132:
31:
193:
One of her biggest achievements while serving on the Board was in 1941, during discussions regarding the 1941-42 budget. There was a provision in the proprosed budget to charge tuition for individuals attending adult education classes. At first, Mrs. Allen was the only one on the seven member panel
178:
member elections according to district. In her second campaign, she was endorsed by the
Federation for Civic Betterment, an organization that was considered radical at the time. Despite the media's view on the Federation, however, they helped assure Allen a seat on the board. She was elected on May 2
189:
During her time on the board, Allen received a significant amount of scrutiny, despite the fact that she had an overwhelming amount of support from organizations such as the Los
Angeles Teachers Federation, the L.A. Industrial Union Council, and the L.A. Democratic Central Committee. The controversy
628:
Your letter lays unusual stress on the fact that Mrs. Allen is a
Negress. (You do not even give her the courtesy of placing a capital letter at the head of Negress.) That type of politics would be in place in Germany or any Nazi dominated nation but this is democratic America. Remember? Where every
595:
This newspaper has opposed the election of Mrs. Allen heretofore because The Times has felt that she does not fill the requirements for school administration service. The election of Mrs. Adams is recommended. As in all other ballot recommendations, the suggestions of The Times with respect to Mrs.
287:
Your letter lays unusual stress on the fact that Mrs. Allen is a
Negress. (You do not even give her the courtesy of placing a capital letter at the head of Negress.) That type of politics would be in place in Germany or any Nazi dominated nation but this is democratic America. Remember? Where every
278:
wrote a scathing editorial criticising the campaign of Mrs. Adams, which he felt placed an undue emphasis on the race of her opponent. This was after the paper received a written request by
Richmond P. Benton & Sons, a public relations firm representing her campaign, to place a political ad in
250:
In the primary, Mrs. Allen finished fourth in a race for four at-large seats, but was the only one of the top vote getters not to receive a sufficient number of votes to avoid a run-off. On May 4 of that year, she faced Marie M. Adams, the fifth-place finisher, in the run-off. Mrs. Adams was
194:
who was opposed to the measure. However, after students, teachers, and citizens (including members of the Los
Angeles County Democratic Central Committee) joined Mrs. Allen in opposition to the tuition fee at a public hearing, the other six board members reversed their support of the proposal.
268:
defended their endorsement by stating, "This newspaper has opposed the election of Mrs. Allen heretofore because The Times has felt that she does not fill the requirements for school administration service. The election of Mrs. Adams is recommended. As in all other ballot recommendations, the
118:
Allen studied music in her native Iowa, Illinois, and
Colorado. As a young woman, she would also frequently visit her father in Europe, where she would study piano, pipe organ, and orchestra. Father and daughter would frequently be invited to play for European royalty including
110:, an internationally recognized musician, and the former Eliza Jane Clark. Her parents split up when Fay was a youngster (her father remarried in 1892). Her father, known professionally as S. S. Weeks, moved to Europe and became a member of the Society of Composers in France.
293:
After the votes were tabulated, Mrs. Adams, despite being a political novice, won decisively. She received more votes than even the three board members that won outright. Mrs. Allen, on the other hand, received even fewer votes than she received in the previous race.
154:
She was devoted to the students she worked with and wanted to make a larger impact. In 1937, Allen first ran for a seat on the board and lost. However her initial failure was not a deterrent, and she ran for the seat again in 1939, advocating for
297:
After Mrs. Allen left office, over twenty years would pass before another
African American would serve on the Board of Education. Rev. James E. Jones, pastor of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, was sworn in on Monday, June 14, 1965.
495:
Said to be the first woman of her race ever to hold public office in an
American metropolis, Mrs. Fay E. Allen, Negro music teacher, yesterday was sworn in as a member of the Board of Education by Deputy City Clerk A. C.
536:
Citizens, teachers and students, encouraged by Mrs. Allen's interest in them appeared before the Board of
Education in large numbers to give their views in support of Mrs. Allen's protests and requests.
754:
The re-appintment of Mrs. Fay E. Allen, 546 E. Jefferson blvd., to a three-year term as a member of the Los Angeles County Music Commission, was announced this week by Supervisor Kenneth Hahn.
