Phillip Richard Springer (1874-1952) was the first black man in Oakland to own a taxicab.
Lydia Flood Jackson (1862-1963)
She was the daughter of a freed slave, the first Negro to attend an integrated Oakland public school in 1872, and became a leader of the women’s suffrage movement in 1918.
Then & Now – Oakland School Part 16
In this series of posts, I hope to show Then and Now images Oakland Schools. Along with a bit of history of each school, I highlight. Some of the photos are in the form of drawings or postcards, or from the pages of history books. Note: Piecing together the history of some of the older schools is sometimes... Continue Reading →
Wrecker Uses Sherman Tank To…
Project Gateway - West Oakland The world's largest and fully mechanized mail handling facility designed to serve central California and the Pacific ocean areaPostmaster General - Aug 1959 It was announced the facility would be built on a 12-block site in West Oakland bounded by Peralta, 7th and Wood Streets, and the Southern Pacific railroad... Continue Reading →
Royal E. Towns – Engine Company No. 22
Royal Edward Towns (February 10, 1899–July 23, 1990) was one of the first African American firefighters in Oakland . He was born in Oakland in 1899
Backyard Fence War
In June of 1965, the Oakland Housing Authority (OHA) began what was called a "Beautification Program."
Calvin Simmons
Simmons became musical director of the Oakland Symphony Orchestra at the age of 28 in 1978. He was one of the early African-American conductors of a major orchestra.