Finding Aid for the Miriam Matthews photograph collection, 1781-1989 LSC.1889
Finding aid prepared by Caroline Bunnell Harris in the Center for Primary Research and Training (CFPRT), with assistance from
Megan Hahn Fraser, June 2012; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé.
Arcadia Foundation.
UCLA Library Special Collections
Online finding aid last updated 2023 March 24.
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Business Number: 310-825-4988
Fax Number: 310-206-1864
AskLSC@library.ucla.edu
Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Title: Miriam Matthews photograph collection
Creator:
Matthews, Miriam
Identifier/Call Number: LSC.1889
Physical Description:
50 Linear Feet
(98 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1781-1989
Abstract: The Miriam Matthews photograph Collection consists of 4,600 black and white photographs of varying sizes, negatives, captions
and descriptions from museum exhibitions, and a slide carousel. The collection reflects Matthews' dedication to the preservation
of African American history in Los Angeles. The chronology of the scenes and people depicted in this collection spans from
the Spanish founding of the city in the late 18th century to the 1980s, with the bulk of the collection from the twentieth
century. Key points of interest from the Spanish and Mexican eras include the founding Los Angeles
pobladores of African descent, African American stagecoach drivers and overland guides to California, and the multiracial
californio family of Pio Pico. Other points of interest after U.S. annexation in 1848 include the influx of middle class African Americans
to Los Angeles between 1890 and 1915, as well as the churches, social, charitable, and fraternal organizations they formed
during this period and through the 1980s. Matthews' collection also highlights those individuals who contributed to civil
rights legislation and advocacy, those who were elected or appointed to government positions, popular entertainers, artists,
and black-owned businesses. There is also substantial collection of photographs produced by black photographer Harry H. Adams,
documenting life, politics, community service, and civil rights movement in Los Angeles in the 1960s.
Physical Location: Stored off-site. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located
on this page.
Language of Material: Materials are in English.
Restrictions on Access
Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located
on this page.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other rights, including copyright, are retained
by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue
the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
PORTIONS OF THIS COLLECTION HAVE BEEN DIGITIZED. Please consult digital facsimiles instead of originals.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Gift/purchase from Charles Matthews, Jr., 2011.
UCLA Catalog Record ID
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Miriam Matthews photograph collection (Collection 1889). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles
E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
Processing Note
Processed by Caroline Bunnell Harris in the Center for Primary Research and Training (CFPRT), with assistance from Megan Hahn
Fraser, June 2012.
The processing of this collection was generously supported by Arcadia.
Collections are processed to a variety of levels depending on the work necessary to make them usable, their perceived user
interest and research value, availability of staff and resources, and competing priorities. Library Special Collections provides
a standard level of preservation and access for all collections and, when time and resources permit, conducts more intensive
processing. These materials have been arranged and described according to national and local standards and best practices.
We are committed to providing ethical, inclusive, and anti-racist description of the materials we steward, and to remediating
existing description of our materials that contains language that may be offensive or cause harm. We invite you to submit
feedback about how our collections are described, and how they could be described more accurately, by filling out the form
located on our website:
Report Potentially Offensive Description in Library Special Collections.
Biography/History
Miriam Matthews was born in Pensacola, Florida on August 6, 1905 to Reuben and Fannie Matthews. Two years later the Matthews
family moved to a neighborhood of European immigrants in Los Angeles, just south of downtown, where her father found work
as a house painter. Matthews received her Bachelor's degree from University of California at Berkeley in 1926 and her librarian's
certificate a year later. Matthews was hired as the first black librarian in California by the Los Angeles Public Library
in 1927, despite attempts to prevent her from knowing the date of the Civil Service examination. After working for ten years
at the Los Angeles Public Library without promotion, Matthews took a leave of absence to pursue a Masters degree in Library
Science at the University of Chicago. She was then promoted to a position as a regional librarian, supervising the management
of several libraries until her retirement in 1960. Early on in her career, Matthews discovered a small collection of books
detailing the role of African Americans, and people of African descent, in the founding of Los Angeles and began building
her own collection of books, manuscripts, and photographs. Her work in the preservation and exhibition of Los Angeles' black
past continued long after her retirement.
Scope and Content
The prominent black families and individuals represented in this collection are organized using Matthews' chronology and terminology.
The titles given to them, such as "founders," "settlers," and "pioneers" reflect the context and values in which Matthews
lived. Those designated as Founders were the original
pobladores, a group of mixed race colonists, who established the pueblo of Los Angeles for New Spain. Manuel Camero and Jose Moreno,
both of African descent, are highlighted in this collection. The Early Settlers include those of Spanish, Mexican, or American
origin, who arrived after the founding in 1781. Juan Fernando Reyes, the first black mayor of Los Angeles, and other Californios
of African descent, in particular, Pio Pico, are highlighted in this series. The Pioneers refer to the African American men
and women who migrated to Los Angeles at the turn of the century, seeking greater freedom and opportunity than the Jim Crow
South offered. The twentieth-century figures highlighted by Matthews included those who worked for the expansion of civil
and human rights, such as Loren Miller and Ralph Bunche.
Photographs of the daily lives of African Americans in Los Angeles include their involvement in churches, social organizations,
civil rights movements, entertainment, sports and recreation, businesses and professions, parades, education, military, civil
service, and street scenes.
Harry H. Adams was a photographer for the California Eagle and Los Angeles Sentinel newspapers, and for churches, organizations,
and individuals within the black community. While his photographic career spanned from 1955 to 1988, the bulk of the collection
housed here is from the 1960s and includes images of civil rights movements, churches, schools, business, entertainment, police,
sports, and street scenes.
Material from museum and gallery exhibitions includes text, signage, and mounted photographs used at the California African
American Museum, the California Museum of Industry, El Pueblo Historic Park, Los Angeles Public Library, and possibly other
unidentified exhibitions. This series also includes a slide carousel and slides depicting the early history of African Americans
in California.
Organization and Arrangement
Arranged in the following series:
- Early California
- Daily Life in Black Los Angeles and California
- Black Photographers
- Museum and Gallery Exhibitions
- Prominent Individuals and Families
Related Material
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Photographs.
African American women librarians -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archives.
Matthews, Miriam -- Archives
Early California.
1781-1920.
Scope and Contents note
Men and women of African descent who ventured to Los Angeles, California, and the West before 1920. The first wave of migration
arrived before the Santa Fe railroad connected to Los Angeles in 1885. The second wave arrived between 1890 and 1915 as Los
Angeles experienced explosive growth.
Monuments, Murals, Exhibitions, and Anniversaries of Early Los Angeles.
1949-1981.
Scope and Contents note
Photographs of historical interpretations, anniversaries, and representations of early Los Angeles.
box 1, folder 10
Photographs of diorama displays in Natural History Museum.
1781, 1846.
Scope and Contents note
Photographs of two dioramas: first, of 22 adults and 22 children arriving at the site for the pueblo of Los Angeles on September
4, 1781; second, of the Battle of San Pasqual during the Mexican American War in 1846.
box 1, folder 11
Prints of drawings of De Anza Expedition.
1774-1777.
Scope and Contents note
Juan Bautista de Anza led the first expeditions of Spain to Alta California. Drawings by Carl Oscar Borc (1931) and Walter
Francis (1909).
box 1, folder 12
Founders Monument, El Pueblo de Los Angeles.
1981.
Scope and Contents note
Founder's Monument, El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Park. Founders Plaque inscription; dedication of plaque by LA City Historical
Society and Greater Boyle Heights Historical Bicentennial Committee; certificate presented to descendants of founders of Los
Angeles, June 5, 1981.
box 1, folder 13
Los Angeles, 175th Birthday.
September 1956.
Scope and Contents note
Print from poster of 175th anniversary of Los Angeles.
box 1, folder 14
Golden State Mutual Life Mural, panel by Charles Alston.
1949.
Scope and Contents note
Photographic portrait of artist Charles Alston. Alston panel was entitled "The Negro in California History - Exploration and
Colonization."
box 1, folder 15
Golden State Mutual Life Mural, panel by Hale Woodruff.
1949.
Scope and Contents note
Photographic portrait of artist Hale Woodruff. Woodruff panel was entitled "The Negro in California History - Settlement and
Development."
box 1, folder 16
G.S.M. mural research tour with Charles Alston and Hale Woodruff.
1948.
Scope and Contents note
Photographs of artists at Mission San Diego, a mining shaft in gold rush country, Beckwourth Pass.
box 1, folder 17
G.S.M. Murals Conference and Dedication of artwork.
1949.
Scope and Contents note
Photographs of artists, architects, and officers of Golden State Mutual Life Insurance at the unveiling of artwork, dedication,
and conference.
Buildings and Ranchos.
1784-1888.
Scope and Contents note
Photographs of adobe buildings, Franciscan missions, houses, and ranchos. Mostly built in the mid-19th century.
box 3, folder 5
Pico family properties.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of adobe homes of Pio and Andres Pico in Whittier and Los Angeles. Pico house, hotel, in Los Angeles.
box 3, folder 7
Owens family properties.
1869-1913.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of homes of Robert Owens Sr. and Robert Curry Owens; Owens livery stables; plots of Owens property; Owens
business block on Broadway (1898, 1904, 1913); view of Los Angeles in 1869.
box 3, folder 11
Missions.
Scope and Contents note
Including Mission Dolores and drawings of Mission San Diego. Photograph of Santa Susana pass which connected Missions San
Fernando and San Buenaventura.
box 3, folder 12
Early California maps and photographs outside Los Angeles.
1846-1849.
Scope and Contents note
Includes San Francisco, Julian
Founders, Explorers, Travelers.
1527-1892.
Scope and Contents note
Images of first explorers of African descent to California; the pobladores and settlers of Los Angeles of African descent;
gold rush miners; stagecoach drivers
box 1, folder 1
Explorers of African descent.
1527-1844.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photo prints of drawings by Sam Patrick: Jacob Dodson of the John C. Fremont expeditions to California; York of the
Lewis and Clark expedition; Estevanico, first person born in Africa to arrive in the present-day continental United States.
box 1, folder 2
Manuel Camero, founder of Los Angeles, of African descent, and one of first city councilmen.
1781.
Scope and Contents note
Manuel Camero served as Los Angeles regidor (city councilman) after arriving in 1781, he died in 1819. From a drawing by Samuel
Patrick, former Los Angeles Times staff artist.
box 1, folder 3
Jose and Maria Guadalupe Moreno, founders of Los Angeles of African descent, and their descendants.
1781.
Scope and Contents note
Portrait of Jose and Maria Guadalupe Moreno is from a painting by an artist at the LA County Museum of Natural History. Includes,
photograph of grandson, Manuel Moreno taken in LA in 1905 when he was 80 years old; photography of granddaughter, Catarina
Moreno, wife of Andres Pico (credit: LA Museum of Natural History).
box 1, folder 4
Luis and Maria Petra Quintero, founders of Los Angeles, of African descent.
1781.
Scope and Contents note
From painting by staff artist, LA County Museum of Natural History.
box 1, folder 5
Family and descendants of Juan Francisco Reyes, alcalde, 1793-1795.
1793.
Scope and Contents note
Son of Francisco Reyes, Ysidro Reyes, and his family. Grandson, Fernando Reyes. Great granddaughter, Regugio Reyes de Roberts.
Great-great grandson Juan Chevez outside old adobe hacienda once owned by ancestor in 1920.
box 1, folder 6
Stagecoach Drivers and Pony Express Riders.
1848-1892.
Scope and Contents note
Photographic portraits of stagecoach drivers: Nathaniel Smith, Gus Thompson, and George Monroe. Portrait of William Robinson,
Pony Express Rider from Stockton and gold mining communities.
box 1, folder 7
James P. Beckwourth, mountain man, explorer, fur trader.
b. 1798- d. 1866.
Scope and Contents note
Portraits (both from drawings and photographs) of James Beckwourth, including one with hunting costume. Photographic portrait
of his Indian wife.
box 1, folder 8
Prints and negatives of Beckwourth trading post, Beckwourth Pass monument, and map.
Scope and Contents note
Photographs and negatives of Beckwourth Pass monument with artists from Golden State Mutual mural; Beckwourth's trading post;
map showing places named after him. Photo of Crow Indian Sun Dance (Beckwourth was given title of honorary chief of this tribe).
box 1, folder 9
Gold Rush.
1849-1852.
Scope and Contents note
Photographs of African American miners during Gold Rush, mining site named "Nigger Bar," and sign for mining town of Timbuctoo
named by African American miner.
Early Settlers Outside Los Angeles.
1800-1880.
Scope and Contents note
African American men and women who settled in California before 1880.
box 4, folder 1
Elizabeth Neal and family.
1862, 1870.
Scope and Contents note
Elizabeth Neal San Francisco, circa 1870. Her daughter with husband James Lodge in San Jose, 1862
box 4, folder 2
Frederick Sparrow.
c. 1870.
Scope and Contents note
First black man to vote in Napa, Napa County in 1870.
box 4, folder 3
Susan Wilson.
c. 1860.
Scope and Contents note
Susan Wilson was brought to California in 1853 by ox-team from Missouri. Worked to pay for her freedom of self and three children.
box 4, folder 4
Philip Bell.
b. 1808 - d. 1889.
Scope and Contents note
Black journalist, newspaper editor, and civil rights advocate in San Francisco.
box 4, folder 5
Alvin Coffey.
c. 1849.
Scope and Contents note
Alvin Coffey, 49er and pioneer, two portraits
box 4, folder 6
Early California African American pioneers.
Scope and Contents note
Includes Rev. J. B. Sanderson, Mamie Netherland, a Sacramento clubhouse, and descendants of black California pioneers.
box 4, folder 7
Allen Light, document certifying he is free.
1827.
Scope and Contents note
Born in Philadelphia, citizen of the U.S.
box 4, folder 9
Nate Harrison, pioneer in San Diego.
c. 1823-1920.
Scope and Contents note
Nathan Harrison, his shack on Mount Palomar, and nearby monument.
box 4, folder 9
Unidentified early Northern Californian portraits.
Scope and Contents note
Portraits by W. B. Ingersoll, photographer, Oakland, 19th century. Also, photo of school children.
box 4, folder 10
Captain William Shorey, black whaling ship captain on the west coast between 1880-1900.
1880s-1890s.
Scope and Contents note
Photos of ships in harbor of SF Bay, Capt. William Shorey and his family, his daughter Victoria, and streets named after him.
box 4, folder 11
Black sailors.
Scope and Contents note
Black sailors on ship with white officers; first steamship on Pacific coast/
box 4, folder 12
David W. Ruggles, only black member of U.S. Grand Jury.
1878-1900.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of U.S. Grand Jury, an elderly portrait, and his store.
box 4, folder 13
John Grider, member of Bear Flag Party.
c. 1849.
Scope and Contents note
Only black member of Vallejo Society of California Pioneers. The member of Bear Flag Party who secured the brown paint to
paint the bear on the original flag. Includes photo of Bear Flag monument
box 4, folder 14
James Henry Coleman, contractor and businessman in Redding, CA.
b. 1889- d. 1949.
Scope and Contents note
Includes portraits of three children, his daughter as an adult, his mother, and himself with an unidentified man. Also photo
of house under construction by his company.
box 4, folder 15
William Leidesdorff, mixed race businessman in San Francisco.
died 1848.
Scope and Contents note
Drawings of William Leidesdorff, his residence, and properties in San Francisco.
box 4, folder 16
Mary Ellen Pleasant, entrepreneur and abolitionist of African descent.
Scope and Contents note
Portraits of Mary Ellen Pleasant and her family. Images relating to the business dealings and property operated by Pleasant
and Thomas Bell. Grave and grave marker at Tulocay Cemetery in Napa. Portrait of her butler.
box 4, folder 17
Eliza Davis, pioneer woman.
undated.
Scope and Contents note
Eliza Davis, pioneer woman at cabin in Sonora, Tuolomne County
box 4, folder 18
Unidentified black early Californians.
box 4, folder 19
Israel Beal, Redlands pioneer.
b. 1848- d. 1929.
Scope and Contents note
Beal helped in construction of the Redlands reservoir, pipelines and the original Big Bear Dam. He was a founding elder of
Second Baptist church, officer of Redlands Mutual Benefit Association in 1892.
box 4, folder 20
Binum family, pioneer family in Calaveras.
1850s.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Margaret (midwife and nurse) and her sons James and Lev (operated Bon Ton Chop House in San Andreas).
box 4, folder 22
William E. Towns and family, San Francisco Bay Area.
c. 1867- 1969.
Scope and Contents note
Includes portraits of William E. Towns, his wife Elizabeth Scott Towns, his son Henry Towns, and youngest son Royal E. Towns
with a group of other California pioneers c. 1969. Also includes photograph of siblings Wallace, Ben, Nellie, and Henry Towns
as children.
box 4, folder 24
Wilkerson family.
Scope and Contents note
Four young girls, Lompoc, California.
box 4, folder 25
Mayme Mary C. Netherland.
Scope and Contents note
Portrait at a young age, and photograph of her birthplace.
Early Settlers Within Los Angeles.
1800-1880.
Scope and Contents note
African American men and women who settled in Los Angeles before 1880.
box 2, folder 1
Charles Owens (son of Robert Owens Sr.) and wife Ellen Mason (daughter of Biddy Mason).
Scope and Contents note
Prominent early African American settlers Robert Owens and Biddy Mason bought and maintained substantial properties in Los
Angeles. Robert Owens' son Charles, married Biddy Mason's daughter Ellen.
box 2, folder 2
Robert Curry Owens, wife Anna Dugger, her Dugger family.
