Guide to the Miriam Matthews Photograph Collection

Sean Heyliger

African American Museum and Library at Oakland

659 14th Street

Oakland, California 94612

Phone: (510) 637-0198

Fax: (510) 637-0204

Email: aamlo@oaklandlibrary.org

URL: http://www.oaklandlibrary.org/locations/african-american-museum-library-oakland

Guide to the Miriam Matthews Photograph Collection

African American Museum and Library at Oakland

Oakland, California

Processed by:: Sean Heyliger
Date Completed:: 02/20/2013
Encoded by:: Sean Heyliger

Descriptive Summary

Title: Miriam Matthews Photograph collection

Dates: 1955-1964

Collection number: MS 19

Collection Size: 25 linear feet (1 box)

Creator: Matthews, Miriam

Repository: African American Museum and Library at Oakland (Oakland, Calif.)

Oakland, CA 94612

Abstract: The Miriam Matthews Photographic Collection consists of 121 photographic prints collected by Miriam Matthews largely related to African American history in California. Roughly half of the collection is photographs of notable African American politicians taken by photographer Harry A. Adams in Southern California between 1955-1964. The remaining photographs are reproductions of images held by other institutions.

Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English

Access

No access restrictions. Collection is open to the public.

Access Restrictions

Materials are for use in-library only, non-circulating.

Publication Rights

Permission to publish from the Miriam Matthews Photograph Collection must be obtained from the African American Museum and Library at Oakland.

Preferred Citation

Miriam Matthews Photograph collection, MS 19, African American Museum and Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library. Oakland, California.

Biography / Administrative History

Born in 1905 in Pensacola, Florida to Reuben Hearde and Fannie (Elijah) Matthews, Miriam Matthews (1905-2003) was the Los Angeles Public Library's first professional African American librarian and an important early collector of African American art and history. Matthews earned degrees in librarianship from the University of California at Berkeley and the University of Chicago and served as a branch and regional library manager for the Los Angeles Public Library for 33 years between 1927-1960. She was active in professional and civic organizations and received numerous awards for her contributions to African American history.

Scope and Content of Collection

The Miriam Matthews Photographic Collection consists of 121 photographic prints collected by Miriam Matthews largely related to African American history in California. Roughly half of the collection is photographs of notable African American politicians taken by photographer Harry A. Adams in Southern California between 1955-1964. The remaining photographs are reproductions of images held by other institutions.

Arrangement

Series I. Photographs

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

African American politicians--California.

Other Finding Aids

Miriam Matthews collection of Los Angeles Newspapers on African Americans (Collection Number 1839). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, UCLA. Miriam Matthews Photographic collection (Collection Number 1889). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, UCLA. Miriam Matthews papers (Collection Number 1804). Department of Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, UCLA.

Photographs

Physical Description: 4 folders

Series Scope and Content Summary

Includes 121 photographs mostly related to African American history in California. Approximately half of the photographs are reproductions.

Arrangement

Arranged by photograph accession number.

Box 1:1

Collage of 44 individual portraits of members of Vallejo Society of California [reproduction] [001] circa 1880

Box 1:1

Promotional handbill advertising Allensworth, California [reproduction] [002] circa 1912

Box 1:1

Mervyn Dymally with wife, sons, and daughter seated on sofa [003] 1964

Box 1:1

Byron Rumford standing next to unidentified man and woman [004] 1964

Box 1:1

Byron Rumford standing next to unidentified man and woman [005] 1964

Box 1:1

Tom Bradley (left) and Billy G. Mills (center) receiving a certification from an unidentified man [006] 1963

Box 1:1

Mervyn Dymally and his family are seated on the couch [007] 1964

Box 1:1

Group photograph at stadium (left-right): unidentified man, Mervyn Dymally, unidentified man, Mr. Oakes, unidentified man [008] circa 1964

Box 1:1

Portrait of photographer Harry H. Adams [009] 1963

Box 1:1

Dr. R. Claude Rudson is receiving a commendation with three unidentified men [010] 1964

Box 1:1

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is standing at the pulpit [2 copies] [011] 1964

Box 1:1

Portrait of Billy Mills, L.A. City Council Judge [012] 1964

Box 1:1

'Stag' party for Curtis C. Taylor at the home of Earl Brandy [013] 1961

Box 1:1

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. signing book with three unidentified men [014] 1964

Box 1:1

Tom Bradley (center) with two unidentified men [015] 1963

Box 1:1

Group photograph of unidentified man, unidentified man, Walter Reuther, Whitney Young, Jr., unidentified man [016] 1963

