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. Unidentified members of presumably the City Planning Department and the Watts Community Development Advisory Committee meet to discuss the Watts Renewal Program, also known as the Watts Redevelopment Program. The Watts Renewal Program's primary focus was bringing commercial, residential, and public buildings to the community. The Program would also feature building a mall along 103rd Street. Image was presumably taken on January 4, 1968 at a Watts Community Development Advisory Committee meeting at the Watts Project Site office. The members in this photo appeatr to be taking some kind of oath. Photogrpah circa 1968. See images 00053423 and 00139711 through 00139721 for additional photos in this series.
Type
image
Format
1 negative : safety ; 10 x 13 cm. Photographic safety negatives
Los Angeles (Calif.).--City Planning Commission--Officials and employees African American men Men African American women Women City planners City planning Community organization Zoning--Maps Zoning Maps Plans Poster presentations Desks Wheelchairs Flags Gavels Paperwork (Office practice) Paperwork Pipes (Smoking) Ashtrays Draperies Oaths Watts (Los Angeles, Calif.)
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