Scope and Contents note
Grandson of Biddy Mason, Robert Curry Owens and wife Anna (nee: Dugger). Robert Curry Owens' recollections of his grandfather.
Photos of family at "Mother Goose Party" which they hosted.
box 2, folder 3
Henry Owens (brother Robert Curry Owens) and wife Louise.
Scope and Contents note
Portraits of grandson of Biddy Mason, and his wife Louise.
box 2, folder 4
Gladys Owens Smith and Manila Owens (daughters of Robert Curry Owens).
Scope and Contents note
Daughters of Robert Curry Owens and wife Anna Dugger. Includes childhood, travel, and costume photographs.
box 2, folder 5
Unidentified photos, possible Mason/Owens families.
box 2, folder 6
Biddy Mason and Robert Owens families Binder 1.
Scope and Contents note
Photographs from a binder compiled by Miriam Matthews. Includes images Biddy Mason, Robert Owens, and their families.
box 2, folder 7
Mason/Owens Binder 2.
Scope and Contents note
Photographs from a binder compiled by Miriam Matthews. Includes images Biddy Mason, Robert Owens, and their families.
box 2, folder 8
Early California historical small prints, both San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Scope and Contents note
Includes Mr. and Mrs. Harry Johnson; Rt. Rev. T.M. Ward, the first ordained African Methodist Episcopal minister on the Pacific
Coast; Rev. Charles Satchell; Laura Robinson; Mary Ellen Pleasant and family; Bear Flag monument; first steamboat in California;
Congressman White; Sidney Dones real estate office; Don Pio Pico.
box 2, folder 9
Benjamin Talbot.
Scope and Contents note
Portraits of Benjamin Talbot, his wife, and possibly his daughters.
box 2, folder 10
Early settlers of Los Angeles.
1848-1885.
Scope and Contents note
Includes preacher and politician Peter Johnson, Beverly A. Johnson, children of William E. Towns, William Marcus and Moselle
Moore, Don Antonio Coronel.
box 2, folder 11
Pio Pico, last Mexican governor of California, and family.
b. 1801- d. 1894.
Scope and Contents note
Portraits of Pio, wife, and two nieces; Pio Pico's tomb; Calendar showing ownership of land in Southern California by the
Pico family; portraits of Andres Pico and his wife Catarina Moreno (same portrait in box 1, folder 3)
box 3, folder 1
Portraits of Biddy Mason.
b. 1818- d. 1891.
Scope and Contents note
Biddy Mason was brought to California as a slave in a wagon train. She petitioned for her freedom, and a judge granted it
to her and her family in 1856. She became a successful nurse and midwife, and gained a small fortune through real estate investments.
She donated generously to charities and was instrumental in the founding of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in
Los Angeles.
box 3, folder 2
Biddy Mason on Robert Owen's porch with daughter and friends.
Scope and Contents note
Biddy Mason and her family lived with Robert Owens when she first moved to Los Angeles. Her daughter Ellen married Robert
Owen's son Charles.
box 3, folder 3
Biddy Mason freedom papers (photographs).
1856.
Scope and Contents note
Photographs of Biddy Mason's freedom papers. Certified copy received in 1860.
box 3, folder 4
Biddy Mason property deeds and plots (photographs).
1866-1867.
Scope and Contents note
Photographs of property deeds and plots purchased by Biddy Mason in the 1860s.
box 3, folder 6
Mr. and Mrs. A. Dunbar.
Scope and Contents note
Photograph of the couple in front of their home on the outskirts of Los Angeles, which later became Inglewood.
box 3, folder 8
C. W. Holder, rancher.
Scope and Contents note
Portrait from the Liberator, Jan-Feb 1904.
box 3, folder 9
Southern California adobes granted to people of African descent.
1920-1936.
Scope and Contents note
Includes adobes on Rancho Rodeo de los Aguas (grantee: Maria Rita Valdez), Rancho Santa Gertrudes,
box 3, folder 10
Early Los Angeles buildings and maps (photographs).
1784-1888.
Scope and Contents note
Maps of early California Spanish ranchos, and maps that highlight those ranchos granted to people of African descent. Early
photo of Los Angeles plaza, Sonoratown, residential streets
Other Individuals and Families in Early California.
box 71, folder 1
James Henry Coleman and family.
box 71, folder 3
Other early California families.
box 71, folder 5
Delilah Beasley and Mary Ellen Pleasant.
box 71, folder 8
Ed Johnson, butler of Mary Ellen Pleasant.
box 71, folder 9
E.F. Josephs, photographer.
Daily Life in Black Los Angeles and California.
1885-1980.
Scope and Contents note
Work, recreation, social organizations, churches, and civil rights groups.
Artists and Entertainers.
box 21, folder 9
Dancers.
1950s-1960s.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Janet Collins, Carmen De Lavallade?, Josephine Baker, and Alvin Ailey.
box 21, folder 10
Writers, Plays, Poets.
1917-1962.
Scope and Contents note
Includes portrait of Garland Anderson, first black writer to achieve Broadway production; photograph of an automobile sign
promoting Anderson's play "Appearances;" photograph of King Lear production starring Frank Silvera and Roscoe Lee Browne;
photograph of "Hiawatha's Wedding Feast and the Death of Minnehaha" with Thomas L. Johnson and Alice Reed; photograph of Langston
Hughes reading his poetry accompanied by Buddy Collette's orchestra; portrait of young Langston Hughes.
box 21, folder 11
William Grant Still, African American Classical Composer portraits.
Scope and Contents note
Includes several portraits of Still, including as a young man playing the cello and violin.
box 21, folder 12
William Grant Still, conducting.
1936-1975.
Scope and Contents note
Photograph of Still directing the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl (both 1936 and 1967); conducting the Seattle
Youth Orchestra in 1968; Still with W.C. Handy and Samuel Brown at Jefferson High School (negative); and Still at reception
in his honor at University of Southern California, 1975. Also includes ad for three-act opera, "A Bayou Legend" written by
Still.
box 21, folder 13
Parents of William Grant Still.
1880s?.
Scope and Contents note
Portraits of William Grant Still Sr., and Carrie L. Shepperson.
box 21, folder 14
"William Grant Still, Composer" from Miriam Matthews' Binder.
Scope and Contents note
Includes portraits and snapshots of Still; photographs of African American orchestra and musical theater company; Still working
at Pace and Handy Music Co.; Still at press conference for Second Baptist Church Choir concert; and other unidentified portraits
and snapshots/
box 21, folder 15
W.C. Handy, blues composer and musician.
Scope and Contents note
Includes portrait and photograph of Pace & Handey Music Co., Inc. in New York.
box 21, folder 16
Leon Rene Sr. and Jr., composers of rhythm and blues and rock and roll songs.
1930s-1950s.
Scope and Contents note
Photograph of father and son.
box 21, folder 17
Le Chevalier de Saint-George, 18th century classical composer of African descent.
Scope and Contents note
Includes drawing of Le Chevalier de Saint-George.
box 21, folder 18
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, English composer of African descent.
early 20th century.
Scope and Contents note
Portrait of Coleridge-Taylor at the piano.
box 21, folder 19
Leading African American Composers and Arrangers.
Scope and Contents note
Group photograph includes William Grant Still, H. Lawrence Freeman, W.C. Handy, Rosamund Johnson, Will Vodery, Charles Cooke,
Noble Sissle.
box 22, folder 1
Portraits of African American Composers, Conductors, and Arrangers.
Scope and Contents note
Includes portrait (negative) of William Dawson, Nathaniel Dett, Walter Howard Loving, and Harry T. Burleigh.
box 22, folder 2
Choirs, Piano Academies, and Music Schools.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of groups from Professor Wilkins' Piano Academy recitals (1917 and 1923?); article on Gilbert Allen Singers
in Silhouette Magazine; music and dance teacher Lauretta Butler, Professor Wendell Talbert and wife Florence Cole, Midland
Jubilee Singers (1911); flier for Freita Shaw's Ethiopian Chorus in Concert; group portrait "The Only Original University
Singers of New Orleans"; Williams Jubilee Singers touring Europe; and another Jubilee Singers group (unidentified).
box 22, folder 3
Southeast Symphony Association.
Scope and Contents note
Photograph of group working at home of Jessie Terry.
box 22, folder 4
Early Motion Picture Actresses.
Scope and Contents note
Includes portrait of Madame Sul-Te-Wan, Hattie McDaniel, Dorothy Dandridge, Louise Beavers, and Lillian Randolph.
box 22, folder 5
Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, tap dancer and actor.
Scope and Contents note
Includes portrait of Robinson dancing, and photograph of his house designed by Paul Williams.
box 22, folder 6
Clarence Muse, actor, screenwriter, director, and composer.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of Muse playing an accordion from a New Year's card, and a flyer for "Grand Studio Ball & Movie Classic"
produced and directed by Clarence Muse, at Warner Brothers Studio.
box 22, folder 7
Rochester (Edward Anderson) and Jack Benny entertain U.S. troops.
1942.
box 22, folder 8
Motion Picture Actors (male).
1930s-1980s.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Canada Lee, Noble Johnson, Paul Robeson, James Lowe, Rex Ingram, and Raymond St. Jacques.
box 22, folder 9
Photographs of Noble Johnson, loaned to California African American Museum.
Scope and Contents note
Includes Johnson, actor and president of Lincoln Motion Picture Co., with directors from the black production company (c.
1921) and Noble Johnson with unidentified man behind camera.
box 22, folder 10
Black Motion Picture Production Companies.
Scope and Contents note
Includes negative of portrait of actor and director Frank Silvera, photograph of four members of board of directors for Lincoln
Motion Picture Co., photograph of former site of Lincoln Theater, print of Amended Articles of Incorporation Lincoln Motion
Picture Co. (1921), photograph of black supporters of "Hollywood Productions - Negro Movie Co." in 1939, photograph of group
of black actors (including Muse, Beavers, Norman, Ingram, and Blount), and screen shots from "Purlie Victorious" with Ruby
Dee and Ossie Davis
box 22, folder 11
Black Actors in White Studios.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of W.E.B. DuBois visiting child actor Ernest Morrison "Sunshine Sammy" at Hal Roach Studios with prominent
women of black Los Angeles, and photograph of scene from "Pardon Us" with Laurel and Hardy in blackface with Freita Shaw acting.
She also directed her Ethiopian chorus for the soundtrack of this film. Also included are photographs of cowboys for an unidentified
film.
box 22, folder 12
Black Entertainers, photographed in the 1980s.
Scope and Contents note
Includes publicity stills of television show "Say What?" and James Bond film "A View to A Kill." Promotional photographs of
Bill Cosby and Patti La Belle, television show "The Jeffersons," television show "The Cosby Show," singer and actress Melba
Moore, R&B group "Lakeside Appears With Lou," actor Dorian Harewood, R&B and soul singer Richard "Dimples" Fields, guitarist
and songwriter Ray Parker Jr., actress Danielle Spencer, jazz singer Al Jarreau, actor Hal Williams, and white country music
singer Charlie Daniels.
box 22, folder 13
Jazz and Popular Music vocalists.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of a young Johnny Mathis, Nat King Cole with Raymond Burr, Sammy Davis Jr., and Lou Rawls.
box 22, folder 14
Jazz Musicians, individual portraits.
Scope and Contents note
Includes portraits of pianist Ahmad Jamal, pianist Jelly Roll Morton, saxophonist Paul Howard, pianist Billy Taylor, pianist
Ray Charles, and saxophonist Reb Spikes.
box 22, folder 15
Jazz musicians, groups.
Scope and Contents note
Photographs of Reb Spikes with the Majors and Minors Orchestra (1925 and 1928), Sammy Franklin's Orchestra. Two men and two
women cutting cake labeled by Miriam Matthews "Carpentier, Musicians."
box 22, folder 16
Female classical and operatic soloists.
1870s-1950s.
Scope and Contents note
Portraits of soprano Hattie Hopkins-Moore, contralto Carol Brice with her brother and accompanist Jonathan Brice, singer in
Dusseldorf, Germany Annis Hackley, coloratura soprano Mattawilda Hobbs, opera soprano Sissieretta Jones, contralto Emma Louise
Hyers in scene from "Out of Bondage", soprano Anna Madah Hyers in scene from "Out of Bondage," Marian Anderson, and classical
pianist Pauline Powell Burns.
box 22, folder 17
Jane Phillips, author and musician.
1963?.
box 23, folder 1
Male lyric and operatic vocalists.
Scope and Contents note
Includes portraits of Marion Hayes, Roland Hayes
box 23, folder 2
Nightclub Scenes and Performers.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Sammie Franklin's Orchestra and Joe Morris' Plantation Club.
box 23, folder 3
Vaudeville Performers, Variety Entertainment, and Theatrical Actors.
1900-1933.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Clayton "Peg-Leg" Bates, Maurine and Ivan Harold Browning (1921), a 4th of July Quartet, Ethel Waters
in the musical venue "As Thousands Cheer", Charles Gilpin in various dramatic roles, Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake in an early
Vitaphone movie short (c. 1930), and an unidentified actress from Virginia Stephens' estate.
box 23, folder 4
Bert Williams, vaudeville actor and comedian.
early 1900s.
Scope and Contents note
Includes portrait of Williams and Williams in a group photograph with the Frogs, a theatrical fraternal organization for African
Americans when they were excluded from white groups.
box 23, folder 5
Portrait of African American Architect, Cloud.
box 23, folder 6
Paul Revere Williams, Los Angeles-based architect, portraits.
Scope and Contents note
Portraits of Paul Williams, including photographs, and a photographic copy of an oil painting.
box 23, folder 7
Paul Revere Williams and family.
Scope and Contents note
Photographs of Williams with Charles Matthews and Frederick Roberts at wedding reception of eldest daughter, Williams with
his wife at the Wilfandel Club, Williams with his daughters, and Chester Williams, Paul's brother.
box 23, folder 8
Awards and Accolades of Paul Williams.
Scope and Contents note
Photographic copies
box 23, folder 9
Buildings designed by Paul Williams as Head or Associate architect.
box 23, folder 10
1939-1940 World's Fair, Marching Band and unidentified portraits from mid-20th century.
Scope and Contents note
Marching band directed by Kernan D. McFarlin
box 23, folder 11
League of Allied Arts.
1939-1964.
Scope and Contents note
Established by Juanita Miller and Dorothy Vena Johnson when they pooled resources to present a play written by Langston Hughes
in Los Angeles when there was no space for an African American to do so. Images include a portrait of Johnson, and photographs
of groups presenting exhibitions, 1963-1964
box 23, folder 12
Portraits and works of black male artists in Los Angeles.
Scope and Contents note
Includes works and photographs of David Bradford, William Pajaud, Herman Bailey, William E. Smith, Richmond Barthe (negatives),
John Biggers, West Gale, Marion Epting, and Ron Adams. Also includes work of Mexican artist Chinas.
box 23, folder 13
Portraits of Charles Alston and Hale Woodruff, artists behind Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Murals.
Scope and Contents note
For photographs of the murals and their dedication, see Box 1, Folder 14-17.
box 23, folder 14
Betye and Alison Saar, both artists.
Scope and Contents note
Includes individual portrait of Betye (mother), with Alison (daughter)
box 23, folder 15
Grafton Brown, lithographer and painter.
c. 1883.
Scope and Contents note
Includes portraits of Brown, photographs of four of his paintings, and a photocopy of a biography taken from "The Kahn Collection
of Nineteenth-Century Paintings by Artists in California" by Marjorie Arkelian from the Oakland Museum (1975).
box 24, folder 1
Sculpture by Sargent Johnson.
box 24, folder 2
Works of Beulah Woodard, Sculptor (1 of 2).
c. 1930-1950.
Scope and Contents note
First African American artist to show her work at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. She also founded the Los Angeles Negro
Art Association in 1937. She specialized in African subjects.
box 24, folder 3
Works of Beulah Woodard, Sculptor (2 of 2).
c. 1930-1950.
Scope and Contents note
First African American artist to show her work at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. She also founded the Los Angeles Negro
Art Association in 1937. She specialized in African subjects.
box 24, folder 4
Portraits of Beulah Woodard with her sculpture.
c. 1930-1950.
Scope and Contents note
First African American artist to show her work at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. She also founded the Los Angeles Negro
Art Association in 1937. She specialized in African subjects.
box 24, folder 5
Alice T. Gafford, painter.
Scope and Contents note
Includes portraits of Alice Taylor Gafford and her mother Alice Taylor, several photographs of some of Gafford's paintings,
and a photograph of Gafford as a nurse with the Red Cross in Alaska before she became a painter.
Civil Rights Leaders and Organizations.
box 27, folder 11
Male Leaders from the Classic Civil Rights Movement.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Martin Luther King Jr., Clayton Russell, Byron Rumford, Roy Wilkins, a prayer pilgrimage to Washington,
and a civil rights event at Memorial Coliseum in which King Jr. and Dick Van Dyke spoke, along with civil rights ministers.
box 27, folder 12
W.E.B. Du Bois, scholar, civil rights activist, author.
1913-1919.
Scope and Contents note
Includes negative of portrait of Du Bois and negative photograph of his visit to Los Angeles.
box 27, folder 13
Medgar Evers, memorial in Los Angeles.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of event at Holman Methodist Church and a march to South Park.
box 27, folder 14
Voter registration and mobilization.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of the Community Improvement Association's voter registration drive, and a covered wagon bus to register
voters.
box 27, folder 15
Housing restriction and residential covenants.
box 27, folder 16
Check List of State Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Bias Laws.
1948.
Scope and Contents note
Photographic copy of chart compiled by the American Jewish Congress. Includes laws for Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, and California.
box 27, folder 17
Tarea Hall Pittman, civil rights activist.
c. 1923.
