The interviews in the series African American Architects of Los Angeles document the work of selected African American architects who have enhanced the built environment, principally in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Influenced by earlier pioneers such as Paul R. Williams, these individuals ...
Biographical Note:
African American architect who designed schools and public buildings, including Carson City Hall and Community Center, Van Nuys State Office Building, and LAX Parking Structures 1, 3, and 4. Championed minorities in the architectural profession, creating mentorship programs for schools in the Los...
Interviews in this series were made possible by support from the UCLA Center for African American Studies, Institute of American Cultures. This is the first of several Oral History Program series focusing on social, cultural, economic, and political aspects of African American citizens in the Lo...
Biographical Note:
Chief executive officer and chair of Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company, one of the largest Black-owned insurance companies in the United States.
Interviews in this series were made possible by support from the UCLA Center for African American Studies, Institute of American Cultures. This is the first of several Oral History Program series focusing on social, cultural, economic, and political aspects of African American citizens in the Lo...
Biographical Note:
Civil rights activist and senior pastor of the Second Baptist Church, the oldest black Baptist church in Los Angeles.
Interviews in this series were made possible by support from the UCLA Center for African American Studies, Institute of American Cultures. This is the first of several Oral History Program series focusing on social, cultural, economic, and political aspects of African American citizens in the Lo...
Biographical Note:
Executive director of the Los Angeles chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Director of Project AHEAD (Accelerating Home Education and Development). Chair of the board of directors of the Los Angeles branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Interviews in this series were made possible by support from the UCLA Center for African American Studies, Institute of American Cultures. This is the first of several Oral History Program series focusing on social, cultural, economic, and political aspects of African American citizens in the Lo...
Biographical Note:
Co-founder, director, and chair of Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company, one of the largest Black-owned insurance companies in the United States.
The interviews in the series African American Architects of Los Angeles document the work of selected African American architects who have enhanced the built environment, principally in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Influenced by earlier pioneers such as Paul R. Williams, these individuals ...
Biographical Note:
African American architect who designed homes and churches in Los Angeles, including Chapel of Faith Baptist Church, Greater Life Missionary Baptist Church, and Greater New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church.
Interviews in this series were made possible by support from the UCLA Center for African American Studies, Institute of American Cultures. This is the first of several Oral History Program series focusing on social, cultural, economic, and political aspects of African American citizens in the Lo...
Biographical Note:
62nd district California State Assembly member from 1935 to 1963. Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1963 to 1991 serving as the he first black politician west of the Mississippi River elected to the House of Representatives.
The interviews in the series African American Architects of Los Angeles document the work of selected African American architects who have enhanced the built environment, principally in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Influenced by earlier pioneers such as Paul R. Williams, these individuals ...
Biographical Note:
African American architect who designed government buildings, schools, homes, and civic centers, including Compton City Hall, South Central Los Angeles Multi-service and Child Development Center, and Compton Civic Center.
The interviews in the series African American Architects of Los Angeles document the work of selected African American architects who have enhanced the built environment, principally in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Influenced by earlier pioneers such as Paul R. Williams, these individuals ...
Biographical Note:
African American architect and educator who designed homes, public buildings, and commercial spaces, including LAX Bradley International Terminal, the Compton Police Department building, and Ujima Village public housing project.
Interviews in this series were made possible by support from the UCLA Center for African American Studies, Institute of American Cultures. This is the first of several Oral History Program series focusing on social, cultural, economic, and political aspects of African American citizens in the Lo...
Biographical Note:
President of Angelus Funeral Home, a long-term black-owned business in Los Angeles founded in 1925. Founder and president of radio station KJLH.
Interviews in this series were made possible by support from the UCLA Center for African American Studies, Institute of American Cultures. This is the first of several Oral History Program series focusing on social, cultural, economic, and political aspects of African American citizens in the Lo...
Biographical Note:
Manager of special field markets for Anheuser-Busch brewing company.
The interviews in the series African American Architects of Los Angeles document the work of selected African American architects who have enhanced the built environment, principally in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Influenced by earlier pioneers such as Paul R. Williams, these individuals ...
Biographical Note:
African American architect and educator who designed large scale projects such as LAX Terminal One, San Bernardino City Hall, and the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo. First African American woman to become a licensed architect in the U.S.
