Roberts Family Papers
Owning Institution: Oakland Public Library, African American Museum and Library at Oakland
About this Collection
The Roberts Family Papers document the activities of a family who achieved many milestones for African-Americans in California. Frederick Roberts was the first African American to graduate from Los Angeles High School and the first African American state assemblyman. In addition, he worked for the first African-American mortuary to be established in Los Angeles. His wife, Pearl, attended both the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the Boston Conservatory of Music. She became the first African-American woman pipe organist in Northern California and founded a very successful choral group which was acclaimed for its performance of spirituals. Frederick and Pearl's daughter, Gloria, also pursued a career in music and performed in both the United States and Europe as a concert pianist. View this collection on the contributor's website.View collection guide.
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