Scope and Contents note
Includes an early photograph of Pittman taken in Bakersfield
box 27, folder 18
Marnessa Tackett, civil rights leader and former Director of Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Western division.
Scope and Contents note
Includes two portraits of Tackett.
box 27, folder 19
Loren Miller, civil rights attorney and judge.
Scope and Contents note
Includes individual portraits, a photograph with Byron Rumford and unidentified man.
box 28, folder 1
Picketing, civil rights demonstrations.
box 28, folder 2
NAACP, Los Angeles Chapter.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of a planning meeting for the National Convention to be held in Los Angeles that summer, Human Rights
Banquet honoring Philip Murray, late president of the C.I.O., a portrait of Roy Wilkins, executive secretary of the NAACP,
an executive board meeting in 1923, group photo of some founders and some former presidents.
box 28, folder 3
NAACP, Junior Branch, Los Angeles.
1925.
Scope and Contents note
Group photograph of members in 1925, and a photographic copy of the official charter of the junior division of the Los Angeles
branch.
box 28, folder 4
NAACP President Walter White visits Los Angeles.
1937.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Walter White, met at the railroad station in Los Angeles by prominent black citizens including Dr.
John Somerville, Frederick Roberts, Rev. Samuel Beane, and Rev. Ernest Lightner.
box 17, folder 11
First A.M.E. Church, Old Church on Azusa Street.
c. 1890s.
Scope and Contents note
One of earliest sites of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles, before moving to Eighth and Towne in
the early twentieth century. In 1906, this building became the site for interracial Azusa Street Revival, leading to a global
spread of Pentecostalism.
box 17, folder 12
First A.M.E Church building on 8th and Towne.
1901-1972.
Scope and Contents note
In 1901, Rev. Jarrett E. Edwards, then pastor of the First A.M.E. Church, commissioned a new home for his congregation. Includes
photographs of the exterior of the church building, which was instrumental in the twentieth- century civil rights movements,
as well as the site of 8th and Towne after it was destroyed by fire in 1972.
box 17, folder 13
First A.M.E. Church groups and individuals at 8th and Towne.
1901-1972.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Hamel Hartford Brookins, pastor and civil rights activist at First A.M.E. from 1965 to 1978; Prof.
Elmer Bartlett presented a loving cup for his contributions to the NAACP; groups photographs of the congregation and important
churchwomen.
box 17, folder 14
Dedication of Historical Plaque at 8th and Towne.
1973.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of church members, the plaque, and architect Paul Revere Williams making a speech.
box 18, folder 1
First A.M.E. Church choir.
1909- 1930s.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of organist and first choir director Professor Elmer Bartlett; church choir in front of building (including
local saxophonist James Smith); church choir inside the sanctuary; church choir performing at the Hollywood Bowl.
box 18, folder 2
Conferences held at the First A.M. E. Church, Los Angeles.
1923-1960.
Scope and Contents note
Includes the Golden State Council and Juveniles in 1914; the 56th Annual Session of the California Conference of the A.M.E.
Church in 1923; a group photo of A.M.E. Church bishops in 1925 (location unknown); the General Conference of the A.M.E. Church
in 1960
box 18, folder 3
"Churches, Negro in Los Angeles" from Binder compiled by Miriam Matthews.
c. 1965.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Crouch Temple, Chester Baptist Day School, People's Independent Church of Christ, New Bethel A.M.E.
Church, Old Bethel A.M.E Church, Old Avalon Christian Church, Hamilton M.E. Church, Phillip's Temple C.M.E. Church, Second
Baptist Church, Church of the Advent (Episcopal), Holman Methodist Church, Wesley Chapel, First A.M.E. Church on Azusa Street.
Many photographed by Harry Adams in the 1960s.
box 18, folder 4
Second Baptist Church, Los Angeles.
1920s-1960s.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Rev. Raymond Henderson (pastor 1941-1963) and wife, Dr. Thomas Lee Griffith (pastor 1921-1940) and
family, the church building, A.C. Bilbrew speaking or receiving an award, and Mary McLeod Bethune speaking.
box 18, folder 5
People's Independent Church, Los Angeles.
1915-1953.
Scope and Contents note
Includes negative of Rev. N. P. Greggs, and photograph of Rev. Clayton D. Russell and his wife Gwendolyn Diggs. Also includes
framed photographs of the church building before it was enlarged, the groundbreaking and laying of cornerstone of the church
(many congregants in full Masonic or other lodge regalia), the choir, the trustees, the deaconesses, and the church board.
Many photographs from the Shackleford family.
box 18, folder 6
St. Phillip's Episcopal Church, Los Angeles.
c. 1912- 1950.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Rector Rev. William Cleghorn, church school students, an early church guild of women, picnic in Eastlake
Park, and vestry board.
box 18, folder 7
Wesley Chapel, M.E. Church.
undated.
Scope and Contents note
Photographs of church building (exterior), one taken by Dr. A.C. Garrott, located on 8th and San Julian Sts.
box 18, folder 8
Westminster Presbyterian Church, Los Angeles.
c. 1910.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of congregation and a Sunday School class.
box 18, folder 9
St. Matthias Episcopal Church.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of the interior of the church and a Sunday school class.
box 18, folder 10
Hamilton M.E. Church.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph and negative of church congregation in front of the building with Rev. Beane.
box 18, folder 11
Church of Christian Fellowship, Women's Day (negative).
1954.
box 18, folder 12
Los Angeles Plaza Church.
1822.
box 18, folder 13
William Seymour, leader of Azusa Street Revival.
1906-1909.
box 18, folder 14
Seventh-Day Adventist Camp Meeting.
c. 1900.
Scope and Contents note
Photograph taken by Dr. A.C. Garrott
box 18, folder 15
Wedding of African American couple in an unidentified church.
undated.
box 18, folder 16
African American Churches in Pasadena.
Scope and Contents note
Includes St. Barnabas Episcopal Mission and Church, an unidentified church group from 1907 (possibly Scott Methodist Church),
and a negative of another Episcopal church, possibly St. Cyprian's.
box 19, folder 1
Rev. James Lodge, San Jose.
c. 1865.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of James Lodge and wife, and individual portrait with Bible.
box 19, folder 2
Rt. Rev. T.M.D. Ward, A.M.E. Church presiding elder in California (negative).
c. 1849.
box 19, folder 3
Rev. Charles Satchell and First Colored Baptist Church, San Francisco.
founded 1856.
Scope and Contents note
Church became Third Baptist Church because First and Second Baptist were two white congregations. Includes negative of Charles
Satchell. Also includes photograph of Third Baptist Church and Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in Marysville, also pastored by Rev.
Satchell.
box 19, folder 4
Rev. J. B. Sanderson, first appointed minister of the First A.M.E. Church, Oakland.
1874.
Scope and Contents note
Includes portrait of Rev. Sanderson and portrait of his granddaughter Kate Sanderson DeGrasse.
box 19, folder 5
Churches in Fresno.
1916/1917.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of Second Baptist Church and Bethel A.M.E Church, both African American churches in Fresno. Taken from
the East Bay Directory.
box 19, folder 6
Churches in Sacramento.
c. 1915.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of St. Andrew's A.M.E Church from East Bay Directory, and part of choir for Shiloh Baptist Church with
Rev. McPherson.
box 19, folder 7
Grace Episcopal Church, San Francisco.
Scope and Contents note
Description on back of photo: "This White Episcopal Church plant was sold to an A.M.E. Negro Church"
box 19, folder 8
Episcopal Minister. Mobile, Alabama.
Scope and Contents note
Unidentified negative.
Social clubs, Greek societies, Community Organizations.
box 24, folder 6
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Binder compiled by Miriam Matthews.
box 24, folder 7
Delta Sigma Theta sorority, groups outside of Los Angeles.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Berkeley campus chapter (1921), 12th National Convention in Chicago (1933), Open House in San Diego,
Alpha Chapter at Howard University
box 24, folder 8
Delta Sigma Theta, Los Angeles chapters.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of Nu Sigma graduate chapter, Western Regional directors (1972), Reception at home of Lillian Tyler (1932),
members of chapter at Iva Washington's home in Manhattan Beach, Los Angeles regional conference, National Convention (1935),
charter members (1929), Santa Monica chapter. Also includes Nona Moffett, 1946 president of Omega Sigma graduate chapter of
Bay Area.
box 24, folder 9
Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, UCLA.
1924.
Scope and Contents note
Photograph of charter members from UCLA
box 25, folder 1
Boule, Sigma Pi Phi fraternity.
Scope and Contents note
First Greek letter fraternity founded by African American men. Includes photographs of Washington D.C. chapter, Los Angeles
chapter, 26th Biennial Grand Boule (1962), at Moulin Rouge in Los Angeles, wives of LA Boule members in 1945.
box 25, folder 2
Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs from the Alpha Phi Alpha souvenir program, USC Alpha Delta chapter (1921), Pan-Pacific Convention (negative,
1936), Alpha Delta Chapter in 1936 (negative)
box 25, folder 3
Rho Psi Phi Medical Sorority, Los Angeles.
c. 1924.
Scope and Contents note
Established by Emily Brown Portwig in 1924. Includes photographs of sorority house with members in front, and a photograph
of the house from a magazine.
box 25, folder 4
Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.
1920s-1960s.
Scope and Contents note
Includes group photographs of AKA women, a Regional Conference in 1931, a group of AKAs with Marian Anderson,
box 25, folder 5
Pi Sigma Alpha, National Honorary Political Science fraternity USC.
box 25, folder 6
Zeta Phi Beta sorority, Beta Sigma Zeta chapter, Tampa, Florida.
1950.
Scope and Contents note
Group photograph
box 25, folder 7
First Annual Formal Dance of the Faben Phi Fraternity.
1912.
Scope and Contents note
Photograph of dance at Blanchard Hall, April 18, 1912.
box 25, folder 8
Prominent Los Angeles club women and civil rights activists.
1890-1949.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of women who founded several clubs in black Los Angeles: Kathryn J. Baskins Barr who organized an employment
agency that later became the Los Angeles Urban League; Betty Hill who organized the Women's Political Study Club and was a
founding member of the LA chapter of the NAACP; Margaret Scott, one of founders of the Sojourner Truth Club in 1904 and later
served as president; and Mary McLeod Bethune (not from Los Angeles) who was involved in the National Association Colored Women,
National Council of Negro Women, National Youth Administration.
box 25, folder 9
Boys Club.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographic copy of invitation to dedication of Southern Area Boys Club (1957)
box 25, folder 10
Black Masons in Los Angeles.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of conventions, lodges, temples, and past Masters, Grand Masters and other officers.
box 25, folder 11
Desert of California Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles Mystic Shrine Inc. (aka Shriners).
Scope and Contents note
Includes Gilbert Lindsay, the first black City Council member, Rocky Washington, and Egyptian Temple Drill Team (1945).
box 25, folder 12
Knights of Pythias, California.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Knights of Pythias in California and Los Angeles.
box 25, folder 13
Elks Temple, Los Angeles.
Scope and Contents note
Photograph of temple building on Central Avenue.
box 25, folder 14
Unidentified Lodges.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of black men and unidentified lodge events.
box 25, folder 15
Y.M.C.A., Los Angeles.
1909-1967.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of the first building on the 800 block of San Pedro Street, the building on 9th and Hemlock with Thomas
Greene, the 28th Street branch, the Los Angeles Citizens Band.
box 25, folder 16
Y.W.C.A, Los Angeles.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of building on 12th Street Branch, the later Woodlawn Branch, Mattie Scott Nelson, executive secretary
of the 12th Street Branch, and
box 26, folder 1
Asilomar Conference, YMCA/YWCA.
Scope and Contents note
Includes two group photographs from the conference in different years, multiracial attendees.
box 26, folder 2
Stovall Foundation.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Fairmount Terrace building (I and II), Stovall Sanatorium in Duarte, Board of Directors, an announcement
for new organization to be named Outdoor Life and Health Association, and a portrait of Dr. Leonard Stovall (negative).
box 26, folder 3
Floyd Covington, Los Angeles Urban League.
1918.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of Covington as a child. Later her became membership secretary of 28th Street Y.M.C.A., then industrial
secretary of the Los Angeles branch of the National Urban League, and in 1931 he was appointed executive director of the branch.
box 26, folder 4
Pasadena Women's Clubs.
1910-1916.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of 10th Annual Convention California State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs, Pasadena; a group of
unidentified club women in Pasadena.
box 26, folder 5
Sojourner Truth Club, members and events.
1913-1964.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of founders, club houses, presidents, annual breakfast, groundbreaking ceremony, and other events.
box 26, folder 6
Sojourner Truth Club, buildings.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Harvard Clubhouse, opened in 1954;the first clubhouse opened in 1913 on Adams Blvd.; clubhouse on
Crenshaw, dedicated in 1967.
box 26, folder 7
Phys-Art-Lit Club.
1935.
Scope and Contents note
Photographs of the group in 1935. The second oldest African American women's club in Los Angeles.
box 26, folder 8
Margaret Murray Washington.
Scope and Contents note
Wife of prominent African American figure, Booker T. Washington. She was principal of Tuskegee Institute where she met and
married him in 1892. She was elected National Federation of Afro-American Women (NFAW), and helped merge with the Colored
Women's League to form the National Association of Colored Women.
box 26, folder 9
Political Study Clubs.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Los Angeles County Negro Democratic Club and monthly meeting of Westside Republican Women's Club.
box 26, folder 10
Avalon Community Center.
1962.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of Opal Jones and Tom Bradley at Avalon Community Center.
box 26, folder 11
Scott's Hall.
1901.
Scope and Contents note
Founded by John and Margaret Scott
box 26, folder 12
Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Los Angeles.
1921.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of founders of APA in 1921 and a photocopied History of the Alpha Delta Chapter of Los Angeles.
box 26, folder 13
Wilfandel Club.
Scope and Contents note
Photographs of early members of African American women's club, founded in 1945.
box 26, folder 14
Social Clubs, 1920s.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of the Nannettes, the Utopians First Annual Ball, and the Silver Fox Annual Ball.
box 26, folder 15
London Bridge Club.
c. 1940-1950.
Scope and Contents note
Includes group photographs of members.
box 26, folder 16
Twelve Thirty-three Bridge Club.
box 26, folder 17
Girl Friends Club.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of club members at parties, including performing in a Hawaiian skit.
box 27, folder 1
Pioneer Club and Old Pals Club.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of black pioneers to Los Angeles, at Pioneer Club and Old Pals Club events.
box 27, folder 2
Diane Athletic Club.
Scope and Contents note
Includes negative of Dianes bicycling in Exposition Park, and photograph of Dianes at a ball.
box 27, folder 3
Links Inc.
c. 1950.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of the presentation of checks to charities at a cotillion, and several group photograph of members.
box 27, folder 4
Community Improvement Organizations.
1938-1950.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of the Pilgrim House, Eastside Settlement, Beulah Home for Colored, Aged and Infirm, National Youth Administration
Works Progress Program, Phillis Wheatley Home.
box 27, folder 5
Sacramento Clubs.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of an unidentified Sacramento clubhouse and the Star Club's Easter Ball in 1924.
box 27, folder 6
Golden State Council and Juveniles.
1914.
Scope and Contents note
Photograph of group in front of 8th and Towne church.
box 27, folder 7
Group of men from unidentified club or organization, wearing ribbons.
Scope and Contents note
Group includes Frederick Roberts.
box 27, folder 8
Negro Congress and U.S.C Negro Club.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Afro-American Congress Convention in Los Angeles (1896), National Negro Congress, and University of
Southern California Negro Club.
box 27, folder 9
Women's Social Groups and Unidentified Social Clubs.
box 27, folder 10
Mixed Social Groups and Unidentified Social Clubs.
Politicians, Public Officials, Diplomats.
box 28, folder 5
James E. Stratten, first African American to serve on Board of Education, San Francisco.
1961.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of Stratten being sworn in for the school board.
box 28, folder 6
Thomas L. Griffith, attorney, civil rights activist, and judge in the Los Angeles municipal court.
Scope and Contents note
Includes individual portrait of Griffith, a photograph with his two daughters, a banquet in his honor given by the Second
Baptist Church in 1968, and a photograph of his oath of office as newly elected superior court judge.
box 28, folder 7
Black Attorneys and Judges in Los Angeles.
1912-1990.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of Bert McDonald, Deputy City Attorney; a group of attorneys and judges celebrating Curtis Taylor's birthday;
a portrait of Hon. Bernard S. Jefferson; portrait of Judge David W. Williams; portrait of Judge Billy Mills; drawing of Honorable
Mifflin W. Gibbs; various portraits of Hon. Edwin L. Jefferson; photograph of Attorney Christopher Darden's home at Lake Elsinore;
Willis O. Tyler; Richard Charles O'Hara Benjamin; and attorney E. Burton Ceruti.
box 28, folder 8
William Byron Rumford, Member of California State Assembly and legislator of Fair Housing Act (1963).
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of Rumford and his wife.
box 28, folder 9
Tom Bradley, mayor of Los Angeles.
1962-1963.
Scope and Contents note
Includes individual portraits of Bradley, a reception in his honor at the Pacific Town club with his wife and Charles Matthews,
box 28, folder 10
Jesse Terry, Los Angeles Housing Authority.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Terry with her family, with the Los Angeles Housing Authority, a banquet in her honor given by the
First A.M.E. Church, and a portrait of her sister Emma Lue Sayers, a musician and activist. Also includes a photographic copy
of her award of service.
box 28, folder 11
Juanita Terry, administrative assistant to Congresswoman Helen Gahagan Douglas and active member of Democratic Party.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of her with Congresswoman Douglas, portrait with Beulah Terry, and group photographs with family and colleagues.
box 28, folder 12
Hon. Walter Gordon.
