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.
Group gathered following the unveiling of the two murals titled “The Negro in California History” in the lobby of the Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company’s new home office building (4261 S. Central Ave.). The murals were painted by artists Hale Woodruff and Charles Alston and installed on the lower walls of the Roman travertine against which the group is standing. Left to right: George Beavers, Jr., chairman of the board, Golden State Mutual; Charlotta Bass, Publisher of the California Eagle, pulled the cord to unveil the Charles Alston Mural; Norman O. Houston, President, Golden State Mutual; Gussie Woods, mother of Hale Woodruff, pulled the cord to unveil the Woodruff mural; and Titus Alexander, member of the California Historical Society who aided in the research upon which the murals are based.
Two plaques at the site of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church building at 8th St. and Towne Ave. with a pictorial image of the church building, and providing a brief history of the A.M.E. and the church's designation as a Los Angeles cultural heritage landmark, and information about the ministers of the church at that time.
After the session of California to the United States, the Rancho Rodeo de las Aguas land grant was patented to Maria Rita Valdez de Villa. She possessed the land from 1831 to 1854. After that, the property changed hands several times before becoming Beverly Hills in the early 20th century.
Elias Baldwin's race horse, Volante, shown with a black jockey. Volante won the American Derby at Washington Park in 1885. This was the most prestigious race for 3-year-olds at that time.
Beulah Ecton Woodard was an African-American sculptor and painter in California who specialized in African subjects. The first African American artist to show her work at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, she founded the Los Angeles Negro Art Association (1937).
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.
Attorney General Stanley Mosk (3rd from right) ready to cut the ribbon for English Square office complex at 85th and Broadway, with the owner, attorney Herman English, and his wife, Eula (right), and (from left): Reverend W. L. Robinson, Attorney Loren Miller, emcee; and Councilman Billy Mills and his wife, Rubye.
Juanita Ellsworth Miller was the Deputy Director of the Department of Social Welfare for the State of California, a chartered member of the Allied Arts League and a life member of the NAACP. She was married to judge Loren Miller.
Canada Lee (born Lionel Cornelius Canegata) was a noted 20th century jockey, boxer, actor and civil rights activist. He was primarily a stage actor from the early 1930s to his death. His breakout film role was in 1941 where Lee played Bigger Thomas in the film Native Son to great critical and popular acclaim. His passionate devotion to equality was reflected in his theatrical and film roles.
Charlotta Bass was the publisher of the California Eagle newspaper from 1912 to 1951, and a civil rights activist. The California Eagle, covering Los Angeles' African-American community, was one of the oldest and longest running African American newspapers.
Group portrait of Mary McLeod Bethune, event speaker, and 22 African Americans at the Second Baptist Church. Mrs. Bethune is in the front wearing a black dress and is leaning on the podium; Norman O. Houston is present (9th from right). On arch above the sanctuary is painted: "One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism".
Roy Fowler's father, John Fowler, wrote a column called "Spreading Joy," which was published in the California Eagle newspaper. John Fowler's sister, Cora, married Felix Beckford and lived in Oakland. Their daughter, Ruth Beckford, is a dancer, teacher and author.