Shades of L.A. is an archive of photographs representing the contemporary and historic diversity of families in Los Angeles. Images were chosen from family albums and include daily life, social organizations, work, personal and holiday celebrations, and migration and immigration activities. Made possible and accessible through the generous support of the Security Pacific National Bank, Sunlaw Cogeneration Partners, Photo Friends, California Council for the Humanities, the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, and the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation
Images available for reproduction and educational use. Please see the Ordering & Use page at http://tessa.lapl.org/orderinguse.html for additional information. The contents of this collection are restricted to personal, research, and non-commercial use. The Library cannot share the personal and/or contact information of the donors, their descendants, or associates who contributed photographs and oral histories to the collection.
Description
Emma (Millhouse) Adams was born in 1922 in the state of Louisiana to father Howard and mother Nancy. Around 1926, she, her parents and four sisters moved to Los Angeles, California. In the 1940’s she held a position at the National Youth Administration office, a work-study program with the goal of keeping students on the academic path. In 1946, Millhouse married Joe Adams, an actor, disc jockey, nightclub owner and businessman. In 1955, her husband became the first African American to take home a Golden Globe for his role in the film Carmen Jones. Notably, he also served as manager to musician Ray Charles from 1962 to the musician’s death in 2004. A family poses for a group portrait on a swing in a backyard. Joe is at far right.
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