Box 1:1

Portrait of an unidentified African American woman [reproduction] [017], undated

Box 1:1

Portrait of Dr. Leroy Weekes [018], circa 1955

Box 1:1

Portrait of Mervyn Dymally [019], 1960

Box 1:1

Roy Fowler seated on the railing of a porch [reproduction] [020] 1918

Box 1:1

Adobe house owned by Maria Rita De Valdez [reproduction] [021], circa 1920

Box 1:1

Portrait of Mrs. Allen Allensworth [reproduction] [022] circa 1912

Box 1:1

Portrait of Bessie Brewington [reproduction] [023] circa 1915

Box 1:1

Owens family 'Mother Goose' party among those present: Mrs. Titus Alexander, Mamie Cunningham White, Florence Weimer, Dr. and Mrs. A.C. Garrott, Mrs. Louisa Lee, Rev. Shields, Robert C. Owens, Elbridge Lee, Anna Dugger Owens, as Mother Goose, Thomas Pillows, Harvey Cunningham, the Holts, two of the Blodgett brothers, and others' [reproduction] [024] 1906

Box 1:1

E. F. Joseph self-portrait [reproduction] [025] circa 1932

Box 1:1

Pearl Hinds with unidentified women [026] circa 1955

Box 1:1

Daughters of Fredrick Roberts with unidentified woman [027] circa 1964

Box 1:1

James Weldon Johnson standing in front of house [reproduction] [028] circa 1920

Box 1:1

General Andres Pico is seated with a black and white outfit [reproduction] [034] circa 1848

Box 1:1

Jose Moreno on horseback with an unidentified woman [reproduction] [030] circa 1845

Box 1:2

Portrait of Thurgood Marshall [031] undated

Box 1:2

Children in classroom, National Youth Administration #5, Riverside, California [reproduction] [032] circa 1938

Box 1:2

Black and white gold miners in Spanish Flat [reproduction][033] 1852

Box 1:2

General Andres Pico is seated with a black and white outfit [reproduction] [034] circa 1846

Box 1:2

Photograph of Manuel Moreno [reproduction] [035] circa 1905

Box 1:2

Frank Silvera standing with a glass in his right hand [reproduction][036] circa 1960

Box 1:2

Drawing of York who was with Lewis and Clarke during their expedition [reproduction] [037] circa 1805

Box 1:2

Portrait of Jimmy Smith [reproduction] [038] circa 1938

Box 1:2

Two unidentified men seated atop a wooden wagon which is harnessed to a team of horses, sign atop the building reads 'Gus. Thompson Livery and Boarding Stable' [reproduction] [039] circa 1900

Box 1:2

Mr. and Mrs. John Scott standing on the steps of a wood frame two story building with an unidentified man [reproduction] [040] circa 1901

Box 1:2

Advertisement for Southern area boys' club in Los Angeles, California [reproduction] [041] 1957

Box 1:2

Group photograph of San Diego postal employees [reproduction] [042] undated

Box 1:2

Portrait of Biddy Mason [reproduction] [043] circa 1865

Box 1:2

Wedding photograph of Rev. William Prince and his second wife [reproduction] [044] circa 1920

Box 1:2

Portrait of Lois Towns, first black nurse at Los Angeles County General Hospital [reproduction] [046] circa 1920

Box 1:2

Portrait of Mrs. Booker T. Washington [reproduction] [047] circa 1880

Box 1:2

Portrait of Mrs. Booker T. Washington [reproduction] [048] circa 1880

Box 1:2

Portrait of Alvin Coffey [049] undated

Box 1:2

Laura Chrisman standing by car [reproduction] [050] 1920

Box 1:2

Portrait of Garland Anderson [reproduction] [051] 1925

Box 1:2

Garland Anderson in car with crowd in background [052] undated

Box 1:2

Five unidentified women and three unidentified men standing in front of house [reproduction] [053] circa 1925

Box 1:2

Gladys DeJarnette and Alva Curtis Garrott Jr. playing with wooden wagons [reproduction] [054] circa 1907

Box 1:2

Portrait of Benjamin Talbot [reproduction] [055] circa 1880

Box 1:2

Group photograph of Pasadena Club Women [reproduction] [056] circa 1910

Box 1:2

Citizens' Band playing in front of New Age Publishing Co., Los Angeles, California [reproduction] [058] circa 1906

Box 1:2

Portrait of Alvin Coffey [reproduction] [059] circa 1880

Box 1:2

Photograph of adobe building built by a member of the Nieto family [060] circa 1960

Box 1:2

Portrait of Colonel Allen Allensworth wearing military uniform [reproduction][061] circa 1910

Box 1:2

Watercolor of Luis Quintero and his wife [reproduction] [062] circa 1781

Box 1:2

Unidentified group photograph [063] undated

Box 1:2

Group photograph of football team [reproduction] [064] circa 1907

Box 1:2

Group photograph of people standing on a train platform [reproduction] [065] circa 1946

Box 1:3

Unidentified group of men wearing white coats and black pants [066] circa 1955

Box 1:3

Red Spikes with his Majors and Minors Orchestra [reproduction] [068] 1928

Box 1:3

Outdoor reception for Mr. and Mrs. R.C. Somerville of Jamaica [069] undated

Box 1:3

Photograph of Dr. Vada J. Somerville [reproduction] [070] circa 1945

Box 1:3

Permit for James Nicholson and John Somerville to leave Jamaica for the U.S.A. [reproduction] [071] circa 1902

