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. Dr. Vada Somerville and Dr. John Somerville (3rd and 4th from the right) in line to be served food. In the foreground are three African American male servers and five African American guests. The garden party is for the brother and sister-in-law of John Somerville, Mr. and Mrs. R.C. Somerville, from Linstead, Jamaica. Several other unidentified African Americans in the background. The Somerville's lived at this house, at 2014 Virginia Road, from 1952 to at least 1962. 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. Photographer's stamp on back of photo: Please credit photo by Maceo B. Sheffield / CE 29577
Type
image
Identifier
uclalsc_1889_b14_f12_002a.tif ark:/21198/z1qr6f6b
Subject
African American civic leaders African American civil rights workers Receptions African American businesspeople African American dentists Somerville, John Alexander, 1881-1973 Somerville, Vada, 1885-1972
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