Dr. Wilbur Clarence Gordon and Cynthia Mitchell Gordon on their wedding day with guests at the Somerville home, Los Angeles, 1944-1945

Title: Dr. Wilbur Clarence Gordon and Cynthia Mitchell Gordon on their wedding day with guests at the Somerville home, Los Angeles, 1944-1945
Alternative title: Friends and relatives of Somervilles
Date Created: [1944-1945]
Date: 1944/1945
Collection: Miriam Matthews Photograph Collection
OpenUCLA Collections

Description: Dr. Vada Somerville (born Vada Jetmore Watson) of Pomona graduated from USC, married dentist John Alexander Somerville (1912), was the first African American woman and the second African American person to graduate from USC School of Dentistry (1918), and was the first African American woman certified to practice dentistry in the state of California. She was a civil rights activist, highly involved in several civic and community organizations.
Lucille Robertson was, a real estate broker, was active in civic organizations.
Dr. Wilbur Clarence Gordon was a physician. He was born in Ohio and practiced medicine in Los Angeles.
Dr. Wilbur Clarence Gordon and Cynthia Mitchell Gordon (standing, 4th and 5th from left), Drs. Vada and John Somerville (standing, center) with guests. Lucille Robertson is seater on the left.
Dr. John Somerville, born in Jamaica, was the first black graduate of USC School of Dentistry (1907). He married Vada Jetmore Watson (1912), who also became a dentist. He built the Somerville Hotel (1928), was instrumental in the founding of the Los Angeles chapter of NAACP (1914), and served on the Police Commission 1949-1953
Caption: Written on back of photo: Seated from left Lucille Robertson, Dr. & Mrs. Wilbur Gordon's Wedding, (Cynthia Mitchell)

Genre: photographs
Names: Smith, Cynthiabelle Gordon, 1894 or 95-1978
Somerville, John Alexander, 1881-1973
Somerville, Vada, 1885-1972
Gordon, Wilbur Clarence, 1879-1945
Robertson, Lucille, 1907-1971
Subject Geographic: Los Angeles (Calif.)
Longitude: 34.036561
Latitude: -118.306518
Resource type: still image
Subjects: African American couples
African American physicians
Weddings
African American civic leaders