Box 1:3

Photograph of the Club House in Sacramento, California with a unidentified person standing on the steps at the front entrance of the Club House [reproduction] [072] undated

Box 1:3

Black seamen onboard ship [reproduction] [073] undated

Box 1:3

Victoria Shorey, daughter of Capt. Shorey [reproduction] [074] undated

Box 1:3

Home of General Andreas Pico near San Fernando Mission [reproduction] [075] circa 1915

Box 1:3

Photograph of wife of Pio Pico's brother [reproduction] [076] circa 1840

Box 1:3

Five unidentified women [077] 1960

Box 1:3

Photograph of four unidentified women [078] 1960

Box 1:3

Four women around a table looking at a poster of the Y.W.C.A. Woodlawn Center [079] 1960

Box 1:3

Unidentified group seated at dining table [080] circa 1960

Box 1:3

Congressman Gus Hawkins (right) standing with unidentified man and women [081] 1964

Box 1:3

Portrait of Samuel Booth [reproduction][082] circa 1865

Box 1:3

Group of ten unidentified men [083] 1963

Box 1:3

Photograph of Bernard Jefferson [first from the left] with seven unidentified men [084] circa 1957

Box 1:3

Photograph of a man with Pabst Blue Ribbon exhibit in storefront window of the California Eagle Newspaper [085] undated

Box 1:3

Group photograph of unidentified women [086] 1962

Box 1:3

Kelsey's Termite Control trucks parked under Kellog's Corn Flakes billboard [087] undated

Box 1:3

Mr. Woods of Woods Construction Company with unidentified persons [088] 1963

Box 1:3

Members of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters holding picket signs [089] 1963

Box 1:3

Dentist office of Dr. Evans [090] undated

Box 1:3

Photograph of Dr. Herbert Fairs and his wife [091] 1960

Box 1:3

Mrs. Herbert Fairs, Dr. Herbert Fairs, Augustus Hawkins, and unidentified man [092] 1963

Box 1:3

Ribbon-cutting ceremony with Billy Mills, Leon Washington, Gus Hawkins, and Tom Bradley [093] 1964

Box 1:3

Norman Houston (right) with unidentified man and woman [094] 1964

Box 1:3

Group photograph of unidentified man and woman standing at Enterprise Savings bank teller window [095] 1964

Box 1:3

Three unidentified men holding check in front of Enterprise Savings window [096] 1963

Box 1:3

Ribbon-cutting ceremony with unidentified man and woman [097] undated

Box 1:3

Portrait of Samuel Coleridge Taylor seated at the piano [reproduction] [098] circa 1910

Box 1:3

Group photograph of the L. A. Police Department Traffic Squad [reproduction] [099] circa 1914

Box 1:3

Augustus F. Hawkins [center], Mervyn Dymally [right], and unidentified man [100] circa 1962

Box 1:4

Group photograph of four people standing with Byron Rumford (left) [101] circa 1964

Box 1:4

Group of female dancers in front of theater [102] 1963

Box 1:4

Group photograph of members of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority [103] 1963

Box 1:4

Unidentified member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority [104] 1963

Box 1:4

Unidentified group photograph [105] 1964

Box 1:4

Unidentified group photograph [106] 1962

Box 1:4

Unidentified man and woman reading court transcript [107] 1960

Box 1:4

Firefighters in burnout building at San Pedro and Jefferson [108] 1959

Box 1:4

Photograph of Dr. Voda J. Sommerville [109] circa 1960

Box 1:4

Dr. John Alexander and Voda Sommerville on their 50th wedding anniversary [reproduction] [110] 1962

Box 1:4

Group photograph of Dr. John Alexander and Voda Sommerville on their 50th wedding anniversary [111] 1962

Box 1:4

Four unidentified men looking at document [112] 1962

Box 1:4

Groundbreaking ceremony (left-right): unidentified man, unidentified man, Gilbert Lindsey, Leon Washington, unidentified man, furniture store owner [113] undated

Box 1:4

Portrait of Charles Tinsley [reproduction] [114] circa 1910

Box 1:4

Portrait of Refugio Reyes de Roberts [reproduction] [115] circa 1880

Box 1:4

Portrait of Isidrio Reyes [reproduction] [116] circa 1880

Box 1:4

Fernando Reyes standing next to wagon [reproduction] [117] circa 1880

Box 1:4

Portrait of Voda Sommerville [reproduction] [118] circa 1925

Box 1:4

Clarence Muse New Year Greeting [reproduction][119] circa 1930

Box 1:4

Group photograph (left-right): Clarence Brooks, Beulah Hall, Noble Johnson, Dr. James Smith [reproduction][120] circa 1921

Box 1:4

Noble Johnson with unidentified cameraman [reproduction][121] circa 1925