Interviews in this series were made possible by support from the UCLA Center for African American Studies, Institute of American Cultures. This is the first of several Oral History Program series focusing on social, cultural, economic, and political aspects of African American citizens in the Lo...
Biographical Note:
Publisher and business manager for the Los Angeles Sentinel.
Interviews in this series were made possible by support from the UCLA Center for African American Studies, Institute of American Cultures. This is the first of several Oral History Program series focusing on social, cultural, economic, and political aspects of African American citizens in the Lo...
Biographical Note:
Owner-administrator of King Bail Bond Agency and administrator for the Pepperdine University School of Business and Management.
Civil rights activist and president of branches of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in Louisiana and Los Angeles.
This series documents efforts to secure quality education for Black students in the Los Angeles area in the years 1950-2000. This includes the issues of integration/desegregation, increasing the numbers of Black teachers and administrators and the struggle against discriminatory hiring practice...
Biographical Note:
Assistant superintendent, principal, and educator of all ages in Los Angeles Unified School District.
This series includes interviews with studio workers who gained entry to the motion picture industry following Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. They were donated to the UCLA Center for Oral History Research by Andrew Dawson of the University of Greenwich, London, who conducted them as part ...
Biographical Note:
Camera operator. Active in the union International Association for the Study of Traditional Environments (IASTE) Local 659.
This series includes interviews with studio workers who gained entry to the motion picture industry following Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. They were donated to the UCLA Center for Oral History Research by Andrew Dawson of the University of Greenwich, London, who conducted them as part ...
Biographical Note:
Crewman. One of the first African Americans to work in Hollywood in the areas of stage lighting, rigging, and as a best boy.
Interviews in this series extend the UCLA Oral History Program's "Central Avenue Sounds" series and preserve the spoken memories of musicians who were active in the jazz music scene in Los Angeles from the 1950s to the 1970s. This series includes a broad range of interviewees, some of whom are we...
Interviews in this series extend the UCLA Oral History Program's "Central Avenue Sounds" series and preserve the spoken memories of musicians who were active in the jazz music scene in Los Angeles from the 1950s to the 1970s. This series includes a broad range of interviewees, some of whom are we...
Interviews in this series extend the UCLA Oral History Program's "Central Avenue Sounds" series and preserve the spoken memories of musicians who were active in the jazz music scene in Los Angeles from the 1950s to the 1970s. This series includes a broad range of interviewees, some of whom are we...
Biographical Note:
Jazz bass player and UCLA adjunct associate professor of music.
This series documents efforts to secure quality education for Black students in the Los Angeles area in the years 1950-2000. This includes the issues of integration/desegregation, increasing the numbers of Black teachers and administrators and the struggle against discriminatory hiring practice...
Biographical Note:
First African-American superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District. University of California, Los Angeles coordinator of education-related research.
This series documents efforts to secure quality education for Black students in the Los Angeles area in the years 1950-2000. This includes the issues of integration/desegregation, increasing the numbers of Black teachers and administrators and the struggle against discriminatory hiring practice...
Biographical Note:
Teacher, elementary school principal, and assistant superintendent for the Los Angeles Unified School District. UCLA adjunct professor of education and Pepperdine University assistant professor of education. Founder of Council of Black Administrators (COBA), National and Western Regional Councils...
This series documents community organizations and institutions that arose in the aftermath of the Watts Rebellion to address issues such as education, employment, healthcare, housing, transportation, and police harassment. The first phase of the series involved interviews with key organizers of ...
Biographical Note:
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science professor of medicine. Education and health activist.
This series documents black women’s activism in Los Angeles from 1950 to the present, showing how women’s roles in the professions and in religious, civic, and social organizations translated into community activism to address disparities in education, healthcare, housing and political rights and...
Biographical Note:
Ordained Dean at Westminster Presbyterian and civic activist with the Harvard Heights Block Club, different civic committees, and the American Red Cross. Serves on various courts of the church Presbytery, Synod, General Council, and women's division. Vice President of the national United Presbyte...
This series documents black women’s activism in Los Angeles from 1950 to the present, showing how women’s roles in the professions and in religious, civic, and social organizations translated into community activism to address disparities in education, healthcare, housing and political rights and...
