Mary Alexander

Dublin Core

Title

Mary Alexander

Subject

Mary was born the sole daughter of four children to Rubin Woods and Pearly Wilson on December 5th, 1899 in Oklahoma. She worked as a maid in Texas and Oklahoma for ten years before marrying Dave Alexander by 1920. They moved from Texas to Los Angeles, living at what is now 1865 McGarry St., near what is now downtown Los Angeles. The couple shared a home with Dave’s family: his parents Charles and Mary Darden, his children (Mary’s stepchildren) Dave Jr. and Nillie, his stepsister Pearl Crouch, his sister Letitia and her daughter Madeline, and a boarder Ellen Ross. Dave Alexander worked as a porter in a barbershop, and Mary Alexander worked as a maid in the historic Pullman Hotel.

In September 1927, Mary Alexander allegedly robbed a Greek “vegetable peddler” Antonios Kalages for $100 at knifepoint near the intersection of 10th and San Pedro. Kalages claimed that she was “soliciting him to go behind a billboard” with an alleged accomplice Margaret Nettle, who was not caught. Kalages followed the pair, apprehending Alexander after a “scuffle.” The next day, an officer retrieved a pocket knife left near the scene, which was used as evidence corroborating Kalages’ account of the incident.

On Christmas Eve of 1931, Mary Alexander’s was released from prison. Her parole was contingent on her relationship with her employer Mary Branam, who had signed an agreement indicating that Alexander would work in her home in Oakland, California. Mary Alexander began her work as a domestic worker on Christmas Day. By 1940 she had returned to her family in Los Angeles, now living at 1315 East 46th St by 1940. The Alexanders had two more children, Betty Jane Alexander and Mary E Alexander.

Contributor

Olufemi O. Taiwo

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