John Alexander Somerville facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dr. John Alexander Somerville CBE
Born	1882 Jamaica
Died	February 11, 1973 (aged 91) Los Angeles, California, United States
Citizenship	United States, Jamaica
Education	Doctor of dental surgery, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, graduated 1907
Alma mater	University of Southern California
Occupation	Dentist
Organization	National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
Political party	Democratic Party
Spouse(s)	Vada Watson Somerville (m. 1912)

John Alexander Somerville (1882 – February 11, 1973) was an important African American leader. He was a dentist, a businessman, and a civil rights activist. He worked to make sure all people were treated fairly.

Somerville was a well-known person in Los Angeles. He helped start the Los Angeles branch of the NAACP. He is also famous for building the Hotel Somerville. This hotel is now known as the Dunbar Hotel.

Early Life and Education

John Alexander Somerville was born in Jamaica in 1882. His father, Thomas, was a school principal and a minister. His mother, Frances, taught at the same school.

John finished his schooling in Jamaica. He wanted to go to university but failed an important exam. Instead of trying again, he worked as a bookkeeper for two years. He saved his money and moved to the United States when he was 20.

Facing Challenges in America

In 1902, Somerville arrived in San Francisco. He planned to save more money and attend Howard University. However, he quickly saw how much racism and segregation there was in America.

One time, he tried to order food at a restaurant. He was told they did not serve Black people. This unfair treatment made it hard for him to find food, a place to live, and a job.

Since he could not find work in San Francisco, Somerville moved to Redlands, California. He took on many different small jobs. He lived with a Black family and worked in a bowling alley.

Becoming a Dentist

The bowling alley owner's brother-in-law taught at the University of Southern California (USC) dental school. John decided he wanted to become a dentist too. He kept saving money until he could pay for his studies.

In 1903, Somerville moved to Los Angeles. He enrolled in USC's dentistry school. On his first day, his white classmates threatened to leave. They did not want him in their class.

These students met with the dean, Garrett Newkirk. They asked for Somerville to be removed. Dean Newkirk invited Somerville to the meeting. He praised John's excellent qualifications. Somerville spoke to the other students. He told them that racism had no place in schools.

In the end, Somerville stayed in school. The students dropped their request. He graduated with high honors in 1907. He was the first African American to earn a Doctor of dental surgery from USC. After that, he took the state dental board exam. He got the highest score ever recorded at that time.

Career and Marriage

After graduating, Somerville opened his own dental office in Los Angeles. At first, most of his patients were white. Over the years, more people of color moved to Los Angeles. His patient list became much more diverse.

A Partnership in Dentistry

John Somerville married Vada Watson in 1912. They had met while in college. John had planned to return to Jamaica, but he decided to stay in the United States after they married.

Vada first worked as an assistant in John's dental office. When the United States entered World War I, John worried he might have to join the military. He believed Vada was very smart and encouraged her to study dentistry. She enrolled in USC's dental program.

Vada graduated in 1918. She became the first Black woman to graduate from USC's dental school. She was also the first woman licensed to practice dentistry in California. John did not get drafted, so he and Vada ran the dental practice together. Vada retired from dentistry in 1933.

Somerville also became the second Black member of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. In 1927, he started the Physicians, Dentists, and Pharmacists Association of Southern California. He also invested in real estate.

Working for Civil Rights

John and Vada Somerville were very active in civil rights. They worked to fight unfair treatment both locally and across the country. After becoming an American citizen, John joined the progressive movement. He even attended a conference with President Theodore Roosevelt.

Starting the NAACP in Los Angeles

The Somervilles' work against racism led John to contact W. E. B. Du Bois. Du Bois was one of the founders of the NAACP. This organization was started in 1909.

Du Bois visited Los Angeles to give speeches. He stayed in the Somervilles' guest room. His visit inspired the creation of the Los Angeles NAACP chapter. This visit also started a lifelong friendship between Du Bois and the Somervilles.

In 1913, the national NAACP sent materials to the Somervilles. They asked if John and Vada would like to start a local branch. They also asked for names of people who would help.

John and Vada Somerville co-founded the Los Angeles branch of the NAACP in their home in 1914. John became the branch's first vice-president. He held this position for the next ten years. In 1927, he was also elected to the NAACP's national board of directors.

Building Businesses

After World War I, many Black people moved to Los Angeles. However, due to unfair Jim Crow laws and redlining, many Black people could not find good housing. The housing they could find was often in poor condition.

La Vada Apartments

To help with the housing problem, John used his experience in real estate. He wanted to build good, affordable homes for Black families. It was hard to get money from lenders at first. But John got promises from 30 people who agreed to rent apartments.

In 1925, John built a 26-unit apartment complex. He named it "La Vada Apartments" to honor his wife. These apartments helped address the unfair housing conditions for Black people in Los Angeles.

Hotel Somerville: A Place for Everyone

After the apartments, John and Vada built Hotel Somerville in 1928. This was one of the few fancy hotels in America for Black people at that time. It served Black Americans who were not allowed in white-owned hotels in Los Angeles.

John knew about this unfair exclusion from his own experiences. Once, he could not find a hotel that would let Black guests stay during a trip to San Francisco. Hotel Somerville became a major hotel for Black people in Los Angeles. It was even called the "Waldorf–Astoria of Black America."

In the summer of 1928, Hotel Somerville hosted the NAACP's 19th yearly national convention. This was the first national convention held on the West Coast. Hotel Somerville also became the main office for the Los Angeles NAACP branch.

Hotel Somerville became a central place for Black life in Los Angeles. Important Black thinkers and famous Black celebrities visited. Guests included W. E. B. Du Bois, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Bill Robinson, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, and Langston Hughes.

The hotel was successful at first. But the Great Depression and the stock market crash in 1929 caused Somerville to lose a lot of money. He was eventually forced to sell the hotel. The new owners renamed it the Dunbar Hotel. They chose this name to honor the Black poet Paul Laurence Dunbar.

Later Life and Legacy

After the stock market crash, Somerville rebuilt his finances through his dental practice. He continued to be involved in politics and civil rights. He worked as an advisor for the California State Relief Administration. This program was set up to help people during the Great Depression. Somerville worked to make sure Black people were included in the program.

During World War II, Somerville served on the advisory board of the Los Angeles draft board. He was also the examining dentist for the board. Later, Mayor Fletcher Bowron appointed him to the Los Angeles Police Commission. He was the first Black member of the commission. He served from 1949 to 1953.

For his important work, Queen Elizabeth II named Somerville an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.

Political Involvement

Somerville was an active member of the Democratic Party. He met many important leaders, including President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1936, Somerville was a delegate to the 1936 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. He was the first African American from California to represent the Democratic Party at this national meeting. In 1951, President Harry S. Truman even considered him as a possible leader for the Virgin Islands.

Personal Life and Death

In 1949, Somerville's book about his life, called Man of Color, was published. John and Vada Somerville did not have their own children. However, they had a foster daughter named Doris Howard.

Somerville retired in 1963, when he was 71 years old. On October 12, 1972, John and Vada celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Vada Somerville passed away shortly after, on October 12, 1972, at age 86. John Somerville died at age 91 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles on February 11, 1973.

A painting of a sailing ship hung in Somerville's home. It had a message that showed how he lived his life: “Do not wait for your ship to come in. Row out and meet it.” This means he believed in working hard to achieve your goals.