Scope and Contents note
Includes individual portraits, and photographs with his family.
box 28, folder 13
Group of politicians.
Scope and Contents note
Includes August Hawkins, Gilbert Lindsay, Tom Bradley, Billy Mills, Dollar Hide, Mervyn Dymally, and Goodwin Knight
box 28, folder 14
Elected and Appointed Government Officials.
Scope and Contents note
Includes Ed and Augustus Hawkins, Commander Nelson, Dave Cunningham, Gilbert Lindsay, E.L. Chew, John Buggs, and Jesse Jackson.
box 28, folder 15
Mervyn Dymally, Lieutenant Governor of California and Congressman.
Scope and Contents note
Includes individual portraits of Dymally.
box 28, folder 16
Blanche Bruce, first non-white senator to serve a full term.
1875-1881.
Scope and Contents note
Includes portrait of Bruce, a mixed race U.S. Senator from Mississippi.
box 29, folder 1
Ethiopia's Emperor Haile Selassie I entertained in Los Angeles.
1954.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of a civic luncheon at the Ambassador Hotel.
box 29, folder 2
Chart Analyzing the Growth of Minority Group Population in Los Angeles City and County.
1940-1957.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographic copy of this chart
box 29, folder 3
Ralph Bunche, UCLA years.
1923-1927.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Ralph Bunche as a young man, a copy of page from the UCLA yearbook (1927), photograph of Bunche and
Charles Matthews, Bunche playing basketball at UCLA
box 29, folder 4
Ralph Bunche, residences and family photographs.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs and negatives of Bunche's Los Angeles residences including E. 37th St., negative of Bunche with wife
and daughter Joan at a reception honoring their family hosted by Charles Matthews, and photographs and negatives of several
female relatives.
box 29, folder 5
Ralph Bunche, portraits and diplomatic work.
Scope and Contents note
Includes portraits of Bunche and photographs with Walter White and Rev. E. C. Estel, Bunche as a guest at the Council on World
Affairs, and other U.N. officials.
box 29, folder 6
Ralph Bunche, receiving awards.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Bunche receiving the Spingarn medal at the NAACP convention in 1949, a reception at Jefferson High
School in that same year, his reception of a resolution from the Los Angeles City Council in 1966.
Business, Professionals, and Laborers.
box 30, folder 13
Baumann's Pharmacy.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Albert C. Baumann, his pharmacy on Central Ave., his pharmacy in New Orleans. Also includes photographs
of his wife Corona White and her parents.
box 30, folder 14
Richard B. Spikes, inventor.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographic copy of a page from "Black Inventors of America" by McKinley Burt, Jr., explaining Spikes' invention
of the "fail-safe" brake for motor vehicles.
box 30, folder 15
C.H. Perry Furniture Store.
1904.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of the store and Perry from the "Liberator" magazine in 1904.
box 31, folder 1
Canadian Furniture Company, owned by James H. Shackleford.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of James H. Shackleford and wife, and their furniture store on Central Ave. See box 18, folder 5, for
photographs from the Shackleford family of the People's Independent Church.
box 31, folder 2
Pharmacies and Pharmacists.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of these businesses featured in a Western Progress 1928 issue: Washington and Central Pharmacy, Bowers
Drug Store, Harris Pharmacies, Eagleson Pharmacy, Lone Star Pharmacy, Nickerson's Drug Store, Smith Drug Stores, Leon C. Clark
Pharmacist, Brooks Bros. Pharmacy, and Alonzo Aljack Adams, manufacturer of proprietary medicines.
box 31, folder 3
Funeral Homes.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of A.J. Roberts and Sons Mortuary, the Angelus Funeral Home, the officers of the Angelus Funeral Home,
a negative of the Smith and Williams Company Funeral Directors, a negative of the Conner- Johnson and Company Funeral Directors.
Many are taken from a 1928 issue of "Western Progress."
box 31, folder 4
Golden State Mutual Life Insurance offices.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of GSM first and second offices on Central Ave. (1925), the first office building built for GSM and its
groundbreaking(1928), the main office building at Adams and Western (1948, designed by Paul R. Williams). Also includes photograph
from the dedication of its home office building and murals in 1949. Photographs of murals and artists can be found at box
1, folders 14-17.
box 31, folder 5
William Nickerson Jr., Founder and President of Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Nickerson Jr., his home in "Western Progress" magazine (1928), his eight children, four of his children
as adults, and his family.
box 31, folder 6
George A. Beavers Jr., founding vice president of Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company.
Scope and Contents note
Includes portraits of Beavers.
box 31, folder 7
Norman O. Houston, founding secretary/treasurer of Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company and president from 1945 to 1970.
Scope and Contents note
Includes portraits of Houston, military, and baseball photographs. The same military photographs of Houston can be found in
box 19, folders 13 and 14.
box 31, folder 8
Leaders of Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company.
1944-1966.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of Edgar J. Johnson, group photograph of Nickerson, Beavers, and Houston, the GSM officers receiving "Old
Line Legal Reserve" permit from deputy insurance commissioner, and the board of directors in 1966.
box 31, folder 9
Family Savings and Loan.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of office building in 1964, founder M. Earl Grant, board of directors in 1964.
box 31, folder 10
Broadway Federal Savings and Loan.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of office building on Broadway, a board of directors meeting, and portrait of H. Claude Hudson and son
in 1916. Hudson, a successful dentist, helped found the Savings and Loan in 1946.
box 31, folder 11
Liberty Building and Loan Association, first African American financial institution in Los Angeles.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of office in 1929, its officers and directors from a 1928 issue of "Western Progress", Wilbur C. Gordon,
first president, and a negative of a group of officers
box 31, folder 12
Unity Finance Company.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of building from 1928 issue of "Western Progress"
box 31, folder 13
Black Businessmen in Los Angeles.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of groups of businessmen including Louis M. Blodgett, Dr. H. Claude Hudson, Norman O. Houston, M. Earl
Grant, Frank A. Harvey Jr., J.B. Bass, J.H. Shackleford, Albert Baumann, and George Johnson.
box 31, folder 14
Real Estate Companies featured in the "Liberator".
1904.
Scope and Contents note
All photographs are taken from a 1904 issue of the "Liberator." Includes, real estate office of J.B. Loving, Francis P. Jones
Company, Knox-Knox Realty Brokers, George S. Grant Company, the Walter L. Gordon Company, and negative of Washington and Lee
real estate.
box 31, folder 15
Noah D. Thompson Realty Co.
1904.
Scope and Contents note
Advertisement from the "Liberator" Jan-Feb 1904.
box 31, folder 16
Golden West Real Estate Board.
1939.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of first banquet
box 32, folder 1
Sid Dones Real Estate, Notary, Loans.
Scope and Contents note
Includes advertisement from "Official Central Ave. District Directory" (1940), photograph from Western Progress of his Associated
Loan Company, and negative of his real estate office.
box 32, folder 2
New Age Publishing Co.
Scope and Contents note
Photograph with Los Angeles Citizen's Band playing in front.
box 32, folder 3
"The Enterprise" newspaper office.
1904.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph from the "Liberator" in 1904.
box 32, folder 4
The Pacific Defender newspaper publisher.
1928.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph from "Western Progress" in 1928.
box 32, folder 5
The California Eagle newspaper.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photo of John J. Neimore, founder and first editor of the "Eagle," copied from "Forty Years: Memoirs from the Pages
of a Newspaper," by Charlotta Bass. Photograph of Joseph Blackburn Bass in front of the office, the office interior from the
"Western Progress" in 1928, Charlotta Bass in front of the office, Charlotta Bass with Progressive Independent Party Candidate
for U.S. President Henry Wallace,
box 32, folder 6
Journalist Libby Clark with Kenneth Morris of the YMCA.
box 32, folder 7
Noah D. Thompson, Associated Editor on the Daily Express and Tribune of Los Angeles.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of Delilah Beasley's "Negro Trail Blazers of California"
box 32, folder 8
Western Progress, publisher's preface.
1928.
box 32, folder 9
California newspapers outside Los Angeles.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of "Monrovia Planet" office and press of Charles F. Tilgham, editor and publisher of Colored Directory
of the Leading Cities of Northern California, 1916-1917.
box 32, folder 10
Scott's Hall.
Scope and Contents note
Negative photograph of Scott's Hall, erected by John Scott.
box 32, folder 11
The Ohio House.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of exterior from "The Liberator", 1904.
box 32, folder 12
La Vada Apartments.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of exterior from "The Liberator", 1904.
box 32, folder 13
The Somerville Hotel.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of hotel built by John and Vada Somerville in 1928, including the interior, exterior, and groundbreaking
ceremony.
box 32, folder 14
The Hotel Jones, first African American owned hotel in Los Angeles.
c. 1900.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of interior and exterior of hotel, owned by A.J. "Biscuit" Jones.
box 32, folder 15
The Austin House.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of exterior from "The Liberator", 1904.
box 32, folder 16
The Darby Hotel, built by Charles Blodgett an African American contractor.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of hotel exterior, originally owned by whites, and many years later purchased by blacks.
box 32, folder 17
Brick building being built by black masons.
c. 1904.
box 32, folder 18
Julian Hotel, owned by formerly enslaved Albert Robinson and wife.
1984.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of exterior with plaque explaining hotel's history including its status as the "Southland's oldest continuously
operated hotel" established in 1887
box 32, folder 19
San Francisco hotels,.
c. 1846, 1939.
Scope and Contents note
Includes drawing of Old City Hotel, 1846 (relationship to African American population unknown), San Francisco Palace Hotel
black chambermaids and porters on the upper balcony of the Grand Court.
box 32, folder 20
Eugene Walker's Tailor Shop, featured in Crisis Magazine.
1913.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of shop interior from the Crisis.
box 32, folder 21
Los Angeles Black Businesses featured in the "Liberator," 1904.
Scope and Contents note
Includes: Robert T. Boyd's Tonsorial Parlor, a blacksmith shop, a crockery store, L.A. Van and Storage Co., the Great Western
Stove and Repair Co., Miss Helen Warner, stenographer, the Flint Grocery, H. Stricklin's Butcher Shop,
box 32, folder 22
Los Angeles Black Businesses featured in "Western Progress," 1928.
Scope and Contents note
Includes: photography studios, eateries, manufacturing companies, barber shop, flower shop, laundry, millinery and clothing
retail
box 32, folder 23
Advertisements for black businesses in Los Angeles.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of a shoe repair business and Acacia Photo Engraving Co., both from the Alpha Phi Alpha Souvenir program.
Also includes an advertisement for Victory Market (opened in 1942) from an unidentified source.
box 32, folder 24
Noah's Ark Cafeteria, San Mateo, California.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of restaurant exterior and portraits of Noah Williams, owner.
box 33, folder 1
Black Businesses in Los Angeles.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of Eddie Grice and employee in his sausage shop, aerial view of black businesses, Claude McKinney, sign
painter, William Marcus, tailor, C.C. Flint, grocery store, Glover Tailoring School (also see), a rubbish hauling company,
Hugh Gordon Bookshop,
box 33, folder 2
Blodgett Motor Company and Tivoli Motors Company.
Scope and Contents note
Photographs from Western Progress issue 1928
box 33, folder 3
Gus Thompson, stagecoach driver and livery stable owner.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Thompson driving his stagecoach and carriages, negative bust portrait of wife, school picture including
his children, photograph of his daughter, photograph of his livery stable, and negative of Mrs. Thompson's lunch room and
bakery.(See also box 1, folder 6)
box 33, folder 4
Attendants on the H.F. Alexander Ocean Liner.
Scope and Contents note
Included in group is Garner Van Grayson Jr.
box 33, folder 5
Red Caps, Southern Pacific Railroad Company.
Scope and Contents note
Includes group of Red Caps, most identified, at Central Station
box 33, folder 6
Mr. Offutt washing street cars at Los Angeles Car Barn.
box 33, folder 7
Agricultural Workers on Lucky Baldwin's ranch.
1886.
box 33, folder 8
Diamond Coal Company (white-owned) and Harvey Brothers Sand and Gravel Contractors.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of Harvey family, and Benjamin Talbot as driver for white-owned Diamond Coal Company.
box 33, folder 9
Farming and Ranching in California.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of cotton picker on machinery in 1968, a herd of cattle from the town of Allensworth, and a negative of
the Dunbar ranch
box 33, folder 10
Driver for Pacific Creamery using cow to pull "Lily Cream" Wagon.
c. 1905.
Scope and Contents note
Photograph of black driver for white company
box 33, folder 11
Janitors under L.G. Robinson.
Scope and Contents note
Includes L.G. Robinson with his janitorial staff for the Hall of the Records, and with Los Angeles County janitors for which
he was supervisor.
box 33, folder 12
Dr. Ruth Temple, first black woman in California to graduate from medical school and to practice medicine.
Scope and Contents note
Includes individual portraits of Temple. For more see box 15, folder 8.
box 33, folder 13
Dr. A.C. Garrott, first African American dentist in Los Angeles County.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of home in Glendale, family photographs, individual portraits, his children with playmates, photographs
of his business, photographs of other relatives, and photographs of downtown Los Angeles taken by Dr. Garrott
box 33, folder 14
Dr. Monroe Majors, first black physician to practice west of the Rockies.
Scope and Contents note
Includes individual portraits, a photographic copy of his diploma for medical school, photograph with his wife and daughter,
photograph with attorney Richard Charles O'Hara Benjamin.
box 33, folder 15
Dr. Thomas Nelson, first black man to receive medical degree from Stanford University.
Scope and Contents note
Includes portraits of Nelson and photographs of his office.
box 33, folder 16
Professor E.L. Chew.
Scope and Contents note
Individual portrait.
box 33, folder 17
Construction Gang in Sacramento.
Scope and Contents note
Photograph includes David Bennett Hundley, cement worker and father Clarissa Hundley Wildy (see box 15, folder 14).
box 33, folder 18
Louis Blodgett, successful contractor.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of Blodgett eating. For photographs of his wife of the Allensworth family see box 5, folder 6.
box 33, folder 19
Dr. T.P. Moore, physician?.
box 33, folder 20
Dr. George Pryce, pharmacist.
box 34, folder 1
Dr. Wilbur Gordon, physician.
Scope and Contents note
See also box 31, folder 11.
box 34, folder 2
Dr. Leroy Weekes.
Scope and Contents note
See also box 16, folder
box 34, folder 3
Physicians, Dentists, Pharmacists and the Dunbar Hospital.
1928.
Scope and Contents note
From Western Progress, 1928.
box 34, folder 4
Dr. G.D. Taylor, physician.
Scope and Contents note
Photograph from the Liberator (1904), office of Dr. G.D. Taylor.
box 34, folder 5
Dr. James Leggett, wife Cornelia, and daughter.
c. 1901.
box 34, folder 6
Dr. Charles A. Jackson M.D.
box 34, folder 7
Dr. Charles Dent, second black intern at Los Angeles General Hospital.
box 34, folder 8
Dr. George Bernard Key.
Scope and Contents note
Photograph in front of house.
box 34, folder 9
African American male doctors, last names A through E.
Scope and Contents note
Includes portraits of Drs. Adrien, Arthurton, Ball, Beasley, Booker, Carr, Cobbs, Cooley, Daily, Davis, Delahoussaye, DeVaughn,
Diggs, and Everett.
box 34, folder 10
African American male doctors, last names F through O.
Scope and Contents note
Includes portraits of Drs. Foster, Frederick, Gordon, Hamilton, Harwell, Hepson, Irving, King, LaVigne, Liddell, Malloney,
Marmillion, Morgan, Nailor, Nelson, and Outlaw.
box 34, folder 11
African American male doctors, last names R through W.
Scope and Contents note
Includes portraits of Drs. Robinson, Rodgers, Ross, Scales, Smitherman, Stovall, Taylor, Terrell, Tucker, Wade, Whitaker,
Whiteman, and Williams.
box 34, folder 12
Dr. H. Claude Hudson, dentist and founder of Broadway Savings and Loan.
Scope and Contents note
Includes family portraits. See box 31, folder 10.
box 34, folder 13
"Early Negro Businesses and Professions" Binder.
Scope and Contents note
Photographs compiled by Miriam Matthews.
box 34, folder 14
African American female doctors.
Scope and Contents note
Includes S.S. Turner (doctor?), Dr. Shelby B. Robinson, and Dr. Lois Gibson.
box 34, folder 15
Nurses at Los Angeles County General Hospital.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of multi-ethnic group of nurses from Los Angeles County General Hospital wearing nurses uniforms from
the late 1880s to 1980s, and a portrait of Lois Towns an early black nurse at General Hospital.
box 34, folder 16
Black Dentists in Los Angeles.
Scope and Contents note
Includes portrait of Theodore Banks, Hugh Anthony Bell and Charles Ennis with USC Dental School graduates (different years),
and Dr. William Watkins in his dental office.
box 34, folder 17
Unidentified Paddle Steamer Boat?.
box 17, folder 7
Rose Parade.
1901-1908.
Scope and Contents note
Photographs of crowds and floats at the Pasadena Rose Parade
box 17, folder 8
Parades in Early Black Los Angeles.
1895-1910.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Fiesta Parade, the Citizen's Band of the Colored YMCA, and other unidentified parades
box 17, folder 9
Men and women posing with their cars.
Scope and Contents note
Includes Angelita Williams, Welcome and John Watson, and police officer Frank White.
box 17, folder 10
High School Marching Band and Unidentified Beauty Pageant.
undated.