Biographical Note:
County of Los Angeles Public Library system librarian serving underrepresented communities. Founding member and president of the California Librarians Black Caucus, member of the California Library Association's Council, and member of various American Library Association committees and programs.
This series documents community organizations and institutions that arose in the aftermath of the Watts Rebellion to address issues such as education, employment, healthcare, housing, transportation, and police harassment. The first phase of the series involved interviews with key organizers of ...
Biographical Note:
California State University, Fullerton, professor of linguistics and expert on ebonics.
This series documents community organizations and institutions that arose in the aftermath of the Watts Rebellion to address issues such as education, employment, healthcare, housing, transportation, and police harassment. The first phase of the series involved interviews with key organizers of ...
Biographical Note:
Advocate for Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center. Executive director of South Central Multipurpose Senior Citizen Center.
This series documents community organizations and institutions that arose in the aftermath of the Watts Rebellion to address issues such as education, employment, healthcare, housing, transportation, and police harassment. The first phase of the series involved interviews with key organizers of ...
This series documents community organizations and institutions that arose in the aftermath of the Watts Rebellion to address issues such as education, employment, healthcare, housing, transportation, and police harassment. The first phase of the series involved interviews with key organizers of ...
Biographical Note:
Mental health specialist and psychiatrist. Medical director of the Community Mental Health Center in Los Angeles.
This series documents community organizations and institutions that arose in the aftermath of the Watts Rebellion to address issues such as education, employment, healthcare, housing, transportation, and police harassment. The first phase of the series involved interviews with key organizers of ...
Biographical Note:
Founder and executive director of Parents of Watts.
This series documents black women’s activism in Los Angeles from 1950 to the present, showing how women’s roles in the professions and in religious, civic, and social organizations translated into community activism to address disparities in education, healthcare, housing and political rights and...
Biographical Note:
Editor and Freelance Writer for the Los Angeles Sentinel, California Eagle Newspaper, Los Angeles Herald Examiner, and Sould Publications. Founder of the annual Youth on Parade Community Achievement Program. Commissioner of the Los Angeles County Music and Performing Arts Commission.
The interviews in the series African Americans in Entertainment and Media are designed to document African Americans in television, radio, theater and film and aims to better understand how they overcame bias and discrimination and were trailblazers who opened doors for other African Americans in...
Biographical Note:
Television and music news reporter, news anchor, and actor. Anchor for Los Angeles local news station, KTLA.
These interviews with African American musicians provide details about the narrators' background, training, influences, and musical choices and discuss their contributions, and connections to the music of black Los Angeles. The series was a collaborative project of the UCLA Center for Oral Histor...
Biographical Note:
Music teacher for the Los Angeles Unified School District and University of Southern California training teacher in the School of Music. Founder of the BEEM (Black Experience as Expressed through Music) Foundation for the Advancement of Music. Commissioner of Cultural Affairs for the city of Los ...
This series includes interviews with African Americans who were involved in Los Angeles politics from the 1940s to the present day. In addition to African American politicians, it includes individuals who could speak to the political history and influence of the black community in Los Angeles. Th...
Biographical Note:
Member of the Los Angeles City Council. Founder of Cunningham Short Berryman and Associates, a public affairs consulting firm advising government officials and small businesses.
These interviews with African American musicians provide details about the narrators' background, training, influences, and musical choices and discuss their contributions, and connections to the music of black Los Angeles. The series was a collaborative project of the UCLA Center for Oral Histor...
Biographical Note:
Founding member of the Watts Prophets, a music and spoken word performance group. Influential in development of hip hop and rap musical styles.
These interviews with African American musicians provide details about the narrators' background, training, influences, and musical choices and discuss their contributions, and connections to the music of black Los Angeles. The series was a collaborative project of the UCLA Center for Oral Histor...
Biographical Note:
Educator, school psychologist, composer, musician, conductor, church and community leader with a focus on gospel music. CEO of the Heritage Music Foundation and founder of the the Gospel House.
This series includes interviews with African Americans who were involved in Los Angeles politics from the 1940s to the present day. In addition to African American politicians, it includes individuals who could speak to the political history and influence of the black community in Los Angeles. Th...
