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.
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.
Artists Hale Woodruff (L) and Charles Alston (R) at the Mission San Diego de Alcalá in San Diego. They were researching the mural for the new building of the Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company.
Pamphlet on the Manzanar Toy Loan Project, began in 1944. Topics include founding, organization, objectives, floor plan, and mimeographed forms used by the Center. Booklet also includes six black and white photographs of children at the Toy Loan Center.
Curriculum in Action, Volume 2 no. 1 November 1970. The Minority Student in California. Cover Photo and Caption: Discussing new materials on minority groups for possible integration into the curriculum are: From left: Dr. Alfred Artuso, superintendent; Fred Beteta, co-chairman of the Committee of 14; William Jones, district consultant; Dr. Moulton Johnson, president of the SMJCD Board of Education; Raymond Acevedo, Mexican-American coordinator, and [Alfred Thomas Quinn] college community relations coordinator.
One African American man and about six boys stand on the sidewalk at the corner of Central Avenue and E. Vernon. The boy in the striped shirt holds a newspaper with the headline "Trojans lead [...] 6-0" and an article titled "German Sub Sinks British [...] Boat." Across the street is the California Bank building with the dental office of Dr. J. G. Hatcher on the second floor (with his name just visible in the windows).
Group portrait of 25 members of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, with Dr. Vada Somerville (seated, 4th from left), and possibly Florence Cole-Talbert (seated 4th from right).
Camp Harmony Assembly Center newsletter, Puyallup, Washington. Includes articles on daily life in the incarceration camp, such as conditions, sports, school, the temporary detention center, and employment.
America Waldo Bogle was the daughter of a slave mother and probably one of the Waldo brothers (Missouri businessmen and slave owners who moved to the Oregon Territory). She married Jamaican immigrant Richard Bogle in 1863. He opened a barbershop in Walla Walla, owned a ranch or farm, and was one of the founders of the Walla Walla Building and Loan Association. Five of their eight children lived into adulthood. Three of the sons became barbers in Portland.
Letter from Al Green, Chairman of the Allensworth Advisory Committee, to Anita Hagen, editor of a paper titled Insight. Apparently Insight published a story claiming that the town of Allensworth was a faded dream. Mr. Green explains to her why he thinks that this is not true, that Allensworth is a diamond, and invites her to join those advocating for Allensworth.
Parkridge Country Club in Corona opened in 1925. It had one of the best golf courses in California. Under financial stress by 1927, it was sold to three African American businessmen from Los Angeles, including Journee White (a wealthy real estate businessman) and Eugene C. Nelson (a physician). The Ku Klux Klan burned a cross on the front lawn, white club members sued the previous white owner, and by 1929 the black buyers were forced to withdraw their bid. It became a sanitarium and was demolished in the 1960’s to make way for the Cresta Verde Golf Course and housing development.
George Monroe rode a stagecoach between Merced and Mariposa and became a renowned stage driver. He drove three United States presidents into Yosemite, Ulysses S. Grant, James A. Garfield and Rutherford B. Hayes, as well as Gen. William T. Sherman. Monroe Meadows in Yosemite is named after him.