Dr. John Somerville, born in Jamaica, was the first black graduate of USC School of Dentistry (1907). He married Vada Jetmore Watson (1912), who also became a dentist. He built the Somerville Hotel (1928), was instrumental in the founding of the Los Angeles chapter of NAACP (1914), and served on the Police Commission 1949-1953. 35th wedding anniversary celebration. Left to right: Gussie Bacon, Bessie Dones, Drs. John and Vada Somerville, Essie Saunders, Ella Tabor, and Willa Evans (matron of honor). Dr. Vada Somerville (born Vada Jetmore Watson) of Pomona graduated from USC, married dentist John Alexander Somerville (1912), was the first African American woman and the second African American person to graduate from USC School of Dentistry (1918), and was the first African American woman certified to practice dentistry in the state of California. She was a civil rights activist, highly involved in several civic and community organizations.
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image
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uclalsc_1889_b14_f03_010a.tif ark:/21198/z1nc7j9w
Subject
Wedding anniversaries African American civil rights workers African American businesspeople African American dentists Dones, Bessie, W., 18890-1985 Somerville, John Alexander, 1881-1973 Tabor, Ella Saunders, Essie Evans, Willa Somerville, Vada, 1885-1972 Bacon, Gussie E., 1881-1969
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