Los Angeles
County
Biographies
PEARL M. ISHAM
Few
women have mastered the profession of Certified Public Accounting. But Miss Pearl M. Isham has the distinction
not only of being one of the first but one of the few, when she received her
State Certificate in 1940. In fact there
were less than twelve female Certified Public Accountants in California at that
time.
Miss
Isham was born in Ventura, California, on June 21, 1911, to Milton E. and Olive
M. (Densmore) Isham. Her father was a
farmer in Ventura, California, later becoming a structural steel draftsman in
Los Angeles. Her paternal grandfather
came after the Civil War on his first trip to California via the Isthmus of
Panama. He later worked on the first
cable car in San Francisco. After moving
to Ventura, he was one of the early contractors in Ventura County.
Being
a resident of San Gabriel and Alhambra since 1922, Miss Isham graduated from
Alhambra High School in 1929, attended Ventura Junior College until 1931 and
Southwestern University until 1936. She
received her State Certificate as Certified Public Accountant in 1940.
From
1939 to 1941 she conducted her own accounting office. From 1941 to 1949 she held a position as head
of the office and accounting department of a steel company in Los Angeles. Since 1949 she has operated her own
accounting practice at 1224 South Fourth Street in Alhambra, moving in January,
1958, to 5372 Poplar Boulevard, Los Angeles.
Her practice not only covers a wide variety of accounting business but
also much tax work. In addition Miss
Isham teaches several accounting courses at Pasadena (Nazarene) College.
In
connection with her business interests she is a member of the American Society
of Women Accountants, past president of Los Angeles Chapter, national director
and at present national second vice-president.
She is also a member of American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants, California Society of Certified Public Accountants and the
American Accounting Association. Miss Isham’s church affiliation is the Alhambra Church of the
Nazarene, of which she is a member of the board of trustees, and has been
treasurer for many years.
In
her spare time Miss Isham likes gardening and she enjoys music.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Historical Volume & Reference Works Including Alhambra, Monterey Park,
Rosemead, San Gabriel & Temple City, by Robert P. Studer,
Pages 709-711, Historical Publ., Los Angeles, California. 1962.
© 2013 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPHIES