Oral Histories

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1. Interview of John D. Williams

Topic:
African American History
Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Design
Length:
5.85 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
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.

2. Interview of Norma Merrick Sklarek

Topic:
African American History
Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Design
Length:
6 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
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.

3. Interview of Harold L. Williams

Topic:
African American History
Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Design
Length:
7.5 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
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.

4. Interview of Lester O. Bankhead

Topic:
African American History
Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Design
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
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.

5. Interview of Betye Saar

Topic:
African American History
Art
Length:
5.10 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
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.

6. Interview of Marvin Harden

Topic:
African American History
Art
Length:
3.3 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
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).

7. Interview of Kinshasha Holman Conwill

Topic:
African American History
Art
Length:
2.65 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
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.

8. Interview of Curtis Tann

Topic:
African American History
Art
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
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...

9. Interview of Suzanne Jackson

Topic:
African American History
Art
Length:
9.2 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
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.

10. Interview of Alonzo Davis

Topic:
African American History
Art
Length:
11.25 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
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.

11. Interview of Larry McCormick

Topic:
African American History
Film and Television
Length:
21 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
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.

12. Interview of Pat Tobin

Topic:
African American History
Film and Television
Length:
10.75 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
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.

13. Interview of Fayard Nicholas

Topic:
African American History
Film and Television
Length:
60 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
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.

14. Interview of Glenda Wina

Topic:
African American History
Film and Television
Length:
10.25 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
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:
Journalist, anchorwoman, publicist, and producer.

15. Interview of Robert Guillaume

Topic:
African American History
Film and Television
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
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...

16. Interview of Reuben Cannon

Topic:
African American History
Film and Television
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
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...

17. Interview of Mrs. Leroy McKey

Topic:
Community History
African American History
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
The interviews in the series Allensworth Community feature recollections of the descendants of Allensworth (California) residents and founders. The town was established in 1908 by Lieutenant Colonel Allen Allensworth (1842-1914), at that time the highest-ranking African American officer in histor...

18. Interview of Frank Whitley

Topic:
African American History
Community History
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
The interviews in the series Allensworth Community feature recollections of the descendants of Allensworth (California) residents and founders. The town was established in 1908 by Lieutenant Colonel Allen Allensworth (1842-1914), at that time the highest-ranking African American officer in histor...

19. Interview of Eugene Brooks

Topic:
African American History
Community History
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
The interviews in the series Allensworth Community feature recollections of the descendants of Allensworth (California) residents and founders. The town was established in 1908 by Lieutenant Colonel Allen Allensworth (1842-1914), at that time the highest-ranking African American officer in histor...

20. Interview of James H. Lark

Topic:
African American History
Community History
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
The interviews in the series Allensworth Community feature recollections of the descendants of Allensworth (California) residents and founders. The town was established in 1908 by Lieutenant Colonel Allen Allensworth (1842-1914), at that time the highest-ranking African American officer in histor...

21. Interview of A. V. Blodgett

Topic:
African American History
Community History
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
The interviews in the series Allensworth Community feature recollections of the descendants of Allensworth (California) residents and founders. The town was established in 1908 by Lieutenant Colonel Allen Allensworth (1842-1914), at that time the highest-ranking African American officer in histor...

22. Interview of Leroy McKey

Topic:
African American History
Community History
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
The interviews in the series Allensworth Community feature recollections of the descendants of Allensworth (California) residents and founders. The town was established in 1908 by Lieutenant Colonel Allen Allensworth (1842-1914), at that time the highest-ranking African American officer in histor...

23. Interview of Neale Henderson

Topic:
Sports
African American History
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
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.

24. Interview of Joseph Brown

Topic:
African American History
Sports
Length:
2 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
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:
African American baseball player.

25. Interview of James Lewis

Topic:
African American History
Sports
Length:
5 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
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.

26. Interview of Bobby L. Bradford

Topic:
African American History
Music
Length:
12 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
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:
Cornet and trumpet player. Bandleader and composer.

27. Interview of Harold Land

Topic:
African American History
Music
Length:
6.62 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
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 saxophone player and bandleader.

