New Jerusalem Worship Center, Bishop Rogers, Tallulah, Louisiana, First Interstate Bank | no | 0 |
| Congregation Ner Tamid roundtable | OH-02902 | 2016 September 21 | Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project | Rabbi Sanford Akselrad, Gerald Gordon, Bob Unger, David Wasserman, Renee Diamond and Gilbert Shaw discuss the founding of Congregation Ner Tamid in 1974. It became the first Reform synagogue in Las Vegas. The conversation includes discussion about the first meeting, the move into the current location, and the hiring of Rabbi Akselrad. | yes | 0 |
| Conley, Marge | OH-03168 | 1998 May 06, 1998 July 09 | Las Vegas Women Oral History Project | Culinary Union | no | 0 |
| Connell, Daniel | OH-02085 | 11/18/2013 | West Charleston - Ward 1 | F849.L35 C664 2014 Westleigh neighbor of West Charleston. Built in 1952 as the only 2 bedroom home. Owned a restaurant, sold interest, then worked for Papa Gar. then worked 28 years for Metro. Treatment of casino cheats, the LV dress code, early casino owners, and the influence of Howard Hughes. | yes | 0 |
| Conner, Gerald L. | OH-00411 | 02/22/1977 | Red Rock School/Nellis Air force | Nevada growing from the 1950 's, Nellis Air Force, Lake Mead, changes in UNLV since the 1950 's, churches and religion in Nevada, social clubs in Nevada, problems in the school districts, progress of hotels and gambling in Nevada, Horse Racing in Las Vegas, El Rancho hotel fire, the first earth quake in Nevada, early Atomic testing and how it affected Las Vegas, active in politics and elections, the Rodeo in Nevada, changes in Nevada. | yes | 1 |
| Conner, Marjorie | OH-00250 | 2002 April 18 | Public School Principalship Oral History Project | yes | 0 | |
| Conners, Louis | OH-03170 | 2013 March 22 | African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project | no | 0 | |
| Connor, Nadine; Watson, Harriet | OH-03443 | 2018 May 29 | African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project | Nadine Connor and Harriet Watson are migrants to Las Vegas without a lot of the typical historical memories. They arrived in the 21st century after years of employment in other places. Watson and her husband planned to move here while they worked in Los Angeles county; she as a teacher and he as a dentist. They purchased a house here in 2003. Her husband passed away before their plans could be completed but Harriet decided to try living out-of-the-box that they had created in California and struck out on a new life. She moved alone to Las Vegas in 2009 and the city proved itself to be the shelter, the change-agent she needed. Her new life includes joining organizations that gives us a look into black women's modern social and civic work in the West that can be compared to the traditional clubwomen of other eras especially in the East. Connor moved to Las Vegas following many family members who determined that harsh winters could be avoided. In 2005, her husband suffered an injurious fall on slippery snow encouraging their move. Though they missed a few elements of the old life, they never regretted the decision. Nadine worked for a few years with the Clark County Election Department but resigned early in 2017 after earning a transfer to the training department. The work was too physically demanding because voting equipment had to be taken to locations throughout the county to train volunteers and sometimes work days stretched to 16 hours. Now she is full-time Charms, Inc. As the founder of the Las Vegas chapter of Charms, Inc, Nadine Connor brought together a group of women to concentrate on the family and bettering the community. They engage in activities to feed the hungry, assist homeless youth, provide personal items for Shade Tree and Safe Nest, engage in a Unity Walk, and provide funding for education beyond high school. First, the 1952 group of Pittsburgh women with young families named themselves the "Midnighters" because of work and family responsibilities they couldn't have their monthly social gatherings until late in the evenings. The name changed to the Squaws and in 1997 to Charms, Incorporated. Husbands are Charmers and children are Gems. This non-profit social, civic, and cultural organization of women is dedicated to high cultural standards and humanitarian service that will improve the quality of life for all. Subjects: Charms, Inc., Ruby Garland, the Girlfriends, 100 Black Women, Beta Phi Sigma, Guilty Pleasures, Unity Walk, National Conclave, Lady S | no | 0 |
| Conover, Barbara | OH-00412 | 11/28/2003 | Blue Diamond | yes | 2 | |