723:
Mrs. Fay E. Allen, 546 E. Jefferson blvd., prominent civic leader, has been appointed to the Los Angeles County Music Commission by Supervisor Kenneth Hahn, it was announced this week.
692:
The Rev. James E. Jones, first new member of the Los Angeles Board of Education in six years, took office Mondayas the second Negro ever to serve on the seven-member board.
269:
suggestions of The Times with respect to Mrs. Allen and Mrs. Adams are based solely on the newspaper's opinion concerning their respective qualifications for office.
179:
and sworn in on Friday, May 26, 1939 (rather than July 1, when the new term officially began), to complete the unexpired term of her predecessor, Margarete Clark.
831:
866:
507:
Edgar, Deirdre. "An Earlier Pioneer on the L.A. School Board." Readers' Representative Journal. Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2010. Web. 11 July 2016.
214:
861:
210:
851:
846:
310:
appointed Mrs. Allen to the Los Angeles County Music Commission. She was re-appointed by Hahn for another three-year term in 1957.
871:
841:
836:
785:
Mrs. Fay Allen, prominent civic and community leader, will serve as campaign chairman of the Don Derricks for Assembly Committee.
406:
98:. She served two terms between 1939 and 1943. After she left the board, she continued to be politically active until her death.
202:
95:
393:
Although many women are needed and would be welcomed in civic work of a non-charitable nature there are too few of them.
596:
Allen and Mrs. Adams are based solely on the newspaper's opinion concerning their respective qualifications for office.
317:. In a hotly contested seat, Derricks finished third out of eight candidates in the Democratic primary which included
767:
549:
218:
705:
198:
518:
736:
674:
131:
610:
798:
463:
Simmonds, Yussuf. "Black Women on LAUSD Board." Los Angeles Sentinel. N.p., 22 Oct. 2009. Web. 11 July 2016.
264:
When backers of Mrs. Allen accused supporters of Mrs. Adams of injecting racial bias into the campaign, the
856:
206:
279:
the Journal. In the letter, the firm indicated that their goal was "to defeat Mrs. Fay Allen, a Negress."
314:
660:
Mrs. Adams, new member of the Board of Education, defeated her incumbent opponent almost two-to-one.
643:"Mrs. Adams Wins School Board Race:Two Councilmen Trail in Vote Count; Gay and Christensen in Lead"
70:
186:
Mrs. Allen was the first African American woman to hold public office in a major American city.
345:
259:
313:
In 1962, she served as campaign manager in Don Derricks's unsuccessful bid for a seat on the
881:
876:
443:
8:
435:
578:"Voters to Fill School Post: Four Councilmanic Contests Also Will Be Decided On Tuesday"
136:
478:"School Board Member Sworn: Mrs. Fay E. Allen Joins Deliberations Month Ahead of Time"
321:(the eventual winner) and Edward A. Hawkins (the brother of the outgoing Assemblyman
253:
163:
322:
232:
227:
167:
91:
197:
In 1943, Mrs. Allen lost her bid for a third term despite endorsements from the
318:
222:
642:
477:
375:
221:. She also received endorsements from several prominent individuals including
190:
surrounding her tenure on the board continued both during and after her term.
825:
577:
236:
144:
51:
307:
240:
175:
156:
171:
147:
at LAUSD and was described as "intelligent, traveled and experienced" in
160:
107:
611:"Political Ads Refused by "Journal" For First Time Over Controversy"
120:
283:
In an open letter to Richmond P. Benton & Sons, Waxman wrote:
325:, who was running for Congress), who finished in second place.
301:
30:
550:"Political Ad From Boyle Heights Friends of Mrs. Fay Allen"
90:(January 4, 1887 – October 17, 1974) was the first ever
126:
797:
766:
735:
704:
673:
641:
609:
601:
576:
548:
517:
476:
374:
728:
368:
366:
823:
759:
541:
471:
469:
790:
697:
665:
519:"Board of Education Backs Fay Allen's Program"
363:
675:"Rev. Jones Takes Seat on Board of Education"
510:
407:"An earlier pioneer on the L.A. school board"
340:
338:
113:
634:
569:
466:
274:In contrast, Al S. Waxman, publisher of the
832:Los Angeles Unified School District faculty
302:Activities after leaving Board of Education
96:Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)
81:Musician, educator and school administrator
335:
135:Allen (right) with Robert P. Strather and
29:
768:"Don Derricks to Open Drive for Assembly"
433:
130:
867:20th-century African-American musicians
585:. Los Angeles. 2 May 1943. pp. 1–2
306:In 1954, Los Angeles County Supervisor
824:
671:
607:
429:
427:
404:
372:
243:, and Al S. Waxman (publisher of the
737:"Faye Allen Re-Named to Music Board"
650:. Los Angeles. 5 May 1943. p. 1
434:Simmonds, Yussuf (22 October 2009).
