John Alexander Somerville

John Alexander Somerville, D.D.S. (1882 – February 11, 1972) was an African American Civil rights activist, dentist, and entrepreneur. A well-known community figure in Los Angeles, Somerville was an accomplished dentist who went on to co-found the Los Angeles branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. He is most well known for building Hotel Somerville, now known as Dunbar Hotel.

Early life and education John Alexander Somerville was born in Jamaica in 1882 to Thomas G. Somerville and Frances A. Somerville née Cowell. Thomas was a principal and Anglican minister, while Frances taught at the Anglican school that Thomas administered. Somerville completed his pre-college education in Jamaica, but he failed an exam for a university scholarship. Rather than re-take the exam, he became a bookkeeper for an export company. After two years of saving, he relocated to the United States at the age of 20. Arriving in San Francisco in 1902, Somerville initially planned to save up and attend Howard University. The discrimination that Somerville was faced with hindered his ability to acquire food, shelter, and employment. Vada initially worked as an assistant in John's dental practice, but when the United States entered World War I, John was concerned that he would be drafted to join the military. As John did not end up getting drafted, he and Vada began to run the practice together. In 1927, Somerville founded the Physicians, Dentists, and Pharmacists Association of Southern California.

In 1913, the Somverilles received materials from the national NAACP, asking if they would like to start a local branch of the organization and to list contacts who would support the initiative. John became the branch's first vice-president, a position he would hold for the next decade. Somerville also served on the NAACP's national board after being elected by the NAACP's national executive to the board of directors in 1927. In one specific incident, he was unable to find a hotel providing accommodations to Black guests during a trip to San Francisco.

Hotel Somerville became a hub for Black life in Los Angeles. Notable guests included W. E. B. Du Bois, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Bill Robinson, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, and Langston Hughes. Despite the hotel's initial success, the onset of the depression and the subsequent stock market crash in 1929 caused Somerville to lose a lot of money. Somerville was ultimately forced to sell the hotel. Hotel Somerville was renamed Dunbar Hotel in honor of the Black poet Paul Laurence Dunbar by the new owners.

Later life After the stock market crash, Somerville recovered financially through his dental practice and continued his involvement in political activities and civil rights. He served as a technical advisor for the California State Relief Administration that was established in response to the Great Depression.Somerville endeavored to integrate the Black population into the program. During World War II, Somerville served on the advisory board of the Los Angeles draft board and additionally became the examining dentist for the board. He was also appointed to the Los Angeles Police Commission by Mayor Fletcher Bowron, becoming the commission's first Black member and serving from 1949 to 1953. For his contributions in Anglo-American affairs, Queen Elizabeth II named Somerville an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.

Somerville was an active member of the Democratic Party, and met many prominent members such as Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1936, Somerville was a delegate to the 1936 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. He was the first African-America from California to represent the Democratic Party as a delegate in the national convention. In 1951, Somerville was briefly considered by Harry S. Truman as a candidate for the governorship of the Virgin Islands.

Personal life and death In 1949, Somerville's autobiography titled Man of Color was published. John and Vada Somerville did not have any children of their own, but they did have a foster daughter named Doris Howard. Somerville retired in 1963, at the age of 71. On October 12, 1972, John and Vada celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Vada Somerville died shortly afterwards at the age of 86 on October 12, 1972. John Somerville died at the age of 91 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles on February 11, 1973.

An inscription on the painting of a sailing ship that hung in Somerville's home captured his attitude towards life: “Do not wait for your ship to come in. Row out and meet it”.