Educators, Students, and Libraries.
box 20, folder 19
Libraries and Librarians.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of four city librarians (white), Miriam Matthews and other librarians celebrating the 45th anniversary
of the Vermont Square Regional Branch Library. Also includes photographs of the Westchester Branch Library, James P. Beckwourth
Library (San Diego), Vermont Square Regional Branch Library, the old Watts Library building, and a group of multiracial children
in front of the Helen Hunt Jackson Library.
box 20, folder 20
Elementary and High School Students.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of first public school in Los Angeles (1855), an ungraded school in Sacramento (1882), Monrovia school
children, a National Youth Administration Work Program, Virginia Stephens' elementary school classes (c. 1914), in Riverside
(1938), and some students from unidentified schools. High Schools include Los Angeles H.S. (1905), Hollywood H.S. (1902 and
1907)
box 21, folder 1
African American graduates.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs from Crisis Magazine of black graduates from college and graduate school; Samuel Danley as a U.S.C graduate;
Ernest Houston Johnson, first black graduate of Stanford University (1891-2), Mamie Cunningham, Los Angeles H.S. graduate
(1905), Ruby Offutt
box 21, folder 2
Trade School and Technical Classes.
Scope and Contents note
Includes sloyd or manual training class at Ann Street School (c. 1890-1900), graduating class of 1933 at Wiggins Trade School,
and aircraft instruction at Jefferson High School.
box 21, folder 3
Los Angeles Chapter of Howard University Alumni Association, 1918.
box 21, folder 4
Bessie Bruington Burke, first African American teacher and principal in Los Angeles.
c. 1910-1955.
Scope and Contents note
Includes graduation portrait of Bruington upon graduation from Normal School, Burke at middle age, and at retirement in 1955.
box 21, folder 5
Bessie Bruington Burke with students and schools.
Scope and Contents note
Includes Burke with Holmes Avenue School students, and a photograph of a class and male teacher at the 49th Street School
where she was principal.
box 21, folder 6
Bessie Bruington Burke and family.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of Bruington residence, Burke residence, Bessie and Ethel (sister) Bruington as young girls, Bessie and
Janie (mother) Bruington, Bessie with family on Bruce's Beach, Janie Bruington and Esther Beck.
box 21, folder 7
Black educators and teachers in California.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of Ida Jackson, first certified African American school teacher in California; Sarah Mildred Jones, first
black school teacher in Sacramento, and an 1894 petition to retain her as principal; Alice McKinney who taught at a school
for black children in Visalia (sister of Mrs. Wiley Hinds, see box 13, folder 2); Holmes Avenue School Teachers; black school
principals in 1962; and negative of Jefferson High School PTA photograph.
box 21, folder 8
Higher Administration in Education.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of past and present presidents of Samuel Huston College, a co-educational institution for blacks; four
black school principals in Los Angeles; William Easter who worked for the State Department of Education; Los Angeles County
Democratic Club, organized in 1937 to support Fay Allen for the Board of Education; photographs of Arthur Prince, district
superintendent for Enterprise School District; Lloyd Dickey, Willowbrook School District Superintendent; Wilson Riles, formerly
California Superintendent of Schools and first African American to be elected to statewide office in California.
Military Officers and Soldiers.
box 19, folder 9
USC Student Army Training Corps, Company A (negative).
box 19, folder 10
U.S. Army Officers, including Leon Marsh.
1917-1918.
Scope and Contents note
Includes negatives of Fifth Provisional Company Officers Reserve Training Camp in Fort Des Moines Iowa, and Commissioned Officers
of 317th Engineers. See box 10, folders 24-27 for more of Marsh family.
box 19, folder 11
David Bennett Hundley, in Spanish American War Uniform.
c. 1898.
box 19, folder 12
Drawing of Crispus Attucks, first person shot at Boston Massacre.
1770.
box 19, folder 13
African American Officers in World War I.
c. 1917-1918.
Scope and Contents note
Included in group photograph: Lieut. Harry W. Sheppard, Lieut. Norman O. Houston, Lieut. John Wynn, Lieut. Clay E. Hunter,
Lieut. George W. Washington
box 19, folder 14
Norman O. Houston in World War I uniform.
c. 1917-1918.
Scope and Contents note
Houston later became a Los Angeles businessman and president of Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company.
box 19, folder 15
Certificate of Service Discharge for James Tribble.
1866.
Scope and Contents note
Photographic print of this document
box 19, folder 16
Henry O. Flipper, first black West Point graduate, and his wife.
Scope and Contents note
Individual portraits of both Henry O. Flipper and his wife.
box 19, folder 17
Tenth Cavalry of the U.S. Army, one of original "Buffalo Soldier" units.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Col. James Beck (who went over the top of San Juan Hill with Theodore Roosevelt), the 10th Cavalry
in Leavenworth, Kansas, and a member of the 10th at 93 years old.
box 19, folder 18
Frank Gagnet, U.S. Navy World War I.
1917-1918.
box 19, folder 19
Unidentified Military Officer (World War II?).
Scope and Contents note
Photographed by Frank Cloud?
box 19, folder 20
S.S. James Weldon Johnson, Liberty Ship of World War II.
1942.
Scope and Contents note
Liberty Ship of World War II named for author, civil rights activist, and first executive secretary of the NAACP. Charlotta
Bass christened the ship during World War II.
box 19, folder 21
Skippy Smith, headed a company making pilot chutes during World War II.
1930s.
Scope and Contents note
Photograph of Skippy with his partner "Skip" Gravelle who was killed in 1939
box 19, folder 22
United Service Organizations.
Scope and Contents note
Harriet Tubman Auxiliary of the Red Cross (1919), United Service Organizations Negro Red Cross volunteers (WWII)
box 19, folder 23
Fort McArthur, Visitor's Day.
1940.
Scope and Contents note
Citizen's Military Training Camp. Group includes: J.T. Green, Charles Matthews, Norman O. Houston and others.
box 19, folder 30
Black Military Aviation.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of black men in Army Air Forces, and U.S. Navy pilots
Sports, Recreation, and Leisure.
box 19, folder 29
Black Aviation.
1930s.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of C.A. "Chief" Anderson, Dr. Albert E. Forsythe, Hubert Julian, J. Herman Banning, Thomas Allen, the
Western Flying School of Aeronautics, aircraft and aeronautics classes at Jefferson High School, Craftsmen of Black Wings
box 19, folder 26
Golf.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of an advertisement for West Coast Golf Club's tournament at Griffith Park, and a page on the Parkridge
Country Club in Corona from Western Progress magazine in 1928.
box 19, folder 27
Sports pages from University of California yearbook.
undated.
Scope and Contents note
From estate of Virginia Stephens.
box 19, folder 28
Lucky Baldwin's racehorse, black jockey.
c. 1885.
Scope and Contents note
Horse Volante won the American Derby in 1885.
box 20, folder 1
Bessie Coleman, first female pilot of African descent.
Scope and Contents note
Includes several photographs with flight gear and plane, promotional ads, photograph with her instructor Robert Thelen in
Germany, and a print of her international pilot's license issued in France, 1921.
box 20, folder 2
Bessie Coleman's family.
Scope and Contents note
Includes names and dates copied from the Coleman family Bible, a photograph of Bessie's sisters Nilus and Elois, and photograph
of her mother Susan Coleman shown with Bessie's cup in 1922.
box 20, folder 3
Johnny Riddle, USC football halfback.
1922-1924.
Scope and Contents note
Photograph and brief description of Riddle's athleticism.
box 20, folder 4
Giants baseball team, African American.
undated.
box 20, folder 5
Westside Tennis Club Annual Tournament (negative).
1917.
Scope and Contents note
at Santa Monica High School
box 20, folder 6
Hollywood High School Football Team.
1908.
Scope and Contents note
Includes one African American player and one Asian American player.
box 20, folder 7
Whittier College Varsity Football Team.
1928.
Scope and Contents note
Includes one African American player, Nathaniel George.
box 20, folder 8
Walter Gordon, assistant coach of football team for University of California, Berkeley.
1925.
box 20, folder 9
Hostesses for the Haitian Olympic Team, Los Angeles.
1932.
box 20, folder 10
USC track and field athletes, including O.J Simpson.
c. 1967.
box 20, folder 11
Emmett Ashford, First Major League Black Baseball Umpire.
c. 1970.
box 20, folder 12
Jackie Robinson, First Black Major League Baseball Player since 1880.
`1939-1957.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of Jackie Robinson and two other black UCLA football players, Woody Strode and Kenny Washington (with
Ray Bartlett they were the first black football players for UCLA in 1939). Also includes a photograph of Robinson with Pasadena
Junior college team, a photograph of Robinson with Ray Bartlett in Honolulu where they played on a semi-professional integrated
team (1941), and a photograph of Robinson speaking at the Oakland Civic Auditorium (1957).
box 20, folder 13
Joe Louis, boxer.
Scope and Contents note
Portrait of Joe Louis who lived in Los Angeles after he retired from boxing.
box 20, folder 14
Black Cowboys and Rodeo.
Scope and Contents note
Photographs of black cowboys on horses, with cattle, and riding bucking broncos.
box 20, folder 15
Brice Taylor, first All-American football player at USC, and one of first African Americans on the same team.
1925-1926.
Scope and Contents note
Includes page from unidentified magazine reporting his position has president of Guadalupe Junior College in Seguin, Texas.
Also includes a photograph of Taylor with Senator Edward Brooke and two others.
box 20, folder 16
Recreation and Leisure, African American adults and families.
1896-1948.
Scope and Contents note
Includes group of young African American women on Catalina Island (1922), Mr. and Mrs. Murray in front of their dude ranch
in Victorville, Dr. Thomas Nelson and his boat (1907), a group in a surrey with a fringed top, a Tally-Ho Party (1902), Los
Angeles' Speed Burners at Sycamore Grove (1896), a fishing trip to Ensenada, a company picnic given by Bullock's Department
Store for their black employees and families, and several other picnic scenes. Also includes photographs and negatives of
Titus Alexander and friends at a California mission, in Wawona, and on a picnic with Joe and Charlotta Bass.
box 20, folder 17
Bruce's Beach.
1910s-1920s.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of African American men and women recreating on Bruce's Beach in Manhattan Beach. It was one of the few
beaches not off-limits to African Americans at this time. White opposition to Bruce's beach increased as the black population
grew and coastal land became more valuable. It was condemned and the African American community was forced out. Also see photograph
of women from Delta Sigma Theta sorority at Manhattan Beach in box 24, folder 8.
box 20, folder 18
Recreation and Leisure, African American children and teenagers.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of children playing and picnicking in Sycamore Canyon, Glendale, unidentified children in front of their
house, school children attending an afternoon movie on Central Ave., and a group of teenager on a hike on Mt. Wilson in 1922.
Children at a Sunday School picnic.
Police, Sheriff, Fire, Postal.
box 29, folder 7
"Blacks in Los Angeles Fire Department" Binder.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs from a binder compiled by Miriam Matthews
box 29, folder 8
"Los Angeles Police Department" Binder.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs from a binder compiled by Miriam Matthews
box 29, folder 9
Los Angeles Fire Department photos, from El Pueblo de Los Angeles.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Hose Co. #4 near First Street and Chemical Engine Co. #1 near First Street.
box 29, folder 10
Los Angeles Fire Department, Engine Companies and Truck Companies.
box 29, folder 11
Los Angeles Fire Department, Hose Companies.
box 29, folder 12
Engine Company from Oakland Fire Department.
box 29, folder 13
Committee for Police and Fire improvement.
1927.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of the committee in backyard of Fire Department Engine Company #30 at 14th and Central. All persons are
members of fire department except one.
box 29, folder 14
Fire Department in Parades.
c. 1909.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of firemen's float in 1909, and an unidentified parade.
box 29, folder 15
Fireman, Thomas Collier.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Collier with fire engines, and his funeral after he was killed in the line of duty.
box 29, folder 16
Retirement of Fireman, Arnett Hartsfield.
Scope and Contents note
Includes negative photographs of retirement dinner and banquet for Hartsfield.
box 30, folder 1
Fire Stations and groups of Fire Fighters.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Loma Drive Fire Station (1915), group of firemen at 14th and Central Ave., negative of photograph
Captain John Powell, George Bright and Edward Bowen with a horse, photograph of fire department in San Diego.
box 30, folder 2
Morgan (Georgia) Robinson, first black female police officer in Los Angeles.
Scope and Contents note
Includes portraits of Robinson as a young woman, with colleagues, and as an elderly woman in her garden.
box 30, folder 3
Groups of Los Angeles Police Officers.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of police officers, including the "Strong Men", and Detective Bureau. Also group with Allen Allensworth
(see box 5 folders 2-7 for more on Allensworth).
box 30, folder 4
Los Angeles Police Department, Traffic Division.
c. 1909-1914.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of Traffic Division in 1914 (including one black police officer) and a black officer directing traffic
after the Los Angeles Times building.
box 30, folder 5
Individual Police Officers.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs and negatives of Officer Randolph, Detective Lieutenant Jesse L. Kimborough, Detective Lieutenant Robert
Green, Detective Lieutenant Homer Garrott, Lieutenant Littleton McDuff, William Glenn, Robert Stewart, and Frank White.
box 30, folder 6
Los Angeles Police Commission, including Charles Matthews.
1946-1950.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of Charles Matthews, first black police commissioner, and other members of the commission.
box 30, folder 7
Leslie Shaw, Los Angeles Postmaster.
1963.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of Leslie Shaw being sworn in as postmaster of Los Angeles (by Mayor Sam Yorty?)
box 30, folder 8
Aaron Arthur Jenkins, mail carrier, and family.
c. 1894, 1930.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of Aaron Jenkins in uniform, and portrait of his sister Pauline Jenkins
box 30, folder 9
Ma-Po-Fi Social Club.
1947.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of club for Mailmen, Policemen, and Firemen at the first annual ball in Los Angeles
box 30, folder 10
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of Julius Boyd Loving, first black deputy sheriff in Los Angeles county (1909); William Darden as first
black captain (1966); Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department in 1948; Arthur McClanahan receiving scroll for his service
as County Bailiff upon his retirement and Sheriff Eugene Biscailuz riding a horse
box 30, folder 11
Group of Los Angeles Postal Clerks.
Scope and Contents note
Included in group was Los Angeles' first postal clerk of color.
box 30, folder 12
San Diego Post Office.
1915-1950s.
Scope and Contents note
Includes negative photographs of black postal carriers in San Diego.
box 17, folder 1
Early Views of Downtown Los Angeles.
c. 1869-1900.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of early business districts (particularly those owned by the Mason and Owens families), City Hall, the
Plaza, streetcar terminals, and panoramic views.
box 17, folder 2
Early Views of Residential Los Angeles, and outskirts.
c. 1868-1900.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Western Avenue, Pico Boulevard, Victoria Park Circle, and other early residential areas.
box 17, folder 3
Scenes on Central Avenue.
Scope and Contents note
From the 1920s to the 1950s, Central Avenue was the heart of the African American community and an important scene in the
jazz world. Photograph subjects include a youth jazz band, the business district, crowds in front of a movie theater, and
a scene from the Watts Riot.
box 17, folder 4
Later Los Angeles Street Scenes.
1930-1960.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of residential areas, streetcars, protests, and beauty pageants.
box 17, folder 5
Street Scenes Outside Los Angeles.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs and drawings of San Francisco, Santa Barbara, and unidentified locations.
box 17, folder 6
Maps and Demography of Los Angeles.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographic prints of a map showing ranchos owned by individuals of African descent (1784-1810), map of Los Angeles
business district, a table analyzing the growth of minority group population in Los Angeles, maps depicting distribution of
blacks and black voters, a map depicting residential restrictions.
Black Photographers.
1947-1970.
Scope and Contents note
Photographs by journalist photographers Frank H. Cloud and Harry H. Adams.
box 42, folder 9
Individual Portraits.
Scope and Contents note
Includes many unidentified subjects as well as Amy Peake, Mrs. Augustus Thompson, Frank Cloud Jr., young boy from Atkinson
family, and a debutante
box 42, folder 10
Advertisement for Golden State Milk?.
Scope and Contents note
Photograph of baby holding a bottle of Golden State Milk.
box 42, folder 11
Clubs and Social Events.
Scope and Contents note
Includes Town Club members on fishing trip in Ensenada, Mexico and party at home of Ruth Sykes Webster.
box 42, folder 12
Weddings.
Scope and Contents note
Includes Bratton family; William Jones and his Jayda Garland; and an unidentified couple.
box 42, folder 13
Portraits of Frank Cloud Sr., photographer.
box 42, folder 14
Gregory and Benjamin Cloud (relatives of Frank Cloud Sr.?).
Harry H. Adams.
1960-1970.
box 35, folder 1
Journalists.
1963-1967.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Louis Lomax, George Schuyler, and other unidentified journalists.
box 35, folder 2
Africans.
1960-1964.
Scope and Contents note
Includes groups of African and African American leaders.
box 35, folder 3
Malcolm X.
1960-1963.
Scope and Contents note
Two photographs with groups of black men.
box 35, folder 4
Martin Luther King Jr.
1963-1967.
Scope and Contents note
Includes individual portraits of King, photographs of him speaking or on stage with other speakers, and photographs with community
leaders.
box 35, folder 5
Robert F. Kennedy.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Kennedy speaking, and meeting with black community leaders.
box 35, folder 6
Tom Bradley, Mayor of Los Angeles.
box 35, folder 7
Hubert Humphrey, Vice President.
box 35, folder 8
Julian Bond, civil rights leader.
box 35, folder 9
Lyndon B. Johnson, Vice President.
box 35, folder 10
Ted Kennedy, U.S. Senator.