203:Congress of Industrial Organizations
862:20th-century African-American women
424:
13:
211:Spanish Speaking People's Congress
14:
893:
799:"Complete County Primary Returns"
127:Educator and school administrator
106:Fay E. Allen was the daughter of
852:African-American women musicians
847:African-American music educators
373:Scott, Phyllis (10 April 1947).
608:Waxman, Al S. (28 April 1943).
526:. Los Angeles. 4 September 1941
405:Edgar, Deirdre (7 April 2010).
199:American Federation of Teachers
872:20th-century American pianists
842:American women music educators
837:Schoolteachers from California
501:
457:
398:
1:
672:Turpin, Dick (15 June 1965).
328:
101:
94:to serve on the board of the
16:American educator (1887-1974)
744:. Los Angeles. 28 March 1957
557:. Los Angeles. 28 April 1943
436:"Black Women on LAUSD Board"
207:American Federation of Labor
7:
806:. Los Angeles. 10 June 1962
775:. Los Angeles. 5 April 1962
10:
898:
485:. Los Angeles. 27 May 1939
376:"Trail Blazers: Fay Allen"
219:Musicians Union, Local 767
114:Early education and career
713:. Los Angeles. 6 May 1954
682:. Los Angeles. p. 31
315:California State Assembly
77:
59:
37:
28:
21:
411:latimesblogs.latimes.com
383:. Los Angeles. p. 7
71:Los Angeles, California
291:
290:
140:
285:
281:
149:The Los Angeles Times
134:
121:King Gustav of Sweden
444:Los Angeles Sentinel
857:Educators from Iowa
225:(publisher of the
184:Los Angeles Times,
141:
137:Gilbert W. Lindsay
804:Los Angeles Times
680:Los Angeles Times
648:Los Angeles Times
583:Los Angeles Times
483:Los Angeles Times
254:Los Angeles Times
182:According to the
164:school curriculum
85:
84:
889:
816:
815:
813:
811:
801:
794:
788:
787:
782:
780:
773:California Eagle
770:
763:
757:
756:
751:
749:
742:California Eagle
739:
732:
726:
725:
720:
718:
711:California Eagle
708:
701:
695:
694:
689:
687:
677:
669:
663:
662:
657:
655:
645:
638:
632:
631:
625:
623:
616:Eastside Journal
613:
605:
599:
598:
592:
590:
580:
573:
567:
566:
564:
562:
555:Eastside Journal
552:
545:
539:
538:
533:
531:
524:California Eagle
521:
514:
508:
505:
499:
498:
492:
490:
480:
473:
464:
461:
455:
454:
452:
450:
431:
422:
421:
419:
417:
402:
396:
395:
390:
388:
381:California Eagle
378:
370:
361:
360:
358:
356:
346:"Fay Etta Allen"
342:
323:Augustus Hawkins
276:Eastside Journal
251:endorsed by the
245:Eastside Journal
233:Augustus Hawkins
228:California Eagle
168:public education
108:Silas Seth Weeks
92:African American
66:
63:October 17, 1974
47:
45:
33:
19:
18:
897:
896:
892:
891:
890:
888:
887:
886:
822:
821:
820:
819:
809:
807:
796:
795:
791:
778:
776:
765:
764:
760:
747:
745:
734:
733:
729:
716:
714:
703:
702:
698:
685:
683:
670:
666:
653:
651:
640:
639:
635:
621:
619:
606:
602:
588:
586:
575:
574:
570:
560:
558:
547:
546:
542:
529:
527:
516:
515:
511:
506:
502:
488:
486:
475:
474:
467:
462:
458:
448:
446:
432:
425:
415:
413:
403:
399:
386:
384:
371:
364:
354:
352:
344:
343:
336:
331:
304:
231:), Assemblyman
129:
116:
104:
73:
68:
64:
55:
49:
48:January 4, 1887
43:
41:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
895:
885:
884:
879:
874:
869:
864:
859:
854:
849:
844:
839:
834:
818:
817:
789:
758:
727:
696:
664:
633:
600:
568:
540:
509:
500:
465:
456:
440:lasentinel.net
423:
397:
362:
333:
332:
330:
327:
319:Mervyn Dymally
303:
300:
239:, entertainer
223:Charlotta Bass
159:, revised and
128:
125:
115:
112:
103:
100:
83:
82:
79:
75:
74:
69:
67:(aged 87)
61:
57:
56:
50:
39:
35:
34:
26:
25:
22:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
894:
883:
880:
878:
875:
873:
870:
868:
865:
863:
860:
858:
855:
853:
850:
848:
845:
843:
840:
838:
835:
833:
830:
829:
827:
805:
800:
793:
786:
774:
769:
762:
755:
743:
738:
731:
724:
712:
707:
700:
693:
681:
676:
668:
661:
649:
644:
637:
630:
629:man is equal!
