Reception for Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Somerville in the backyard of Drs. Vada and John Somerville, Los Angeles, 1950s (?)

Title: Reception for Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Somerville in the backyard of Drs. Vada and John Somerville, Los Angeles, 1950s (?)
Alternative title: Reception for Mr. and Mrs. R.C. Somerville of Linstead, Jamaica
Photographer: Sheffield, Maceo B. (Maceo Bruce), 1897-1959
Date Created: [1950s (?)]
Collection: Miriam Matthews Photograph Collection
OpenUCLA Collections

Description: 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.
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.
Well dressed African American men and women enjoying a garden reception at the home of Drs. Vada and John Somerville, for the brother and sister-in-law of John Somerville, Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Somerville of Linstead, Jamaica. The Somerville's lived at this house, at 2014 Virginia Road, from 1952 to at least 1962.
Caption: Photographer's stamp on back of photo: Please credit photo by Maceo B. Sheffield / CE 29577

Genre: photographs
: African American dentists
African American civic leaders
African American businesspeople
African American civil rights workers
Receptions
Names: Somerville, John Alexander, 1881-1973
Somerville, Vada, 1885-1972
Subject Geographic: Los Angeles (Calif.)
Resource type: still image