1964, 1966.
box 35, folder 11
Nelson Rockefeller as Presidential Candidate.
box 35, folder 12
Church leaders and buildings (1 of 2).
Scope and Contents note
Including building funds, memorials, anniversary dinners, church conferences, congregations, ministers and bishops.
box 35, folder 13
Church leaders and buildings (2 of 2.
Scope and Contents note
Including building funds, memorials, anniversary dinners, church conferences, congregations, ministers and bishops.
box 35, folder 14
Street Scenes.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of black community and Los Angeles Police Department, crowds in front of movie theaters, residential
areas, Central Avenue, car accidents, parades.
box 36, folder 1
Politics and Civil Rights (1 of 2).
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, Danny Thomas, Teddy Kennedy, Edmund Brown, Tom Bradley,
box 36, folder 2
Politics and Civil Rights (2 of 2).
Scope and Contents note
Political and Civil Rights leaders
box 36, folder 3
Archie Moore, Civil Rights.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of community event for boys at Archie Moore's Salt Mine training camp, and photographs of political and
civil rights leaders.
box 36, folder 4
Civil Rights leaders and demonstrations (1 of 2).
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Dick Van Dyke and Martin Luther King Jr. speaking together at the Los Angeles Coliseum, community
members examining a burned cross on a black family home, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, picketing, voting registration
drives, memorial for Medgar Evers.
box 36, folder 5
Civil Rights leaders and demonstrations (2 of 2).
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Dick Van Dyke and Martin Luther King Jr. speaking together at the Los Angeles Coliseum, community
members examining a burned cross on a black family home, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, picketing, voting registration
drives, memorial for Medgar Evers.
box 36, folder 6
Civil Rights Protests.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of picketing and protests for civil rights in Los Angeles.
box 37, folder 1
Politics.
1959-1967.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of political leaders, many unidentified and undescribed.
box 37, folder 2
Politics and Civil Rights (3 of 3).
1959-1967.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Martin Luther King Jr., Richard Nixon, John F. Kennedy, Roy Wilkins, Edmund Brown, Dianne Carroll,
Los Angeles Mayors, other civil rights leaders and church leaders,
box 37, folder 3
Campaigning in Los Angeles.
1960-1966.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Presidential campaign for John F. Kennedy, Nelson Rockefeller, California Democratic Delegation, Councilman
Gilbert Lindsay.
box 37, folder 4
Edmund "Pat" Brown, governor of California.
1962.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Pat Brown making political visits with black community leaders
box 37, folder 5
Community and Political Leaders (1 of 6).
1959-1967.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs with Tom Bradley, Loren Miller, business, community, club, and political leaders in Los Angeles.
box 37, folder 6
Community and Political Leaders (2 of 6).
1959-1967.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs with Tom Bradley, Loren Miller, business, community, club, and political leaders in Los Angeles.
box 37, folder 7
Community and Political Leaders (3 of 6).
1959-1967.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs with Tom Bradley, Loren Miller, business, community, club, and political leaders in Los Angeles.
box 38, folder 1
Community and Political Leaders (4 of 6).
1959-1967.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs with Tom Bradley, Loren Miller, business, community, club, and political leaders in Los Angeles.
box 38, folder 2
Community and Political Leaders (5 of 6).
1959-1967.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs with Tom Bradley, Loren Miller, business, community, club, and political leaders in Los Angeles.
box 38, folder 3
Community and Political Leaders (6 of 6).
1959-1967.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs with Tom Bradley, Loren Miller, business, community, club, and political leaders in Los Angeles.
box 38, folder 4
M. Earl Grant, Family Savings and Loan.
1961-1966.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of founder M. Earl Grant at various events for Family Savings and Loan
box 38, folder 5
Business, Professions, Labor (1 of 3).
Scope and Contents note
Include photographs of Jimmy Hoffa (white), Gladys Root (white). Majority are photographs of black- owned businesses and African
American workers.
box 38, folder 6
Business, Professions, Labor (2 of 3).
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of black-owned businesses and African American workers. Many unidentified photographs categorized by
Miriam Matthews as "Business, Professions, Labor."
box 39, folder 1
Business, Professions, Labor (3 of 3).
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of black-owned businesses and African American workers. Many unidentified photographs categorized by
Miriam Matthews as "Business, Professions, Labor."
box 39, folder 3
Artists and Art Associations.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of paintings, artists, sculptures.
box 39, folder 4
Entertainers (1 of 4).
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of actors, disc jockeys, singers, and other entertainers.
box 39, folder 5
Entertainers (2 of 4).
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of actors, disc jockeys, singers, and other entertainers.
box 39, folder 6
Entertainers (3 of 4).
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of actors, disc jockeys, singers, and other entertainers.
box 40, folder 1
Entertainers (4 of 4).
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Louis Armstrong, Sammy Davis Jr., Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, Miriam Makeeba, Mahalia Jackson, and
other entertainers.
box 40, folder 2
Education (1 of 2).
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of schools, playgrounds, students, and educators.
box 40, folder 3
Education (2 of 2).
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of schools, playgrounds, students, and educators.
box 40, folder 4
Social Events, Clubs, Charity (1 of 7).
box 40, folder 5
Social Events, Clubs, Charity (2 of 7).
box 40, folder 6
Social Events, Clubs, Charity (3 of 7).
box 41, folder 1
Social Events, Clubs, Charity (4 of 7).
box 41, folder 2
Social Events, Clubs, Charity (5 of 7).
box 41, folder 3
Social Events, Clubs, Charity (6 of 7).
box 41, folder 4
Social Events, Clubs, Charity (7 of 7).
box 41, folder 5
African American families.
Scope and Contents note
Including Broady family, Davis family, and other unidentified families.
box 41, folder 6
Portraits of Children and Infants (1 of 2).
box 42, folder 1
Portraits of Children and Infants (2 of 2).
box 42, folder 2
Unidentified woman celebrating 100th Birthday.
box 42, folder 3
Los Angeles Sentinel Mother of the Year, five sons in Vietnam.
1967.
box 42, folder 4
Birthday Parties, Stag Parties.
box 42, folder 5
Sports Players (1 of 2).
Scope and Contents note
Includes baseball, golf, bowling, Little League
box 42, folder 6
Sports Players (2 of 2).
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Joe Louis, Roy Capanella, Archie Moore, Frank Robinson, Jim Brown and other unidentified athletes.
box 42, folder 7
Harry H. Adams, Photographer.
Scope and Contents note
Includes portrait of Adams, photograph of Adams escorting his daughter at a cotillion, a photograph of Adam wearing sunglasses.
box 42, folder 8
Central Avenue Scenes.
1947.
Museum and Gallery Exhibitions.
1980-1987.
Scope and Contents note
Large mounted photographs, captions, and signage from museum and gallery exhibitions curated or lent by Miriam Matthews.
California African American Museum exhibition.
box 43
Arts and Entertainment (1 of 2).
Scope and Contents note
Actors, actresses, black motion picture companies, composers, choir directors, soloists, painters, and musicians. Includes
Bert Williams, Nat King Cole, Paul Howard, Hattie McDaniel, Dorothy Dandridge, and Alice Taylor Gafford.
box 44
Arts and Entertainment (2 of 2).
Scope and Contents note
Actors, actresses, black motion picture companies, composers, choir directors, soloists, painters, and musicians. Includes
Bert Williams, Nat King Cole, Paul Howard, Hattie McDaniel, Dorothy Dandridge, and Alice Taylor Gafford.
box 45
Business and Work in early 1900s (1 of 2).
1900-1910.
Scope and Contents note
Black-owned businesses and black laborers in Los Angeles. Race newspapers, black mutual aid insurance and loan, the Somerville
hotel, trade schools, police officers, and firemen figure prominently.
box 46
Business and Work in early 1900s (2 of 2).
1900-1910.
Scope and Contents note
Black-owned businesses and black laborers in Los Angeles. Race newspapers, black mutual aid insurance and loan, the Somerville
hotel, trade schools, police officers, and firemen figure prominently.
box 47
Business and work - Western Progress 1928 (1 of 3).
Scope and Contents note
Articles and images from special issue of Western Progress in 1928 on black businesses in Los Angeles.
box 48
Business and work - Western Progress 1928 (2 of 3).
Scope and Contents note
Articles and images from special issue of Western Progress in 1928 on black businesses in Los Angeles.
box 49
Business and work - Western Progress 1928 (3 of 3).
Scope and Contents note
Articles and images from special issue of Western Progress in 1928 on black businesses in Los Angeles.
box 50
Business and work - newspapers, mutual aid, Somerville hotel, trade school (1 of 2).
Scope and Contents note
Other black businesses, especially newspaper agencies, mutual aid, hotel, trade schools.
box 51
Business and work - newspapers, mutual aid, Somerville hotel, trade school (2 of 2).
Scope and Contents note
Other black businesses, especially newspaper agencies, mutual aid, hotel, trade schools.
box 52
Churches and Social Organizations (1 of 2).
Scope and Contents note
Scott United Methodist Church of Pasadena, and First AME Church on Azusa Street. Greek organizations (both social and political),
lodges, club women, community organizations, YMCA, YWCA, and NAACP.
box 53
Churches and Social Organizations (2 of 2).
Scope and Contents note
Scott United Methodist Church of Pasadena, and First AME Church on Azusa Street. Greek organizations (both social and political),
lodges, club women, community organizations, YMCA, YWCA, and NAACP.
box 54
Founders, Explorers, Early Settlers, Early Years (1 of 2).
Scope and Contents note
Titles given from Miriam Matthews' categorization. "Founders" refers to group of mixed race pobladores who established El
Pueblo de Los Angeles for Spain in 1781. Explorers include Jacob Dodson, Peter Ranne, and James Beckwourth. "Early Settlers"
refers to those who settled in Southern California between 1781 and 1848, when Spain and then Mexico still controlled the
region. The "Early Years" is the period following until the railroad arrived when the population of Los Angeles remained small.
Biddy Mason and Robert Owens appear in this final group.
box 55
Founders, Explorers, Early Settlers, Early Years (2 of 2).
Scope and Contents note
Titles given from Miriam Matthews' categorization. "Founders" refers to group of mixed race pobladores who established El
Pueblo de Los Angeles for Spain in 1781. Explorers include Jacob Dodson, Peter Ranne, and James Beckwourth. "Early Settlers"
refers to those who settled in Southern California between 1781 and 1848, when Spain and then Mexico still controlled the
region. The "Early Years" is the period following until the railroad arrived when the population of Los Angeles remained small.
Biddy Mason and Robert Owens appear in this final group.
box 56
Civil Rights, Government Officials, and Civil Rights (1 of 2).
Scope and Contents note
Civil rights demonstrations, voting, residential restrictions, attorneys, judges, government officials, and politicians.
box 57
Civil Rights, Government Officials, and Civil Rights (2 of 2).
Scope and Contents note
Civil rights demonstrations, voting, residential restrictions, attorneys, judges, government officials, and politicians.
box 58
Pioneers (1 of 2).
1885-1915.
Scope and Contents note
Mostly middle class African American men and women between 1885 and 1915 in Los Angeles. Organized alphabetically. Included
are Benjamin Talbot, John and Margaret Scott, and Ralph Bunche's family the Johnsons, among others.
box 59
Pioneers (2 of 2).
Scope and Contents note
Mostly middle class African American men and women between 1885 and 1915 in Los Angeles. Organized alphabetically. Included
are Benjamin Talbot, John and Margaret Scott, and Ralph Bunche's family the Johnsons, among others.
box 60
Street Scenes, Parades, Education, Sports (1 of 3).
Scope and Contents note
Parades such as the Fiesta Parade and Rose Parade. Men and women with their cars. Street scenes of Central Avenue. Sports
including aviation horse racing, football, baseball, boxing, and dude ranch. Education including high school students, elementary
school and first black principal in Los Angeles, Bessie Bruington Burke.
box 61
Street Scenes, Parades, Education, Sports (2 of 3).
Scope and Contents note
Parades such as the Fiesta Parade and Rose Parade. Men and women with their cars. Street scenes of Central Avenue. Sports
including aviation horse racing, football, baseball, boxing, and dude ranch. Education including high school students, elementary
school and first black principal in Los Angeles, Bessie Bruington Burke.
box 62
Street Scenes, Parades, Education, Sports (3 of 3).
Scope and Contents note
Parades such as the Fiesta Parade and Rose Parade. Men and women with their cars. Street scenes of Central Avenue. Sports
including aviation horse racing, football, baseball, boxing, and dude ranch. Education including high school students, elementary
school and first black principal in Los Angeles, Bessie Bruington Burke.
box 63
Military.
Scope and Contents note
Men in military uniform including Titus Alexander, as well as women in the Red Cross.
box 73
Large Mounted Prints for CAAM exhibit (18x21) (1 of 8).
Scope and Contents note
Includes enlargements of photographs found elsewhere in this collection relating to sports, business, organizations, Los Angeles
founders, churches, entertainment, Greek organizations, early settlers, parades, art, military, police, and fire department
in the black community.
box 74
Large Mounted Prints for CAAM exhibit (18x21) (2 of 8).
Scope and Contents note
Includes enlargements of photographs found elsewhere in this collection relating to sports, business, organizations, Los Angeles
founders, churches, entertainment, Greek organizations, early settlers, parades, art, military, police, and fire department
in the black community.
box 75
Large Mounted Prints for CAAM exhibit (18x21) (3 of 8).
Scope and Contents note
Includes enlargements of photographs found elsewhere in this collection relating to sports, business, organizations, Los Angeles
founders, churches, entertainment, Greek organizations, early settlers, parades, art, military, police, and fire department
in the black community.
box 76
Large Mounted Prints for CAAM exhibit (18x21) (4 of 8).
Scope and Contents note
Includes enlargements of photographs found elsewhere in this collection relating to sports, business, organizations, Los Angeles
founders, churches, entertainment, Greek organizations, early settlers, parades, art, military, police, and fire department
in the black community.
box 77
Large Mounted Prints for CAAM exhibit (18x21) (5 of 8).
Scope and Contents note
Includes enlargements of photographs found elsewhere in this collection relating to sports, business, organizations, Los Angeles
founders, churches, entertainment, Greek organizations, early settlers, parades, art, military, police, and fire department
in the black community.
box 78
Large Mounted Prints for CAAM exhibit (18x21) (6 of 8).
Scope and Contents note
Includes enlargements of photographs found elsewhere in this collection relating to sports, business, organizations, Los Angeles
founders, churches, entertainment, Greek organizations, early settlers, parades, art, military, police, and fire department
in the black community.
box 79
Large Mounted Prints for CAAM exhibit (18x21) (7 of 8).
Scope and Contents note
Includes enlargements of photographs found elsewhere in this collection relating to sports, business, organizations, Los Angeles
founders, churches, entertainment, Greek organizations, early settlers, parades, art, military, police, and fire department
in the black community.
box 80
Large Mounted Prints for CAAM exhibit (18x21) (8 of 8).
Scope and Contents note
Includes enlargements of photographs found elsewhere in this collection relating to sports, business, organizations, Los Angeles
founders, churches, entertainment, Greek organizations, early settlers, parades, art, military, police, and fire department
in the black community.
box 81
Large Mounted Prints for CAAM exhibit (21x24) (1 of 2).
Scope and Contents note
Includes enlargements of photographs found elsewhere in this collection relating to sports, business, organizations, Los Angeles
founders, churches, entertainment, Greek organizations, early settlers, parades, art, military, police, and fire department
in the black community.
box 82
Large Mounted Prints for CAAM exhibit (21x24) (2 of 2).
Scope and Contents note
Includes enlargements of photographs found elsewhere in this collection relating to sports, business, organizations, Los Angeles
founders, churches, entertainment, Greek organizations, early settlers, parades, art, military, police, and fire department
in the black community.
El Pueblo Historic Monument exhibition.
1987.
Scope and Contents note
"A Tribute to Afro-American Pioneers"
box 83
Photographs mounted on goldenrod posterboard.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Norman O. Houston, the YMCA Citizen band, the Shackleford family, William Nickerson, M. Earl Grant,
Peter Johnson, the first public school in Los Angeles, and other images of daily life in California.
box 84
Photographs mounted on green posterboard.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Robert and Winnie Owens' home, Owens' livery stables, the NAACP, the 104th birthday of Margaret Scott,
Second Baptist Church, Robert Curry Owens, Ellen Mason Owens, Biddy Mason
box 85
Mounted photographs on a mix of green, goldenrod, and rust posterboard (1 of 2).
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Los Angeles Police and Fire, Mason-Owens families, settlers, professions, murals from Golden State
Mutual Life, leading citizens, early business, churches, and organizations.
box 86
Mounted photographs on a mix of green, goldenrod, and rust posterboard (2 of 2).
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Los Angeles Police and Fire, Mason-Owens families, settlers, professions, murals from Golden State
Mutual Life, leading citizens, early business, churches, and organizations.
box 87
Mounted photographs on a mix of goldenrod and rust posterboard.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of the Somerville family, Allensworth, the Roberts family, early black professionals, the Holmes Ave.
School, Gen. Andres Pico, the Pico house, Pio Pico and wife, William Grant Still.
box 88
Mounted photographs on a mix of green and rust posterboard (1 of 2).
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Titus Alexander, Bessie Burke, Pio Pico, Mr. and Mrs. Dunbar, Hon. James Alexander, E.L. Chew, the
Harvey family, Paul R. Williams, and A.C. Garrott.
box 89
Mounted photographs on a mix of green and rust posterboard (2 of 2).