618:. Los Angeles
617:
612:
604:
597:
584:
579:
572:
556:
551:
544:
537:
525:
520:
513:
504:
497:
484:
479:
472:
470:
460:
445:
441:
437:
430:
428:
412:
408:
401:
394:
382:
377:
369:
367:
351:
347:
341:
339:
334:
326:
324:
320:
316:
311:
309:
299:
295:
289:
288:man is equal!
284:
280:
277:
272:
271:
267:
263:
261:
256:
255:
248:
246:
242:
238:
237:Clarence Muse
234:
230:
229:
224:
220:
216:
212:
208:
204:
200:
195:
191:
187:
185:
180:
177:
173:
169:
165:
162:
158:
152:
150:
146:
145:music teacher
138:
133:
124:
122:
111:
109:
99:
97:
93:
89:
80:
78:Occupation(s)
76:
72:
62:
58:
53:
52:Ottumwa, Iowa
40:
36:
32:
27:
20:
808:. Retrieved
803:
792:
784:
777:. Retrieved
772:
761:
753:
746:. Retrieved
741:
730:
722:
715:. Retrieved
710:
706:"Music Post"
699:
691:
684:. Retrieved
679:
667:
659:
652:. Retrieved
647:
636:
627:
620:. Retrieved
615:
603:
594:
587:. Retrieved
582:
571:
559:. Retrieved
554:
543:
535:
528:. Retrieved
523:
512:
503:
494:
487:. Retrieved
482:
459:
447:. Retrieved
439:
414:. Retrieved
410:
400:
392:
385:. Retrieved
380:
353:. Retrieved
350:Find A Grave
349:
312:
308:Kenneth Hahn
305:
296:
292:
286:
282:
275:
273:
270:
265:
258:
252:
249:
244:
241:Ethel Waters
226:
196:
192:
188:
183:
181:
176:school board
170:beyond just
157:standardized
153:
148:
143:Allen was a
142:
117:
105:
88:Fay E. Allen
87:
86:
65:(1974-10-17)
23:Fay E. Allen
882:1974 deaths
877:1887 births
172:high school
826:Categories
810:30 October
779:30 October
748:30 October
717:30 October
686:30 October
654:30 October
622:30 October
589:30 October
561:30 October
530:30 October
489:30 October
387:31 October
355:30 October
329:References
260:Daily News
161:modernized
102:Background
44:1887-01-04
257:and the
235:, actor
449:30 July
416:30 July
139:, 1937.
496:McCoy.
217:, and
174:, and
54:, U.S.
266:Times
215:SCMWA
812:2021
781:2021
750:2021
719:2021
688:2021
656:2021
624:2021
591:2021
563:2021
532:2021
491:2021
451:2016
418:2016
389:2021
357:2021
60:Died
38:Born
247:).
828::
802:.
783:.
771:.
752:.
740:.
721:.
709:.
690:.
678:.
658:.
646:.
626:.
614:.
593:.
581:.
553:.
534:.
522:.
493:.
481:.
468:^
442:.
438:.
426:^
409:.
391:.
379:.
365:^
348:.
337:^
213:,
209:,
205:.
201:,
166:,
151:.
123:.
814:.
565:.
453:.
420:.
359:.
262:.
46:)
42:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
