Descriptive Summary
James Keane collection of Fritz Burns biographical materials
1923-2001
CSLA-24
James Keane
4 archival document boxes, 2 flat files
Loyola Marymount University. William H. Hannon Library. Department of Archives and Special Collections.
Los Angeles, California 90045-2659
The collection contains the materials that James Keane used to write his biography of Fritz Gurns: notes, the manuscript of Keane's book, photocopies of primary source materials, business brochures, and copies of business and personal correspondence of Fritz Burns. There are
Collection stored offsite. Research use requires both an advance notice of intent to use the collection and an appointment. To schedule an appointment, please contact the Department of Archives and Special Collection, William H. Hannon Library, Loyola Marymount University: 310-338-2780, 310-338-5357.
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Access
The Fritz Burns Papers are part of the Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Center for the Study of Los Angeles Research Collection, a program of the Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Center for the Study of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University. The Department of Archives and Special Collections, Loyola Marymount University, administers the Research Collection. Research use requires both an advance notice of intent to use the collection and an appointment. Collection is open to research under the terms of use of the Department of Archives and Special Collections, Loyola Marymount University.
Publication Rights
Materials in the Department of Archives and Special Collections may be subject to copyright. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, Loyola Marymount University does not claim ownership of the copyright of any materials in its collections. The user or publisher must secure permission to publish from the copyright owner. Loyola Marymount University does not assume any responsibility for infringement of copyright or of publication rights held by the original author or artists or his/her heirs, assigns, or executors.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Series number, Box and Folder number, James Keane collection of Fritz Burns biographical materials, CSLA-24, Department of Archives and Special Collections, William H. Hannon Library, Loyola Marymount University.
Acquisition Information
Gift of James Keane, 2002 (acccession number 2002.17)
Biography / Administrative History
Fritz Bernard Burns (1899-1979), born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was a powerful real estate developer in Southern California. As vice-president of Dickenson & Gillepsie real estate firm in Los Angeles in the 1920s, he oversaw the development of Palisades Del Rey (now Play Del Rey). With partner F. W. Marlow, he was involved in the development of Westchester, Windsor Hills, Panorama City, parts of North Hollywood and other areas in Los Angeles. Such projects made him a prominent developer in Los Angeles and a leader in the development of mass-produced housing, resulting in community development and the notion of middle class ownership of homes as a way of life. He was, consequently, a leading civic figure in the city. Burns was also a major philanthropic benefactor to Roman Catholic institutions, including Loyola Marymount University and Aquinas College. Burns was President of the Home Builders Association of Los Angeles in 1942 and of the National Association of Home Builders in 1945.
Chronology
1899
Born Fritz Bernard Burns, Minneapolis, Minnesota
1916-1932
Salesman, sales manager, and executive vice president, Dickinson & Gillespie Corporation. Responsible for the development of Palisades del Rey, a beachfront area of Los Angeles County.
1924
Marries Lucille Robinson, whom he divorced in 1927. The couple has one son, Fritz Patrick Burns (1925-1980).
1937-1944
General partner with F. W. Marlow in Marlow-Burns Development Company, which develops Windsor Hills, Toluca Wood, Westchester, and parts of West Los Angeles.
1940
Marries Gladys Carson Scheller (1897-1985).
1945
With Henry J. Kaiser forms Kaiser Community Homes. Best known development is Panorama City. Also the two partners develop properties in Hawaii.
1955
Burns receives "Man of Achievement" award from the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce.
1960-1979
CEO, Fritz B. Burns and Associates. Partner in development of hotels and shopping centers in the Los Angeles area.
1979
Death of Fritz B. Burns.
Scope and Content of Collection
This collection's holdings include copies of Keane's manuscript and his typewritten research notes, newspaper clippings, flyers and brochures, taped interviews and photographs. Items of particular interest include Keane's manuscript with editorial comments, photocopies of newspaper clippings regarding the life of Fritz Burns and news items regarding Los Angles City Housing Authority official Frank Wilkinson, who was fired in 1952, after refusing to answer questions from the California State Un-American Activities Committee. Also included in this collection are brochures and flyers for Burns development projects such as Palisades Del Rey, Riverside Ranchos, Del Rey Hills, Hastings Ranch and Windsor Hills, and copies of personal and business correspondence of Fritz Burns. The materials in this collection range in date from 1923 to 2001; however, the bulk of the collection dates from 2000 to 2001.
The collection contains twenty-two micro-cassette tapes of interviews recorded during Keane's research for the book. Please note that the Research Collection lacks a machine capable of playing them.
