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.; James Roosevelt was born on December 23, 1907, the oldest son of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt. He was an American businessman, activist and Democratic Party politician. He received the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism while serving as a Marine Corps officer during World War II. He served as a Secretary to President Roosevelt, and was later a member of the U.S House of Representatives from 1955 to 1965. He died on August 13, 1991. U. S. Congressman James Roosevelt (center); Mathilda Curtis, mother of photographer Rolland J. Curtis (not pictured); and the Congressman's wife, Gladys Irene Owens Roosevelt (extreme right) are pictured with an unidentified couple (left) at the Biltmore Bowl. They are attending the First AME Church Elevation Banquet which took place at the Biltmore Bowl. Mrs. Curtis holds an upside down pamphlet which reads, "Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company." The event was held on October 30, 1964. See images 00053444; 00125507; 00128025 through 00128028; 00134219; 00142028 through 00142040; and 00143361 for all photos in this series.
Type
image
Format
1 negative : safety ; 10 x 13 cm. Photographic safety negatives
Roosevelt, James,--1907-1991 Roosevelt, James,--1907-1991--Family Curtis, Mathilda Millennium Biltmore Hotel (Los Angeles, Calif.) Biltmore Bowl (Los Angeles, Calif.) First A.M.E. Church (Los Angeles, Calif.) Legislators--United States Men African American women Women Husband and wife Couples Hotels Boutonnieres Posing Smiling Los Angeles (Calif.)
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