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Titus Alexander, Bessie Burke, Pio Pico, Mr. and Mrs. Dunbar, Hon. James Alexander, E.L. Chew, the
Harvey family, Paul R. Williams, and A.C. Garrott.
box 90
Photographs mounted on green posterboard.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of police officers, First A.M. E. Church, Scott's Hall, Tom Bradley, Frederick Roberts, and Jesse L.
Terry with Los Angeles Housing Authority.
box 91
Photographs mounted on goldenrod posterboard.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Catarina Moreno, Founders monument at the Plaza, Jacob Dodson, Jose Moreno and wife (drawing), Luis
Quintero and wife (drawing), Juan Chevez, James Beckwourth, Manuel Camero, map showing ranchos 1784-1810, Maria Rita Valdez
adobe, family of Ysidro Reyes, and Manuel Moreno.
California Museum of Science and Industry.
1984.
Scope and Contents note
Exhibit entitled "Blacks in the Building of a Nation and the City of Los Angeles"
box 92
Mounted photographs and captions (1 of 4).
box 93
Mounted photographs and captions (2 of 4).
box 94
Mounted photographs and captions (3 of 4).
box 95
Mounted photographs and captions (4 of 4).
Other Museum and Gallery Exhibitions.
box 64
Museum Captions and Random Sizes.
box 65
Museum Captions and Random Sizes.
box 66, folder 1
Black Los Angeles Photo exhibit by Miriam Matthews[?].
box 66, folder 2
Photographs of black business and labor mounted on cardboard.
box 66, folder 3
Early Los Angeles photographs mounted on cardboard.
box 66, folder 4
"Negroes in California" binder.
box 66, folder 5
Women of Courage Exhibition.
1986.
Scope and Contents note
Photographs of awards given to Mabel Gray
box 66, folder 6
Photographs of an unidentified exhibition.
box 66, folder 7
Description of Slides on California Negro History from Miriam Matthews.
Scope and Contents note
Includes printed descriptions of 56 slides on California Negro History.
box 66, folder 8
Slides on California Negro History from Miriam Matthews.
Scope and Contents note
Includes 80 slides depicting African American history in California. In original order of slide carousel, however, descriptions
in next box are numbered differently.
box 66, folder 9
Photocopied copies of Los Angeles Building photographs, from Los Angeles Public Library.
box 67
Assorted Captions for Exhibits at the California Museum of Science and Industry (1984), Children's Museum (1981), and El Pueblo
Historic Park (1987).
box 68
Assorted original snapshots and framed photographs.
Scope and Contents note
May have been part of a museum collection. Includes snapshots of Somerville family, the Sojourner Truth home, an early Los
Angeles street scene, a baseball team, a women's club, a large portrait of Betty Hill, prints of pages from John Fowler's
"Spreading Joy", a large photograph of the First AME Church (gift to the California African American Museum), print of a painting
of W.E.B. Du Bois, Fire Capt. John Powell, a mock wedding at the First A.M.E. Church, a Pasadena church, Knights of Pythias,
Junior NAACP, and a party at the Owens' home.
box 69
Photographs mounted for exhibition, San Francisco Bay Area in early 1900s.
box 70
Photo albums on early African American history collected by Miriam Matthews, and photographs related to Miriam Matthews life
and work.
Scope and Contents note
Includes DWP Leadership Luncheon, Miriam Matthews honoree, 1983.
box 71, folder 10
Clippings on black life.
1980s.
Duplicates of Prominent Individuals.
box 72, folder 3
Willis O. Tyler, attorney.
box 72, folder 4
Duplicate photographs of black professionals.
box 72, folder 6
"Mrs. John (Margaret) Scott" Binder compiled by Miriam Matthews.
Originals of Clubs and Organizations.
box 72, folder 8
California Federation of Women's Clubs (Pasadena 1916) and Prince Hall Grand Lodge (San Diego 1920).
Duplicates of Daily Life.
box 72, folder 12
Police and Fire Departments.
box 72, folder 17
Alice Taylor Gafford and family.
Original photographs 1914-1930.
box 71, folder 12
Portrait of Vada Somerville, Hattie McDaniel, and Golden State Mutual Life Insurance.
Other Individuals and Families.
box 71, folder 14
Weeks family.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Fay Weeks Allen
box 71, folder 17
Patterson, Coker, Bradley, Pickens, Barr, Morris, Russell, and Frazier families.
box 71, folder 18
Samuel Danley, certificate of deaconship.
box 71, folder 19
Mr. and Mrs. Higgins.
Scope and Contents note
Miriam Matthews' godmother.
box 71, folder 20
Original photographs of Vivian Marsh, Ralph Bunche, and Angie Harrison Nicholas.
Framed Original Fire Fighters photographs.
box 96
Truck no. 30, individual portraits, engines.
Los Angeles Times Posters.
box 97
Celebrating Abraham Lincoln's birthday.
1909.
box 98
Posters from museum exhibitions and panorama photographs of early Los Angeles.
Prominent Individuals and Families.
1885-1980.
Scope and Contents note
Photographs and negatives of African American families which figure prominently in Miriam Matthews' collection due to their
professional success, community service, and/or political activism.
box 5, folder 12
African Americans in Los Angeles: Last name "A".
Scope and Contents note
Includes: Raymond Anderson, Howard Allen, and Aljack Adams
box 5, folder 1
Titus Alexander, civic leader.
Scope and Contents note
Portraits of Titus Alexander; group of prominent citizens led by Titus Alexander at Boulder Dam; on a picnic with wife, Charlotta,
and Joseph Bass; Titus Alexander in WWI army uniform; Alexander and friends in the California Redwoods; his father James Alexander;
bookplate design for the Titus Alexander collection of Negro Life and History
box 5, folder 2
Allen Allensworth, portraits.
Scope and Contents note
Portraits of Allen Allensworth in military uniform; includes passport photograph
box 5, folder 3
Homes of Allensworth family in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
box 5, folder 4
Photos relating to town of Allensworth.
c. 1908.
box 5, folder 5
Col. Allen Allensworth, military.
c. 1900.
box 5, folder 6
Allensworth family.
c. 1900.
Scope and Contents note
Includes portraits of his wife, Josephine Allensworth; daughter, Nella Allensworth (later married Louis Blodgett); daughter
Eva Allensworth (later married Harrie Skanks); group photos of daughters with friends.
box 5, folder 7
Documents regarding town of Allensworth, anniversary.
1976-1986.
box 5, folder 8
Lucky Baldwin, property, workers.
1880-1900.
Scope and Contents note
Private stables at Santa Anita Ranch with black driver; Lucky Baldwin in front of his lagoon; Baldwin's race horse shown with
black jockey.
box 5, folder 9
Kathryn Barr, first Executive Secretary of Los Angeles Urban League.
1891- 1921.
Scope and Contents note
(nee: Kathryn Baskins, later Mrs. A. Elmer) Barr organized an employment agency in Los Angeles which later became the Los
Angeles Urban League. Individual portrait; photograph with her mother and Roscoe C. Simmons; photograph as young girl with
daughters of Dr. A.C Garrott.
box 5, folder 10
Louis Blodgett, successful contractor and designer of Golden State Mutual Insurance building.
Scope and Contents note
Individual portraits and photographs with prominent individuals including Gov. Goodwin Knight. Wife is Nella Allensworth (folder
6)
box 5, folder 11
Delilah Beasley, historian and newspaper writer.
b. 1871- d.1934.
Scope and Contents note
Author of Negro Trail-Blazers of California (1919), pioneering work in California black history. Columnist for Oakland Tribune.
box 6, folder 1
Charlotta Bass, social life.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Charlotta Bass with friends and at social club events.
box 6, folder 2
Charlotta Bass and the California Eagle newspaper.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Charlotta Bass and the California Eagle staff. Bass took over the California Eagle, one of the oldest
and longest running activist African American newspapers, as editor in 1912. In 1951, she sold the newspaper to Loren Miller.
box 6, folder 3
Charlotta Bass, Congressional candidate.
1950.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photos from Bass's candidacy for the 14th Congressional district on the Progressive party ticket.
box 6, folder 4
Charlotta Bass, Vice Presidential nominee.
1952.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Bass as nominee by the Progressive Party for Vice President. She was the first African American woman
to run for this office. Her running mate was lawyer Vincent Hallinan.
box 6, folder 5
Charlotta Bass, other political activities.
Scope and Contents note
Includes undated photographs of Bass with other politicians. Also included are photos of Bass's time in the Soviet Union along
with W.E.B DuBois.
box 6, folder 6
Charlotta Bass, community activism.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Bass speaking at Bethel A.M.E. Church in San Francisco in 1965 for Negro History Week; her support
and sponsorship of the arts; and her work with activist black preachers.
box 6, folder 7
Charlotta Bass, early years and family.
undated.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Ellis Spears (her father) and Charlotta Spears' class photo
box 6, folder 8
Joseph Blackburn Bass, husband of Charlotta, and newspaper editor.
undated.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Joseph Bass with newspaper staff, wearing garb for the Golden West Lodge of the Benevolent and Paternal
Order of Elks with Frederick Roberts, and as a child with his mother.
box 6, folder 9
Mr. and Mrs. William Beck.
undated.
box 6, folder 10
Richard Charles O'Hara Benjamin, California's first black attorney.
Scope and Contents note
Portrait with Dr. Monroe A. Majors, California's first black physician. *More photographs of both can be found in Series 2
under subseries "Professions"
box 6, folder 11
Mary McLeod Bethune, educator and civil rights leader.
b. 1875- d. 1955.
Scope and Contents note
Bethune lived and worked in Florida, however, this file contains photographs of the Los Angeles black community's celebration
of her work. Includes portraits as a young woman, as an older woman, and a negative of an image of a mass meeting at Second
Baptist Church honoring Bethune.
box 6, folder 12
A.C. Bilbrew, community leader, musician, poet, and deputy to Kenneth Hahn (County Supervisor).
1961, 1963.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of Bilbrew playing piano (1963) and in a group photograph (1961). Photographed by Harry H. Adams (*See
series 3 for more of his work).
box 6, folder 13
Bogle family.
undated.
Scope and Contents note
Richard Bogle moved to Oregon Territory in 1851 and married America Waldo 1863. Includes photographs of him and his family.
box 7, folder 1
Lorenzo Bowdoin, NAACP leader.
1950s.
Scope and Contents note
Includes portraits of Lorenzo, his wife Frances, and family portrait. Also, photographs of Bowdoin being honored by the Women's
Study Morning Breakfast Club.
box 7, folder 2
Boyd family.
Scope and Contents note
Robert T. Boyd, owner of tonsorial parlor. Wife Emma, children Barrett, Helen, and Willis.
box 7, folder 3
Broady family.
May 1963.
Scope and Contents note
photograph by Harry H. Adams
box 7, folder 4
Mary Jane Broyles at her 85th birthday.
box 7, folder 5
Bessie Bruington Burke.
Scope and Contents note
First African American school teacher in Los Angeles (1911), and first African American principal in Los Angeles (1918). Includes
high school graduation portrait (1907), photo of her as a child, as an infant with mother Janie Bruington. *More images of
her can be found
box 7, folder 6
Ralph Bunche and family.
Scope and Contents note
Photographs of Ralph Bunche, diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner, and his family. *More images of him can be found in series
box 7, folder 7
Charles Carr.
c. 1951/1960.
Scope and Contents note
Portrait of Carr, of Whittier California. USC Digital Collection includes lengthy description of his life on the back of the
original photo.
box 7, folder 8
Laura Chrisman in front of Chrisman apartments.
undated.
box 7, folder 9
Carrie Clemens.
Scope and Contents note
Portrait of Clemens at age 22 in Sonora. Addressed to sister Jennie.
box 7, folder 10
Edwin and Helena Harper Coates.
box 7, folder 11
Lorenza Cole at piano (wife of Thomas Cole).
box 7, folder 12
Cooper/Bright families.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Mr. and Mrs. William H. Cooper, Ezekiel Cooper (son?), Jonas Bright and wife Birdielee (nee: Cooper),
and Pearl Cooper (later Mrs. Shadrack Johnson). Pearl Cooper was the first African American to ride in the Pasadena Tournament
of Roses in 1903. Also Cornelius Johnson Olympic athlete for the high jump.
box 7, folder 13
Floyd C. Covington as a child.
1918.
Scope and Contents note
Floyd Covington was a leader of the Los Angeles black community for many decades.
box 7, folder 14
Harold Crowe, children of.
box 7, folder 15
Daniel James Cunningham.
undated.
Danley/Johnson/Saunders families.
box 8, folder 2
Margaret Danley, graduation photo.
Scope and Contents note
Margaret Danley received M.A. degree from Howard University.
box 8, folder 3
Danley family, original small photos.
Scope and Contents note
Includes Samuel Danley Jr. graduation, McCard family, Theresa B. Harper graduation, Calvin Butler Harper as an infant, Belle
Johnson Butler, Marjie Danley.
box 8, folder 4
Beverly Johnson and family.
Scope and Contents note
Includes Beverly, wife Rachel Theresa Saunders, son Harry Johnson and his wife.
box 8, folder 5
William and Hester Huston Saunders.
Scope and Contents note
Great grandparents of Theresa Harper Danley, individual portraits.
box 8, folder 6
Samuel and Theresa Harper Danley.
Scope and Contents note
Family portraits of Theresa Harper and Samuel with two daughters, Samuel's graduation, Theresa's childhood.
box 8, folder 7
Rory Boboa Lewis.
Scope and Contents note
Grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Danley, graduate of University of Alabama.
box 8, folder 8
Eugene Johnson and wife.
Scope and Contents note
Parents of Evelyn Harris
box 8, folder 10
Dorothy Vena and Ivan Johnson.
Scope and Contents note
Ivan was an attorney, Dorothy, a teacher in Los Angeles city schools and president of Allied Arts League.
box 8, folder 11
W.E.B. Du Bois, scholar and civil rights activist.
b. 1868- d. 1963.
Scope and Contents note
Portraits of Du Bois
box 8, folder 12
Willis Duffy and family.
Scope and Contents note
Negative family portrait Willis Duffy, wife, and three children.
box 8, folder 13
George T. Dunlap, sister, and son-in-law.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of George T. Dunlap and his son-in-law Truck Wilcox (August 1974) and Dunlap's sister in the 1890s
box 8, folder 14
William E. Easton and family.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of William Easton Sr. with his son William Easton Jr., and of Easton Sr. with his daughter Dorothy E.
Houston and granddaughter Athenaise Houston.
box 8, folder 15
Allen E. Flowers and family.
box 8, folder 16
Roy Fowler, son of John Fowler.
died 1919.
box 8, folder 17
Mr. and Mrs. A. Dunbar, at their farm in Inglewood.
Garrott/De Jarnette families.
box 9, folder 1
Lydia De Jarnette (later married Alva C. Garrott) and her family.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Lydia (Lily), sister Alice De Jarnette Hooper, mother Mrs. Robert De Jarnette, and a family portrait.
box 9, folder 2
Dr. A.C. Garrott and family.
Scope and Contents note
Portraits of Alva Curtis Garrott, including those with wife and children, and photographs of their house in Glendale.
box 9, folder 3
Garrott family recreation.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Dr. A.C. Garrott and family members at picnics, in the park, playing tennis, and at Catalina Island.
Many photographs of children.
box 9, folder 4
Garrott family, 1950s.
Scope and Contents note
Includes A.C Garrott and Robert Garrott.
box 9, folder 5
Dr. Alice Watkins Garrott and family.
Scope and Contents note
Graduate of Howard University dental school.
box 9, folder 6
James Garrott, architect, and family.
box 9, folder 7
Charlie Gibson as a child.
box 9, folder 8
Hugh Gordon, businessman.
Scope and Contents note
Hugh Gordon was the originator of the Pyramid Cooperative Grocery and Meat Market. The Hugh Gordon bookshop near 45th street
on Central Avenue was named for him
box 9, folder 10
Mabel Gray, women's club leader.
Scope and Contents note
Portraits of Mabel Gray and photographs of her with various women's clubs
box 9, folder 11
Grubbs family.
Scope and Contents note
Includes portraits of Fannie Ray, Alma, and Grace Grubbs
box 9, folder 12
Harvey family, contractors.
Scope and Contents note
Harvey brothers: Jesse, Ernest, and Frank. Sister Ruby Harvey. Brother-in-law Richard Foulkes. Father James Marsh Harvey,
founder of Harvey Brothers Sand and Gravel contractors.
box 9, folder 13
Norris and Marguerite Hester, children.
box 10, folder 1
Mrs. John Hewitt (Vennda Rei McFarlin).
box 10, folder 2
Betty Hill, civil rights activist.
Scope and Contents note
Portraits of Betty Hill and photos of dedication of Will Rogers Park and swimming pool in appreciation of Hill.
box 10, folder 3
Nan Holt, residence.
Scope and Contents note
1320 Albany St., Los Angeles
box 10, folder 4
Edward Ross Houston.
Scope and Contents note
Father of Athenaise Houston Hill and Millie Houston Price
box 10, folder 7
Aaron Arthur Jenkins.
Scope and Contents note
Includes Aaron Arthur Jenkins as an infant, his family including wife and children c. 1930, and his son George in the U.S.
Army during WWII
box 10, folder 8
Ivan J. Johnson collection.
Scope and Contents note
Identified and unidentified relatives of Ivan J. Johnson
box 10, folder 9
Emma Gaines (Ivan Johnson's grandmother) and Ethel Mae Greer (Ivan's first cousin) on embroidered frame.
box 10, folder 11
Clarence Jones.
Scope and Contents note
Family wedding photo Dr and Mrs. John Simmons
box 10, folder 12
Sarah Mildred Jones.
