Subject: African American businesspeople / Genre: photographs / Collection: Miriam Matthews Photograph Collection - UCLA Library Digital Collections Search Results

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.
Date:: June 4, 1955
Resource Type:: still image
Collection:: Miriam Matthews Photograph Collection
OpenUCLA Collections

Description:: Andrew J. Jones was a Los Angeles businessman who owned a boarding house and restaurant at 109 San Pedro Street during the 1890s. Blacks and whites came from all over to enjoy his delicious biscuits, earning him the nickname "Biscuit Jones." He was born in Kansas.
Date:: [1915-1916]
Resource Type:: still image
Collection:: Miriam Matthews Photograph Collection
OpenUCLA Collections

Description:: Howard "Skippy" Smith was a stunt skydiver who founded the Pacific Parachute Company in San Diego with financial backing from Eddie "Rochester" Anderson. They were subcontractors of Standard Parachute Company. He employed a large, mixed-race workforce until 1944.
Date:: [circa 1939]
Resource Type:: still image
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.
Date:: [1930s]
Resource Type:: still image
Collection:: Miriam Matthews Photograph Collection
OpenUCLA Collections

Description:: Drs. John and Vada Somerville (Ieft and right) seated at a dining table with another couple.
Date:: [1950s-1960s]
Resource Type:: still image
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.
Date:: [1950s-1960s]
Resource Type:: still image
Photographer:: Sheffield, Maceo B. (Maceo Bruce), 1897-1959
Collection:: Miriam Matthews Photograph Collection
OpenUCLA Collections

Description:: Lorenzo Bowdoin holds a book and Theresa Lindsay holds his awards when he was honored by Women's Sunday Morning Breakfast Club for his contributions to the community for the past 50 years at its "This is Your Life" program Sunday. Lindsay was president of the club.
Date:: November 11, 1962
Resource Type:: still image
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.
Date:: [1950s]
Resource Type:: still image
Photographer:: Smith, Irving C.
Collection:: Miriam Matthews Photograph Collection
OpenUCLA Collections

Description:: Sir Roger Makins was a British diplomat who served as British Ambassador to the United States from 1953 to 1956
Date:: April 1954
Resource Type:: still image
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.
Date:: [1940s-1950s]
Resource Type:: still image
Collection:: Miriam Matthews Photograph Collection
OpenUCLA Collections

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