Series:

Interviews not in a series, part two

Topic:

African American History

Biographical Note:

Lawyer. Nephew of noted Los Angeles African American lawyer Loren Miller.

Interviewer:

Jefferson, Alison R.

Interviewee:

Miller, Halvor, Jr.

Persons Present:

Miller, Jefferson, and Robyn Charles (videographer). Robyn Charles was not present at the interview on September 14.

Place Conducted:

Office of Halvor Miller in Los Angeles, California.

Supporting Documents:

Records relating to the interview are located in the office of the UCLA Library's Center for Oral History Research.

Interviewer Background and Preparation:

The interview was conducted by Alison R. Jefferson; Historic Preservation Consultant; B.A., Pomona College, 1980; Master of Historic Preservation, University of Southern California, 2007.Jefferson prepared for the interviewer by holding a telephone pre-interview conversation with Halvor T. Miller to obtain written background information and agreed on an interviewing schedule. She also reviewed Christopher Jimenez y West’s dissertation More Than My Color: Race, Space & Politics in Black Los Angeles, 1940-1968 and articles in the Los Angeles Times and Los Angeles Sentinel newspapers.

Processing of Interview:

The transcript is a verbatim transcription of the recording. It was transcribed by a professional transcribing agency using a list of proper names and specialized terminology supplied by the interviewer. Miller was then given an opportunity to review the transcript and his corrections and additions were entered into the text without further editing or review on the part of the Center for Oral History Research staff.

Length:

7 hrs

Language:

English

Copyright:

Regents of the University of California, UCLA Library.

Audio:

Miller’s childhood in Los Angeles, California--Parents and grandparents origins and professions--A note on his interracial heritage—An introduction to his uncle, Loren Miller, Esq.--The working relationship between Leon Washington and Loren Miller, Esq.--Description of family life and extended family—Miller’s recollections and impressions of his father, Halvor Miller, Sr.--World War II and its impact on his father’s grocery business--More on his extended family--His grandparents as active Freemasons--Miller’s mother, Ida Alice Jackson, and her first attempts at completing higher education--His family’s early Los Angeles residencies--His parents’ involvement with the church--The black church and its role on child development--Race relations and integration in Pre-World War II Los Angeles--Los Angeles neighborhood boundaries and restrictive covenants--Shifts in political party affiliation among blacks during the Depression--A brief discussion on his family members’ work as activists in the labor movement of 1930s--More on his childhood and the socio-economic status of his parents--The Miller family activities--Miller as an adolescent and his scholastic and extra-curricular interests--An introductory account of Miller’s college years--The bicoastal continuum of the African American social milieu--His sister, Jane Miller, and her international relations career on the East Coast--Educational and recreational life at Howard University--Distinguished Howard alumni in Miller’s social circles--Miller’s brief time working for his uncle at the California Eagle--Some thoughts on his primary and secondary school education--Miller’s decision to attend law school--College admissions, legacies, and the recruiting of other Californians to attend Howard--More on Miller’s California cohort at Howard

Schooling--Track and Field--Influence of the church on the community--Experiencing segregation growing up--Japanese internment--Covenant cases--Los Angeles Sentinel newspaper--The Undercover Hounds column--UCLA--Law School--Working for the Attorney General’s Office, Department of Employment and Department of Agriculture--Starting a law practice--Fraternity—The San Fernando Valley College case.

The San Fernando Valley College case--Changes in his community--Mayor Tom Bradley--Guide Right Movement--The Eastside Boys affair--Loren Miller’s influence on his career--Family history-- Loren Miller’s involvement with Brown v. Board of Education--Thurgood Marshall--Loren Miller’s move to Silverlake--Incidents of discrimination

The Jack and Jill Group--L.A. High School--Caste--Emily Portwig and Tri-Y--Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company calendar--Black teachers--On respected groups, students, musicians and athletes--On manners, respect and discipline--The Eastside Boys--Notable members of the Jefferson High School track and field team of 1950, Mal Whitfield and Tom Bradley--Changes in Los Angeles and the Eastside—California Eagle newspaper--The Undercover Hounds column.