Biographical Note:
Member of the Los Angeles City Council from 1991 to 2001.
This series includes interviews with African Americans who were involved in Los Angeles politics from the 1940s to the present day. In addition to African American politicians, it includes individuals who could speak to the political history and influence of the black community in Los Angeles. Th...
Biographical Note:
Member of the Los Angeles City Council from 1974 to 1991.
These interviews with African American musicians provide details about the narrators' background, training, influences, and musical choices and discuss their contributions, and connections to the music of black Los Angeles. The series was a collaborative project of the UCLA Center for Oral Histor...
Biographical Note:
Prairie View A. & M and California State University, Los Angeles professor of music. Organist of African American hymnal music.
This series documents community organizations and institutions that arose in the aftermath of the Watts Rebellion to address issues such as education, employment, healthcare, housing, transportation, and police harassment. The first phase of the series involved interviews with key organizers of ...
Biographical Note:
Advocate for Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center. Executive director of T.H.E. (To Help Everyone) Clinic. Executive director of the National Health Law Program, staff attorney with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and director of the U.S. Office for Civil Rights in the Department of Health an...
This series documents community organizations and institutions that arose in the aftermath of the Watts Rebellion to address issues such as education, employment, healthcare, housing, transportation, and police harassment. The first phase of the series involved interviews with key organizers of ...
Biographical Note:
Member of the Black Congress and the Long Beach Community Improvement League.
This series documents community organizations and institutions that arose in the aftermath of the Watts Rebellion to address issues such as education, employment, healthcare, housing, transportation, and police harassment. The first phase of the series involved interviews with key organizers of ...
Biographical Note:
Founding member of the Brotherhood Crusade. Manager of the Vera Davis McClendon Youth and Family Center.
This series documents community organizations and institutions that arose in the aftermath of the Watts Rebellion to address issues such as education, employment, healthcare, housing, transportation, and police harassment. The first phase of the series involved interviews with key organizers of ...
Biographical Note:
Co-founder and executive director of the Watts Summer Festival.
This series documents the history of UCLA's Institute of Ethnomusicology, which was founded in 1961 and dissolved in 1974.
Biographical Note:
Performer of Balinese and Javanese music and director of the ethnomusicology program at Loyola Marymount University. Graduate student in ethnomusicology during her time at UCLA.
These interviews with African American musicians provide details about the narrators' background, training, influences, and musical choices and discuss their contributions, and connections to the music of black Los Angeles. The series was a collaborative project of the UCLA Center for Oral Histor...
Biographical Note:
Director of Choral Activities, professor of Ethnomusicology, and head of Music Education at U.C. Davis. Choral director, composer, arranger, author, and editor.
These interviews with African American musicians provide details about the narrators' background, training, influences, and musical choices and discuss their contributions, and connections to the music of black Los Angeles. The series was a collaborative project of the UCLA Center for Oral Histor...
Biographical Note:
Bandleader of the Evelyn Freeman Swing Band, Wings over Jordan, Evelyn Freeman Orchestra, and the Young Saints.
The interviews in the series African Americans in Entertainment and Media are designed to document African Americans in television, radio, theater and film and aims to better understand how they overcame bias and discrimination and were trailblazers who opened doors for other African Americans in...
Biographical Note:
Publicist and press officer. Founder and president of public relations firm, Tobin & Associates, Inc.
The interviews in the series African Americans in Entertainment and Media are designed to document African Americans in television, radio, theater and film and aims to better understand how they overcame bias and discrimination and were trailblazers who opened doors for other African Americans in...
Biographical Note:
Choreographer, dancer, and actor. Member, with younger brother Harold Nicholas, of the Nicolas Brothers jazz tap dance duo.
The interviews in the series African Americans in Entertainment and Media are designed to document African Americans in television, radio, theater and film and aims to better understand how they overcame bias and discrimination and were trailblazers who opened doors for other African Americans in...
The interviews in the series African Americans in Entertainment and Media are designed to document African Americans in television, radio, theater and film and aims to better understand how they overcame bias and discrimination and were trailblazers who opened doors for other African Americans in...