28. Interview of Larry Bunker

Topic:
African American History
Music
Length:
9 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
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 drummer, vibraphonist, and percussionist. Timpani player for the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

29. Interview of Chuck Berghofer

Topic:
African American History
Music
Length:
6.1 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
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 double bass player.

30. Interview of Don Preston

Topic:
African American History
Music
Length:
6.15 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
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 keyboardist.

31. Interview of Henry Franklin

Topic:
African American History
Music
Length:
4.5 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
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 double bass player.

32. Interview of Stanley Levey

Topic:
African American History
Music
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
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 drummer.

33. Interview of Carl Burnett

Topic:
African American History
Music
Length:
8 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
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:
Latin jazz drummer.

34. Interview of Vinny Golia

Topic:
African American History
Music
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
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:
Woodwind player and composer.

35. Interview of Tom Williamson

Topic:
African American History
Music
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
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.

36. Interview of Putter Smith

Topic:
African American History
Music
Length:
12.5 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
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.

37. Interview of Roberto Miranda

Topic:
African American History
Music
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
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.

38. Interview of John Lamar Hill II

Topic:
African American History
Business
Length:
7 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
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.

39. Interview of John T. Stevens

Topic:
Business
African American History
Length:
5.1 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
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.

40. Interview of Ruth Washington

Topic:
African American History
Journalism
Length:
3.8 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
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.

41. Interview of Celes King III

Topic:
Business
African American History
Length:
20 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
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.

42. Interview of Augustus F. Hawkins (1992)

Topic:
African American History
Length:
10.5 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
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.

43. Interview of William Douglass

Topic:
African American History
Music
Length:
5.85 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
Interviews in this series preserve the spoken memories of individuals, mainly musicians, who were raised near and/or performed on Los Angeles's Central Avenue from the late 1920s to the mid-1950s.
Biographical Note:
Jazz drummer.

44. Interview of Clora Bryant

Topic:
African American History
Music
Length:
6 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
Interviews in this series preserve the spoken memories of individuals, mainly musicians, who were raised near and/or performed on Los Angeles's Central Avenue from the late 1920s to the mid-1950s.
Biographical Note:
Jazz trumpet player.

45. Interview of Hadda Brooks

Topic:
African American History
Music
Length:
5.5 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
Interviews in this series preserve the spoken memories of individuals, mainly musicians, who were raised near and/or performed on Los Angeles's Central Avenue from the late 1920s to the mid-1950s.
Biographical Note:
Jazz pianist, vocalist, and composer.

46. Interview of Leroy Hurte

Topic:
African American History
Music
Length:
4.5 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
Interviews in this series preserve the spoken memories of individuals, mainly musicians, who were raised near and/or performed on Los Angeles's Central Avenue from the late 1920s to the mid-1950s.
Biographical Note:
Jazz conductor, producer, and vocalist.

47. Interview of Minor Robinson

Topic:
African American History
Music
Length:
3.8 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
Interviews in this series preserve the spoken memories of individuals, mainly musicians, who were raised near and/or performed on Los Angeles's Central Avenue from the late 1920s to the mid-1950s.
Biographical Note:
Jazz drummer.

48. Interview of John Ewing

Topic:
African American History
Music
Length:
3 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
Interviews in this series preserve the spoken memories of individuals, mainly musicians, who were raised near and/or performed on Los Angeles's Central Avenue from the late 1920s to the mid-1950s.
Biographical Note:
Jazz trombone player.

49. Interview of Marl Young

Topic:
African American History
Music
Length:
3.5 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
Interviews in this series preserve the spoken memories of individuals, mainly musicians, who were raised near and/or performed on Los Angeles's Central Avenue from the late 1920s to the mid-1950s.
Biographical Note:
Jazz piano player. Advocate for the amalgamation of the black musicians' union Local 767 and white musicians' union Local 47.

50. Interview of Jackie (Kelson, John) Kelso

Topic:
African American History
Music
Length:
9.65 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
Interviews in this series preserve the spoken memories of individuals, mainly musicians, who were raised near and/or performed on Los Angeles's Central Avenue from the late 1920s to the mid-1950s.
Biographical Note:
Jazz clarinet player.