1880s.
Scope and Contents note
Portrait of Sarah Jones, petition from teachers in Sacramento schools against her removal from Board of Education, negative
of her students.
box 10, folder 13
Dr. Percy Lavon Julian, chemist, and family.
Scope and Contents note
Family portraits
box 10, folder 15
Byron and Louise Kenner, and relatives.
Scope and Contents note
Individual portraits, Byron and Louise at Bruce's Beach, Byron's retirement party,
box 10, folder 16
Jack Kimbrough's grandmother.
Pocahontas O. Whiteman Key.
box 10, folder 17
Pocahontas O. Whiteman Key.
box 10, folder 18
Ellis Knox, first African American to receive a PhD on the West Coast.
Scope and Contents note
Yearbook graduation page, A.B., California
box 10, folder 19
Relatives of Mary Ann Knox.
Scope and Contents note
Photocopied copies of family photographs.
box 10, folder 20
Dr. and Mrs. James Leggett and daughter.
Scope and Contents note
Portrait in front of home on Ceres Ave. 1900
box 10, folder 21
James and Fannie Lockett.
c. 1910.
Scope and Contents note
General store built and operated by Lockett family, Jennie Lockett (early California club woman), house in Duarte, (Photographs
given by granddaughter Mabel Lockett Martin)
box 10, folder 22
Sherrill and Anne Luke at their wedding (negative).
box 10, folder 23
Dr. and Mrs. Monroe Majors (negative).
Vivian Osborne Marsh family.
box 10, folder 24
Vivian Osborne Marsh, community activist.
Scope and Contents note
Individual portraits
box 10, folder 25
Vivian Osborne Marsh, community activities.
Scope and Contents note
Marsh at social events, club meetings, community events.
box 10, folder 26
Relatives of Vivian Osborne and her youth.
box 10, folder 27
Relatives of Leon Marsh.
Scope and Contents note
For negatives of Leon Marsh in the military, see box 19, folder 10.
box 11, folder 1
Portraits of friends to Matthews Family Binder.
Scope and Contents note
Images taken from a binder compiled by Miriam Matthews, including snapshots and portraits of friends.
box 11, folder 2
Photographs of friends and family of Miriam Matthews.
box 11, folder 3
McCard family.
Scope and Contents note
Includes Miriam McCard Rogers, Owen Johnson McCard, Beverly Scott McCard, and Lois McCard
box 11, folder 4
Loren Miller family.
Scope and Contents note
Includes some political photos taken by Harry H. Adams and a portrait of his wife Juanita Ellsworth Miller, a social worker.
Many family photographs are unidentified
box 11, folder 5
Lester Nicholas, child portrait.
box 11, folder 6
William and Louise Patterson with daughter Mary Lou.
box 11, folder 8
Pickens Family.
Scope and Contents note
Includes Emilie Pickens' mother and father, Emilie Pickens and sons, William Pickens Jr., and William Pickens III. William
Pickens was an orator and scholar and was active in the NAACP. Emilie Pickens was the founder of the Jack and Jill Organization
in Brooklyn. All negatives.
James and Dorothy Porter.
box 11, folder 9
James and Dorothy Porter, faculty of Howard University.
Scope and Contents note
Portrait of James as the head of the art gallery and art department at Howard University. Photographs of Dorothy receiving
doctor of letters from Susquehanna University. Dorothy, a librarian, was instrumental in making the Moorland-Spingarn Research
Center a premier research collection.
Emily Brown Childress Portwig and family.
box 11, folder 10
Emily Brown Childress Portwig, pharmacist.
Scope and Contents note
Portraits, photograph with horse, and after graduating from USC with degree in pharmacy.
box 11, folder 11
Emily and Rufus Portwig, and their residences.
Scope and Contents note
Includes country home at Val Verde, desert home in Victorville, and Los Angeles home
box 11, folder 12
Party given by Emily Brown Childress (later Portwig) at her home.
1918.
box 12, folder 1
Samuel Prince and family, Pasadena pioneers.
b. 1844- d. 1907.
Scope and Contents note
Includes brothers Miller and James.
box 12, folder 2
Arthur Prince.
Scope and Contents note
District Superintendent for Enterprise School District. Includes 1925 USC graduation photograph.
box 12, folder 3
Rev. William Prince, second wedding.
Scope and Contents note
related to Samuel Prince family?
box 12, folder 4
Family of Francis Marion Ray.
1877-1951.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs c. 1877 of Francis Marion Ray, Lucinda Ray, Clarissa Reeves Ray. Class photograph from 1882 Sacramento
school. Lucy Jane Ray (c. 1891), Mrs. Maud Ray Simons, George Ray, Nathan Ray, Charlie Ray, Clarissa Wildy, and Marion Wildy.
See also Box 15, Folder 14.
box 12, folder 5
Mrs. Fred Reddy (nee: Marcia McFarlin).
Scope and Contents note
Negative
box 12, folder 6
John Riddle Sr. and Jr.
1925.
Scope and Contents note
Photograph of John Riddle Sr. on USC football team (1925), and his son John Riddle Jr., artist and art curator, with family.
box 12, folder 7
"Roberts and Hinds Families" Binder.
Scope and Contents note
Photographs of Frederick Roberts and Pearl Hinds families, from a binder compiled by Miriam Matthews
box 12, folder 8
Frederick Madison Roberts, newspaper owner and editor and California State Assemblyman.
Scope and Contents note
Individual portraits of Frederick Roberts from youth to adulthood.
box 12, folder 9
Andrew J. Roberts and family.
Scope and Contents note
Andrew Roberts, sons Frederick and William, and daughter Essie
box 12, folder 10
A.J. Roberts and Sons Funeral Home.
box 12, folder 11
Gloria Roberts, daughter of Frederick Madison Roberts.
box 12, folder 12
Dedication of Frederick Roberts Park in his honor.
Scope and Contents note
His wife receives key to the park
box 12, folder 13
Unidentified Roberts family.
Scope and Contents note
Photographs of adults and children.
box 13, folder 1
Pearl Hinds (later married Frederick Roberts).
Scope and Contents note
Includes school and graduation portraits, bridal portrait, and community involvement.
box 13, folder 2
Wiley Hinds and wife (parents of Pearl Hinds).
box 13, folder 4
Charlemae Hill Rollins, librarian.
b. 1897- d. 1979.
Scope and Contents note
Description from Miriam Matthews "Distinguished librarian, noted author, dedicated humanitarian, crusader against stereotypes.
box 13, folder 5
John Winiford Rout.
1924.
Scope and Contents note
Graduation photograph
box 13, folder 6
Mattie Scott Nelson and family.
Scope and Contents note
Scott family at home on San Julian St., Los Angeles. Mattie Scott Nelson's sister and her husband. Related to Lora Toombs
Scott family.
box 13, folder 7
John and Margaret Scott, portraits as young people.
undated.
Scope and Contents note
Owners of Scott's hall, civic leaders, pioneer members of First A.M.E. Church.
box 13, folder 8
Margaret Scott.
b. 1862- d. 1969.
Scope and Contents note
Includes individual portraits and a photograph of Margaret at the Sojourner Truth clubhouse, of which she was a co-founder
in 1904.
box 13, folder 9
John and Margaret Scott, business and residential properties.
1905- ?.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of Scott's Hall
box 13, folder 10
Margaret Scott as a centenarian.
1965-1967.
Scope and Contents note
Photographs of Margaret Scott on her 103rd, 104th, and 105th birthdays.
box 13, folder 11
Margaret Scott Memorial tea.
1969.
Scope and Contents note
Held at Sojourner Truth Clubhouse. Photograph of group holding Margaret's portrait.
Lora Toombs Scott family.
box 13, folder 12
Lora Toombs Scott, portrait.
b. 1895.
Scope and Contents note
Born and raised in Northern California. A 1978 oral history interview of Scott can be found at www.archive.org.
box 13, folder 13
Relatives of Lora Toombs Scott.
1800s.
Scope and Contents note
William and Minerva Robinson (grandparents), Pauline Logan, James Logan, Thomas Logan, Clara Logan Frazier (aunt), and other
Logan family members.
box 13, folder 14
Lora Toombs Scott's relatives (negatives).
box 13, folder 15
Leslie Shaw, first black postmaster in Los Angeles, and his wife Ann.
Scope and Contents note
Portrait of Ann and photograph of Leslie being sworn in as postmaster.
box 13, folder 16
Family of J.H. Skanks, barber.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph of Skanks family residence, Mrs. Skanks entertaining in her home, a portrait of five generations of women
in the family, and Eva Allensworth Skanks who married Harrie Skanks. For more on Allensworth family see Box 5 Folder 5.
box 13, folder 17
Margaret Smart.
undated.
Scope and Contents note
Portrait of young woman
box 13, folder 18
Nolle Smith, businessman and diplomat in Hawaii.
1938.
Scope and Contents note
Photograph of Smith returning home to Honolulu after a trip to Los Angeles. Signed to Charles and Clarissa, "After a wonderful
Summer, 1938, Nolle"
John and Vada Somerville family.
box 14, folder 1
Dr. John Somerville, dentist and civic leader.
b. 1882- d. 1973.
Scope and Contents note
Portraits of John Somerville, born in Jamaica and first black graduate of USC School of Dentistry (1907). He also 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.
box 14, folder 2
Dr. Vada Somerville, dentist.
Scope and Contents note
Vada Somerville (born Vada Watson) of Pomona also graduated from USC in dentistry (1918) and entered into the practice with
her husband John Somerville. She was highly involved in several civic and community organizations.
box 14, folder 3
John and Vada Somerville, couple and anniversary photographs.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of 35th anniversary, 50th anniversary, and as a young married couple.
box 14, folder 4
Vada Watson family.
Scope and Contents note
Vada Watson's mother and brothers Welcome and John Emmanuel Watson
box 14, folder 5
Somerville residences.
Scope and Contents note
Includes homes on S. Harvard Blvd., Virginia Rd., and an unidentified location.
box 14, folder 6
Somerville Hotel.
1928.
Scope and Contents note
First opened in 1928, includes photographs of exterior and interior of hotel owned by John and Vada Somerville.
box 14, folder 7
Hotel Somerville, ground-breaking.
1928.
Scope and Contents note
John and Vada Somerville, along with supporters, at ground-breaking for hotel
box 14, folder 8
La Vada Apartments.
Scope and Contents note
Property owned by Somervilles
box 14, folder 9
Photo prints of documents relating to Somervilles.
Scope and Contents note
Emigration permit for John Somerville from Jamaica to California (1902), honorary Doctor of Laws from Bethune-Cookman College,
honorary officer of British Order from Queen Elizabeth, certificate of honor for John and Vada on their 50th anniversary
box 14, folder 10
Somerville community activities (1).
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of John and Vada's involvement in community service, fraternal organizations, clubs, and civil rights
organizations.
box 14, folder 11
Somerville community activities (2).
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of John and Vada's involvement in community service, fraternal organizations, clubs, and civil rights
organizations.
box 14, folder 12
Reception for Mr. and Mrs. R.C. Somerville of Linstead, Jamaica.
box 14, folder 13
Vada Somerville hosts Eleanor Roosevelt.
box 14, folder 14
John Somerville as candidate for L.A. City Council and founding member of NAACP.
box 14, folder 15
John Somerville and Police Commissioner and receiving Order of the British Empire.
box 14, folder 16
Friends and relatives of Somervilles.
Virginia Stephens and family.
box 15, folder 1
Virginia Stephens, first black female lawyer in California, as a child in school.
Scope and Contents note
Includes photograph on a tricycle, class photo at an Oakland elementary school (1914), class photo at Standard School in Monterey
County, yearbook page from High School senior yearbook.
box 15, folder 2
Virginia Stephens, as young adult.
Scope and Contents note
Includes yearbook page as University of California graduate, photograph of Virginia attending a wedding, and group photo of
a sorority (AKA?)
box 15, folder 3
Portraits of Virginia Stephens, as adult.
box 15, folder 4
Stephens Restaurant, Oakland CA.
Scope and Contents note
Includes exterior and interior views.
box 15, folder 5
William and Pauline Stephens, parents of Virginia.
Scope and Contents note
Includes portraits from their marriage to middle-age. Mother, Pauline Stephens can also be found in box 13 folder 13 under
her maiden name Pauline Logan. Also included is a portrait of Grace Logan Blick, sister of Pauline Stephens.
box 15, folder 6
Relatives and friends of Virginia Stephens.
Scope and Contents note
Includes grandmother, Annie Flood, and an unidentified actress.
box 15, folder 7
Virginia Stephens' admission to practice law.
1929.
box 15, folder 8
Dr. Ruth Temple, physician and community health advocate.
Scope and Contents note
In 1918 Temple was the first black female graduate of Loma Linda University, and shortly after she began opening up health
clinics providing free medical services and education. Later she was on the teaching staff of White Memorial hospital in Los
Angeles.
James Monroe Vena family.
box 15, folder 9
James Monroe Vena family.
Scope and Contents note
Portraits of James Vena, his wife, his son James Monroe Vena Jr., daughters Dorothy and Yvonne. Also includes print of a page
from the Liberator of James Vena as secretary of the Business Men's Association, 1904, and negative of James Vena with a survey
team on the Los Angeles Plaza in the 1890s. Portrait of Cyrus Vena, father of James Vena. From collection of Los Angeles Public
School teacher Dorothy Vena Johnson (who married Ivan J. Johnson, see box 10, folders 8-10.)
box 15, folder 10
Mrs. Wade and daughter.
Scope and Contents note
Photo by A.C. Garrott, no other identification.
box 15, folder 11
Waugh - Cushnie Family.
c. 1906- 1918.
Scope and Contents note
Henry Clay Waugh; son Felix Hancock Waugh and his wife Mamie Lovett (Waugh); Mamie's mother Frances Merriweather Lovett; George
and Amy O'Graffie Cushnie with oldest child Eugenia Cushnie Mason; and an unidentified man.
box 15, folder 12
Dr. Fred Roscoe Whiteman, physician and Army captain.
c. 1943.
Scope and Contents note
Photograph of Whiteman has captain of 7th Regiment, Camp Temescal in Corona, CA; another photograph of Whiteman with his car.
box 15, folder 13
Minnie and Gustave Wickliffe family.
Scope and Contents note
Includes portrait of Minnie Wickliffe as graduate of Oberlin. She was also a charter member of the first graduate chapter
of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority in Los Angeles, 1927. Also included is a family portrait of Minnie, Gustave and children.
box 15, folder 14
Clarissa Wildy and family photo album.
c. 1891.
Scope and Contents note
Includes portrait of Clarissa Wildy, her mother Lucy Jane Ray, Marion Edwin Wildy, and a family portrait of David and Lucy
Ray Hundley with their three nieces. Others secured from Lucy Jane Ray's photo album include: a portrait of Mr. and Mrs. Owen
(nee: Mabelle Hutton), and a young girl with a doll on the porch to her home in Oakland, 1913. Also, see Box 12, Folder 4
for more on this family.
box 15, folder 15
Charles E. Williams Sr.
Scope and Contents note
Dr. Williams was a leading member of the National Dental Association, an African American organization, and trained many African
American dental technicians.
box 15, folder 16
Wife, daughters, granddaughters, great-grandson of John W. Williams.
Scope and Contents note
A photograph of four generations: Mrs. Williams (his wife), Mrs. Bessie Williams Dones (daughter), Mrs. Sylvetta B. Smith
(granddaughter), and Pete Smith (great-grandson).
Small Portraits and Snapshots.
box 16, folder 1
Small portraits and snapshots of African American families.
Scope and Contents note
Includes Lois Towns Solomon, Helena Hester Harper, Mrs. Mitchell, group portrait of University Singers of New Orleans and
several unidentified. Many appear to be family or friends of Lois Towns Solomon.
box 16, folder 2
Framed portraits of African American leaders in Los Angeles.
Scope and Contents note
Includes Betty Hill, Frederick Roberts, and Dorothy Vena Johnson. Also includes photograph of the Tyler residence.
Prints of pages from African American periodicals.
box 16, folder 3
Prominent Individuals featured in African American Periodicals.
Scope and Contents note
Periodicals include John Fowler's Spreading Joy c.1890s, California Negro Directory 1942-1943, the Los Angeles Sentinel, and
one unidentified.
Female members of same family?.
Scope and Contents note
Matthews grouped these unidentified portraits together; perhaps they are from the same family.
box 16, folder 5
Unidentified group.
Scope and Contents note
These unidentified photographs were also grouped together by Miriam Matthews.
box 16, folder 7
George Wilson.
Scope and Contents note
Past grandmaster, past patron, Martha Chapter #6. From collection of Vivian Marsh.
box 16, folder 8
Kate Sanderson Degrasse.
Scope and Contents note
granddaughter of Rev. Sanderson. See box 19, folder 4.
box 16, folder 9
Kate Bradley Stovall, founder of Southern California Alumni Association.
Unidentified individuals and groups.
box 16, folder 10
Unidentified individuals and groups (1 of 2).
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs unidentified by Miriam Matthews.
box 16, folder 11
Unidentified individuals and groups (2 of 2).
box 16, folder 12
Leroy Weekes, physician and community leader.
Scope and Contents note
Includes portrait of Weekes, obstetrician, president of the Urban League, and business leader.
box 16, folder 13
Cushnie family.
Scope and Contents note
Includes unidentified photographs found in an envelope labeled, Cushnie.
box 16, folder 14
Hugh and Ruth Bell at their wedding.
Scope and Contents note
Included in portrait: Juanita Ellsworth, Ella Matthews, Edythe Pryce, and Alma Thomas.