| Conover, Barbara | OH-00413 | November 28, 2003 | Blue Diamond Oral History Project | This is the history of Blue Diamond Village. Blue Diamond is located 26 miles southwest of Las Vegas. The village, originally known as Cottonwood Springs, changed its name when the Blue Diamond Company took ownership of the Gypsum mine and built corporate housing for the workers in the early '20s. Near the base of the Red Rock canyon, Blue Diamond Village was originally a stop on the Old Spanish Trail for traders from Santa Fe, N.M., to California between 1830 and 1848, according to the history committee's findings. road for the The Blue Diamond School opened in 1929. The company built bunk housing and homes for the workers that it started selling to the public in 1965. | yes | 4 |
| Conover, Willis | 08/06/1977 | Arnold Shaw | Entertainment. Interviewer: Arnold Shaw | no | 2 | |
| Constancio, Teresita | OH-00262 | 9/4/2012 | Boyer Early LV OPH - Library | Tessie came to work in public services at UNLV Library as a young woman from the Phillipines and worked in the libraries for 25 years under a long list of library directors. | yes | 0 |
| Constancio, Teresita | OH-00262 | 7/4/2012 | BELVOHP | Early life in the Philippines, coming to Las Vegas, hiring process at UNLV Libraries, early members of library staff, and changes over time | yes | 0 |
| Conti, Charlotte | OH-00415 | 03/20/1978 | Local Oral History Project-Roske | Las Vegas in 1955, Atomic Testing, Old Ranch (Stewart Ranch), Downtown and Showboat area, Lake Tahoe, Helldorado, Mormon Church and Las Vegas history - Mormons Religion. | yes | 1 |
| Contino, Dick | 03/19/1993 | Arnold Shaw | Entertainment. Interviewer: Joe Delaney | no | 1 | |
| Contino, Dick | 11/05/2002 | Arnold Shaw | Entertainment. Interviewer: Cork Proctor | no | 1 | |
| Convey, Bert | Arnold Shaw | Entertainment | no | 2 | ||
| Conway, Debbie | OH-00263 | 03/13/13 | AfAm Collaborative - LV Black Experience | F850.N4 C65 2012 | yes | 0 |
| Cook, Phillip L. | OH-00418 | 03/03/1977 | Family history, Las Vegas in the early 1940 's, hotels and gambling, the "Red Light Districts", prostitution, recreation in Las Vegas, television and radio in Las Vegas, early prices in Las Vegas, state and local politics, Ranch Life, the Old Ranch (Stewart Ranch), Education UNLV - Discrimination and culture, Convention Center and the Tourist Trade, energy crisis, local and state government and the Mafia, drugs and drinking in Las Vegas. | yes | 1 | |
| Cooke, Augusta Jane Carter | OH-00266 | Unknown | Local Oral History Project-Roske | No Tape - Hand Written Interview | yes | 0 |
| Cooke, Mary B. | OH-00420 | 03/18/1978 | Local Oral History Project-Roske | Radar - Site job, Nellis Air Force Base, growth and development of Las Vegas, change in people of Las Vegas, family background, housing, hospitals and health centers. 1978 "current" issues: Equal Rights Amendment, Prostitution, Homosexually. Job market and welfare, prejudices, youth of Las Vegas. | yes | 1 |
| Coombs, Joel | OH-00267 | 2/22/2014 | AfAm | Reared in Las Vegas with white father and black mother; schoolmates thought he had a maid. Riots at Valley High School, known as school where the rich kids attended; though affluent neighborhood, drugs damaged the neighborhood and were easily available at Valley HS and at Bishop Gorman. | yes | 0 |
| Cooper, Alice | Arnold Shaw | Entertainment | no | 1 | ||
| Cooper, Eldon G. | OH-00422 | 03/03/1975 | Local Oral History Project-Roske | General Las Vegas and Nevada history. | yes | 1 |
| Cooper, Larry B. | OH-03404 | 2018 March 05 | African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project | Larry Cooper graduated from Las Vegas High School with honors and matriculated at Arkansas AM&N College (Agricultural Mechanical & Normal) in 1965. After teaching high school Mathematics in Kansas City for several years, he decided to returned to Las Vegas but was waylaid by an offer to join Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. It was an offer he did not refuse. After a series of promotions over 33 years, in 2000, he reached the position of Vice President of Emerging Markets. The Cooper family was a family that prayed together. Even today, they assemble for prayer at the family home. Nine of the ten children earned degrees beyond high school diplomas. Growing up on the Westside, his community mentor was Jimmy Gay who he talks about as a person who found jobs for many people in the African American community. He shares vivid memories of Westside businesses - The Brown Derby, Jackson Barber Shop, The Cotton Club, Larry's Sight and Sound, The Cove, and Hamburger Heaven. His father worked in the construction industry and built both houses that the family occupied. The second one is still occupied by a sister. His father went on to work at the Nevada Test Site and retired from the City of Las Vegas. After retirement, Larry returned to Las Vegas where he owns a car dealership. Subjects: Las Vegas High School, Jimmy Gay, Arkansas AM&N, Nevada Test Site, The Brown Derby, Jackson Barber Shop, The Cotton Club, Larry's Sight and Sound, The Cove, Hamburger Heaven | no | 0 |
| Cooper, Pat | 11/01/1991 | Arnold Shaw | Entertainment. Interviewer: Bill Willard | no | 1 |
