Title supplied by cataloger. Rolland Joseph 'Speedy' Curtis was born in Louisiana in 1922. After serving three years in the Marines during World War II, he and his wife, Gloria, relocated from New Orleans to Los Angeles in 1946. Curtis served four years with the Los Angeles Police Department, but resigned from the force in order to pursue both a Bachelor's and Master's degree from USC. He later became involved in city politics, as an associate of Sam Yorty, and later a field deputy to City Council members Billy Mills and Tom Bradley. He was briefly director of the Model Cities program in 1973. Rolland J. Curtis died in his home in 1979, the victim of a homicide. An affordable housing complex on Exposition Blvd. near Vermont Ave. was named in his honor in 1981, along with a nearby street and park.; In 1947, a four-year school called the Los Angeles State College opened for classes on the campus of L.A. City College. In September of 1949 L.A. State College became Los Angeles State College of Applied Arts & Sciences, with a total enrollment of 2,187 students. In January of 1964 L.A. State College was officially renamed California State College at Los Angeles (CSCLA) and became part of the California State College (CSC) system formed in 1960. In 1972, The California State College system became The California State University and Colleges (CSUC). California State College at Los Angeles received University status and henceforth was known officially as California State University, Los Angeles or informally, Cal State LA. Pictured is an aerial view of graduation day at Los Angeles College of Applied Arts and Sciences. The graduates in the foreground have all earned their Bachelor's Degree, and the ceremony appears to be taking place on the track field. A stage and tall scaffold tower have been erected on the left, and four makeshift podiums with adjoining ramps can be seen separating the stage and the graduating class. The football field is visible in the background and the baseball diamond is partially visible on the far left of the photo. The location of this event most likely took place at what is now the present day Cal State LA campus. Photograph circa 1963. See images 00128940 through 00128946 for additional photos in this series.
Type
image
Format
1 negative : safety ; 10 x 13 cm. Photographic safety negatives
Los Angeles State College Los Angeles State College--Students California State University, Los Angeles Men Women Universities and colleges Community colleges College campuses College graduates College students Athletic fields Academic costume Commencement ceremonies Mortarboards (Caps) Spectators Crowds Chairs Stages (Platforms) Scaffolding Podiums Los Angeles (Calif.)
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