Arrangement
This small collection has no series; its holdings are listed by box and folder. James Keane's original filing system has been preserved as closely as possible.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Burns, Fritz
Real estate development -- California, Southern -- History -- Sources
Real estate developers -- California, Southern -- Biography -- Sources
Los Angeles (Calif.) -- History -- 20th century -- Sources
Philanthropists -- California -- Los Angeles -- Biography -- Sources
Bibliography
Keane, James Thomas. Fritz B. Burns and the Development of Los Angeles. Los Angeles, 2001
Other Finding Aids
The guide to the James Keane Collection of Fritz Burns Biographical Materials can also be found at the Department of Archives and Special Collections, Loyola Marymount University website: http://www.lmu.edu/Page6554.aspx.
Related Material
Fritz Burns Papers, 1899-circa 1980 (CSLA-4): http://www.lmu.edu/Page4561.aspx.
Fritz Burns Papers, 1939-1973 (CSLA-2): http://www.lmu.edu/Page4582.aspx. These two collections are also part of the OAC.
1 : 1-2
Draft copy of manuscript Mr. Housing, U.S.A. Fritz B. Burns by James Thomas Keane
2001
1 : 3-4
Copy of James Keane's manuscript Mr. Housing, U.S.A. Fritz B. Burns, with corrections by Michael E. Engh, S. J.
2001
1 : 5
Correspondence re Fritz B. Burns biography from Fritz B. Burns Foundation, Loyola Marymount University, Historical Society of Southern California, the Huntington Library and the Arthur H. Clark Company and copy of the book production agreement
2000-20001
1 : 6
Fax copy of Introduction to Keane's Fritz B. Burns biography written by Dr. Kevin Starr
2001
1 : 7
Signed Authorization for Use of Recorded Statements for interviews conducted by James Keane
2001
2 : 1
James Keane's typed notes compiled from his research using Loyola Marymount University's Center for the Study of Los Angeles Research Collection CSLA-2: Fritz B. Burns Collection
2001undated
2 : 2
James Keane's typed notes compiled from his research using Loyola Marymount University's Center for the Study of Los Angeles Research Collection CSLA-4: Fritz B. Burns Collection
2001 undated
2 : 3
James Keane's typed notes compiled from his research using uncatalogued materials from Loyola Marymount University's Archives
2001 undated
2 : 4
James Keane's typed notes compiled from his research using the Henry Kaiser and Eugene Trefethen Collections, UC Berkeley, Bancroft Library
2001 undated
2 : 5
Research materials for Burns biography: marriage certificate and baptismal information, typed interview with Bill Hannon, and Fritz B. Burns Foundation giving records
1983-2001 undated
2 : 6
Photocopies of Fritz B. Burns's business and personal correspondence and other assorted correspondence containing reference to Fritz B. Burns
1954-19802001
2 : 7
Photocopies of newspaper articles re Fritz B. Burns and his associates
1939-1991 (dates broken)
2 : 8
Photocopies of newspaper obituaries for Fritz B. Burns
1979
2 : 9
Photocopy of report, Postwar Housing in California
1945
2 : 10
Photocopies of magazine articles and individual book chapters re Fritz B. Burns and the building industry
1957-1998 (dates broken)
3 : 1
Photocopies of 1945 Southern California Gas Company Annual Report, various short biographies of Fritz B. Burns, brochures for Kaiser and Schulte homes, March 2000 issue of Los Angeles Magazine
1945
1949
2000
undated
3 : 2
March 1947 issue of Forum, the Magazine of Building
1947
3 : 3
Newspaper clippings re Fritz B. Burns housing developments
1944-1951
3 : 4
1 black & white photograph (torn) of group of men on horseback
undated
3 : 5
1 black & white photograph of the interior of the Kaiser factory
1946
3 : 6
1 black & white photograph of Fritz B. Burns (10 yrs old) and his brother Robert S. Burns (6 yrs old)
1909
3 : 7
1 black & white photograph of Fritz B. Burns and Fred Marlow
undated
3 : 8
Photocopy of 2 photographs of Marlow-Burns Small Defense House
1942
3 : 9
Flyers and brochures advertising various Burns housing developments, including: Palisades Del Rey, Highway Highlands, Hollywood Riviera, Del Rey Hills, and Windsor Hills
1939-1949 undated
4
22 micro-cassette tapes of James Keane's interviews with: Win Cockey, Greg Dillon, Richard Dunn, Greg Hise, Ed Hogan, Gary Lease, Lightfoot, O'Malley, Lynne Marlow, Morehart, Rawlinson, Joe Schulte, Skinner and Wilkinson
2000-2001
Flat File : 1
Newspaper clippings re Fritz B. Burns and real estate development in Los Angeles
1923 1941 1943
Flat file : 2
Flyers and brochures advertising various Burns housing developments, including: Palisades Del Rey, Riverside Ranchos, Altadena Terrace, Poppyfields in Altadena, Edison Square, Highway Highlands, Hollywoodland, Del Rey Hills, Hastings Ranch and Windsor Hills
1939-1949 undated