Justitia Davis papers, 1901-2000

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Summary

Creators:
Davis, Justitia.
Abstract:
The Justitia Davis papers include scrapbooks, photographs, music and theatrical programs, newspaper clippings, artifacts, and certificates that document the life and career of actor and music teacher Justitia Davis. The papers are arranged into three series: Performing arts, Education, and Photographs. The bulk of the papers consist of 468 photographs most of which are personal photographs of Davis’ family and friends in the 1920s-1940s.
Extent:
2 linear feet (5 boxes + 2 oversized boxes)
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English
Preferred citation:

Justitia Davis papers, MS 82, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library. Oakland, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The Justitia Davis papers include scrapbooks, photographs, music and theatrical programs, newspaper clippings, artifacts, and certificates that document the life and career of actor and music teacher Justitia Davis. The papers are arranged into four series: Performing arts, Education, Photographs, and Assorted printed material. The bulk of the papers consist of 471 photographs most of which are personal photographs of Davis’ family and friends in the 1920s-1940s. The photographs are arranged into five subseries: Performing arts, Family photographs, 3rd Baptist Church Youth Choir, Syd’s Barbershop, and Assorted.

The performing arts series includes music and theatrical programs, newspaper clippings, artifacts documenting Justitia Davis' career as an actress and music teacher. The two scrapbooks document Davis' performances in The Swing Mikado and Run Little Chillun and include telegrams, theatrical programs, photographs, and newspaper clippings. The music and theatrical programs include programs of Davis’ student piano concerts at the Chapel at the Chimes during the 1940s and a program from the University of California Berkeley’s production of A Raisin in the Sun in 1962. The education series includes two of Davis’ yearbooks, The Arrow, from Garfield High School in Seattle, Washington in 1934 and 1936 and Davis’ music teacher certificate.

Biographical / historical:

Singer, actress, pianist, and music teacher Justitia Davis Scott (1918-1976) was born on May 31, 1918 in Oakland, California the daughter of music director and teacher Lillian Jeter Davis and T. M. Davis. After attending schools in Oakland, Davis transferred to Garfield High School in Seattle, Washington during her sophomore year graduating in 1936.

Following high school, Davis was active in Elmer Keeton’s Bay Area Negro Chorus before landing the lead role of Sulamai in the 1938 Federal Theatre Project’s San Francisco production of Hall Johnson’s Run Little Chillun. Run Little Chillun’s critical and box office success spurred an adaptation of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Swing Mikado the following year, featuring Davis in the role of Yum-Yum opposite Jester Hairston. The Swing Mikado production included performances at San Francisco’s Geary Theatre and at the Golden Gate International Exposition at Treasure Island in June, 1934.

During 1940s, Davis worked as a piano teacher and continued to be active in Elmer Keeton’s Chorus. Her piano students performed recitals at the Chapel of the Chimes throughout the 1940s-1950s and she served as a soloist and co-director of Keeton Memorial Chorus. In the 1960s, she also acted in the role of Mama Younger in a 1961 production of Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun at the University of California Berkeley, and she replaced Gertrude Jeanette in an off-Broadway production of To Be Young, Gifted, and Black.

Processing information:

Processed by Sean Heyliger, 11/01/2013.

Arrangement:

Series I. Performing Arts Series II. Education Series III. Photographs Series IV. Assorted printed material

Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

No access restrictions. Collection is open to the public.

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

Terms of access:

Permission to publish from the Justitia Davis Papers must be obtained from the African American Museum & Library at Oakland.

Preferred citation:

Justitia Davis papers, MS 82, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library. Oakland, California.

Location of this collection:
659 14th Street
Oakland, CA 94612, US
Contact:
(510) 637-0198
aamlo@oaklandlibrary.org
Website