Name/Title
A real photo postcard, "Hotel Somerville Lobby," Los Angeles, postmarked 26 September 1928Entry/Object ID
2013.136.1.1Description
A real photo postcard, "Hotel Somerville Lobby," Los Angeles, postmarked 26 September 1928. The image shows the two-story lobby with furnishings, wrought-iron stair and upper walk railings, wrought-iron chandeliers, hanging tapestries, and other elements. On the reverse is a message, postmark, cancellation and 2-cent stamp. The Hotel Somerville, built by John and Vada Somerville, opened in 1928 and was entirely funded, designed and built by black Angelenos. By 1930, it was renamed the Dunbar after Somerville lost it briefly to white investors and then it was bought by Lucius Lomax, a black entrepreneur. In 1934, Father Divine, a popular black evangelist bought the building, which was used for religious purposes. It then passed about five years later to the Nelson family and resumed its role in music and culture for the local black community. In 1968, Bernard Johnson purchased the Dunbar and, having declined in use, the hotel closed six years later. After years of neglect, the building was redone into 73 apartments and reopened in 1990 and is now a city and national historic landmark. With soiling, creasing and abrasions, the overall condition is good.Lexicon
Legacy Lexicon
Object Name
Real Photographic Postcards