The interviews in the series African Americans in Entertainment and Media are designed to document African Americans in television, radio, theater and film and aims to better understand how they overcame bias and discrimination and were trailblazers who opened doors for other African Americans in...
This project is designed to document the lives of Negro League baseball players whose careers spanned the heyday of the league (1920s-1950s) and who grew up in Southern California, who played in the West Coast Professional Baseball League or the California Winter League, or who eventually migrate...
Biographical Note:
Member of the American Negro League. Shortstop for the Kansas City Monarchs.
This project is designed to document the lives of Negro League baseball players whose careers spanned the heyday of the league (1920s-1950s) and who grew up in Southern California, who played in the West Coast Professional Baseball League or the California Winter League, or who eventually migrate...
This project is designed to document the lives of Negro League baseball players whose careers spanned the heyday of the league (1920s-1950s) and who grew up in Southern California, who played in the West Coast Professional Baseball League or the California Winter League, or who eventually migrate...
Biographical Note:
Member of the American Negro League. Player for the Indianapolis Clowns.
Co-founder and owner of the Aquarian Spiritual Center and the Aquarian Bookshop, a black-owned bookstore specializing in materials relevant to African American politics and life.
The interviews in the series African American Artists of Los Angeles document significant African American Artists and others in the Los Angeles metropolitan area who have worked to expand exhibition opportunities and public support for African American visual culture. The series was made possibl...
Biographical Note:
African American artist. Creator of ten acres of sculpture near Joshua Tree.
The interviews in the series African American Artists of Los Angeles document significant African American Artists and others in the Los Angeles metropolitan area who have worked to expand exhibition opportunities and public support for African American visual culture. The series was made possibl...
Biographical Note:
African American artist. Founder of the organization Art West Associated.
The interviews in the series African American Artists of Los Angeles document significant African American Artists and others in the Los Angeles metropolitan area who have worked to expand exhibition opportunities and public support for African American visual culture. The series was made possibl...
Biographical Note:
African American artist and founder of Gallery 32 in Los Angeles.
The interviews in the series African American Artists of Los Angeles document significant African American Artists and others in the Los Angeles metropolitan area who have worked to expand exhibition opportunities and public support for African American visual culture. The series was made possibl...
Biographical Note:
African American artist. Co-founder of the Brockman Gallery in Los Angeles.
The interviews in the series African American Artists of Los Angeles document significant African American Artists and others in the Los Angeles metropolitan area who have worked to expand exhibition opportunities and public support for African American visual culture. The series was made possibl...
Biographical Note:
African American artist. Founder of the International Review of African American Art and the Museum of African American Art in Los Angeles.
The interviews in the series African American Artists of Los Angeles document significant African American Artists and others in the Los Angeles metropolitan area who have worked to expand exhibition opportunities and public support for African American visual culture. The series was made possibl...
The interviews in the series African American Artists of Los Angeles document significant African American Artists and others in the Los Angeles metropolitan area who have worked to expand exhibition opportunities and public support for African American visual culture. The series was made possibl...
Biographical Note:
African American artist and community-activist. First director of the Watts Towers Art Center in Los Angeles.
The interviews in the series African American Artists of Los Angeles document significant African American Artists and others in the Los Angeles metropolitan area who have worked to expand exhibition opportunities and public support for African American visual culture. The series was made possibl...
The interviews in the series African American Artists of Los Angeles document significant African American Artists and others in the Los Angeles metropolitan area who have worked to expand exhibition opportunities and public support for African American visual culture. The series was made possibl...
The interviews in the series African American Artists of Los Angeles document significant African American Artists and others in the Los Angeles metropolitan area who have worked to expand exhibition opportunities and public support for African American visual culture. The series was made possibl...
The interviews in the series African American Artists of Los Angeles document significant African American Artists and others in the Los Angeles metropolitan area who have worked to expand exhibition opportunities and public support for African American visual culture. The series was made possibl...
Biographical Note:
African American artist. Co-founder of the Los Angeles Institute of Contemporary Art (LAICA).
The interviews in the series African American Artists of Los Angeles document significant African American Artists and others in the Los Angeles metropolitan area who have worked to expand exhibition opportunities and public support for African American visual culture. The series was made possibl...
Biographical Note:
African American artist. Director of the Studio Museum in Harlem.