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Guide to the Justitia Davis Papers
MS 82
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Table of contents
Title: Justitia Davis papers
Dates: 1901-2000
Collection number: MS 82
Creator:
Davis, Justitia.
Collection Size:
2 linear feet
(5 boxes + 2 oversized boxes)
Repository:
African American Museum & Library at Oakland (Oakland, Calif.)
Oakland, CA 94612
Abstract: The Justitia Davis papers include scrapbooks, photographs, music and theatrical programs, newspaper clippings, artifacts,
and certificates that document the life and career of actor and music teacher Justitia Davis. The papers are arranged into
three series: Performing arts, Education, and Photographs. The bulk of the papers consist of 468 photographs most of which
are personal photographs of Davis’ family and friends in the 1920s-1940s.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
No access restrictions. Collection is open to the public.
Materials are for use in-library only, non-circulating.
Permission to publish from the Justitia Davis Papers must be obtained from the African American Museum & Library at Oakland.
Justitia Davis papers, MS 82, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library. Oakland, California.
Processed by Sean Heyliger, 11/01/2013.
Biography / Administrative History
Singer, actress, pianist, and music teacher Justitia Davis Scott (1918-1976) was born on May 31, 1918 in Oakland, California
the daughter of music director and teacher Lillian Jeter Davis and T. M. Davis. After attending schools in Oakland, Davis
transferred to Garfield High School in Seattle, Washington during her sophomore year graduating in 1936.
Following high school, Davis was active in Elmer Keeton’s Bay Area Negro Chorus before landing the lead role of Sulamai in
the 1938 Federal Theatre Project’s San Francisco production of Hall Johnson’s Run Little Chillun. Run Little Chillun’s critical
and box office success spurred an adaptation of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Swing Mikado the following year, featuring Davis
in the role of Yum-Yum opposite Jester Hairston. The Swing Mikado production included performances at San Francisco’s Geary
Theatre and at the Golden Gate International Exposition at Treasure Island in June, 1934.
During 1940s, Davis worked as a piano teacher and continued to be active in Elmer Keeton’s Chorus. Her piano students performed
recitals at the Chapel of the Chimes throughout the 1940s-1950s and she served as a soloist and co-director of Keeton Memorial
Chorus. In the 1960s, she also acted in the role of Mama Younger in a 1961 production of Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in
the Sun at the University of California Berkeley, and she replaced Gertrude Jeanette in an off-Broadway production of To Be
Young, Gifted, and Black.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Justitia Davis papers include scrapbooks, photographs, music and theatrical programs, newspaper clippings, artifacts,
and certificates that document the life and career of actor and music teacher Justitia Davis. The papers are arranged into
four series: Performing arts, Education, Photographs, and Assorted printed material. The bulk of the papers consist of 471
photographs most of which are personal photographs of Davis’ family and friends in the 1920s-1940s. The photographs are arranged
into five subseries: Performing arts, Family photographs, 3rd Baptist Church Youth Choir, Syd’s Barbershop, and Assorted.
The performing arts series includes music and theatrical programs, newspaper clippings, artifacts documenting Justitia Davis'
career as an actress and music teacher. The two scrapbooks document Davis' performances in The Swing Mikado and Run Little
Chillun and include telegrams, theatrical programs, photographs, and newspaper clippings. The music and theatrical programs
include programs of Davis’ student piano concerts at the Chapel at the Chimes during the 1940s and a program from the University
of California Berkeley’s production of A Raisin in the Sun in 1962. The education series includes two of Davis’ yearbooks,
The Arrow, from Garfield High School in Seattle, Washington in 1934 and 1936 and Davis’ music teacher certificate.
Series I. Performing Arts
Series II. Education
Series III. Photographs
Series IV. Assorted printed material
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Davis, Justitia.
Hall, Marcus, 1904-1977.
African American families -- California -- Oakland.
African American theater -- California -- San Francisco.
African American theater -- History -- 20th century.
African Americans -- California -- Eastbay -- History.
African Americans -- California -- Oakland -- Social conditions -- 20th century.
Johnson, Hall, 1888-1970 -- Run little chillun.
Oakland (Calif.) -- Social life and customs.
13 publications were removed from the collection and added to AAMLO's library collection.