James Keane Collection of Fritz Burns Biographical Materials

THE THOMAS AND DOROTHY LEAVEY CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF LOS ANGELES RESEARCH COLLECTION

JAMES KEANE COLLECTION OF FRITZ BURNS BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS, 1923-2001 (CSLA-24)

ACCESSION NUMBER: 2002.17; gift of James Keane
COLLECTION SIZE: 4 archival document boxes; 2 flat files
PROCESSING HISTORY: Processed by Susan Jones. Collection guide written by Susan Jones; edited by Clay Stalls, Department of Archives and Special Collections.

The James Keane Collection of Fritz Burns Biographical Materials consists of materials compiled by Keane during his research and writing of a biography of Fritz B. Burns (1899-1979), a major real estate developer in Southern California who was involved in the development of Westchester, Playa del Rey, Windsor Hills, Panorama City, and parts of North Hollywood. Keane's biography of Burns, entitled Fritz B. Burns and the Development of Los Angeles: The Biography of a Community Developer and Philanthropist, was published in 2001 jointly by Loyola Marymount University and the Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Center for the Study of Los Angeles, and the Historical Society of Southern California. This collection, which Keane donated to the CSLA Research Collection in 2002, provides valuable witness to the history of post-war housing development in the Los Angeles area.

COLLECTION DESCRIPTION: 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.

James Keane's original filing system has been preserved as closely as possible. 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.

RELATED COLLECTIONS: The CSLA Research Collection houses two related collections that Keane made use of these related collections during his research on Fritz Burns. There is little duplication of materials within the three collections. Each contains unique and valuable information of interest to researchers.
Fritz Burns Papers, 1939-1973. CSLA-2
Fritz Burns Papers, 1899-ca. 1980. CSLA-4

RESEARCH ACCESS: Use of this collection on-site in on-site and by appointment only. Please call Loyola Marymount University's Department of Archives and Special Collections at 310-338-2780 or 310-338-7478 to schedule an appointment. The Research Collection is a program of the Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Center for the Study of Los Angeles.

BOX

FOLDER

CONTENTS

DATES

1	1-2	Draft copy of manuscript Mr. Housing, U.S.A. Fritz B. Burns by James Thomas Keane	02/15/2001
1	3-4	Copy of James Thomas Keane's manuscript Mr. Housing, U.S.A. Fritz B. Burns with corrections by Michael E. Engh, S. J.	3/20/2001
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	2000-2001
1	6	Fax copy of Introduction to Keane's Fritz B. Burns biography written by Dr. Kevin Starr	06/2001
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	2001, N.D.
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, N.D.
2	3	James Keane's typed notes compiled from his research using uncatalogued materials from Loyola Marymount University's Archives	2001, N.D.
2	4	James Keane's typed notes compiled from his research using the Henry Kaiser and Eugene Trefethen Collections, UC Berkeley, Bancroft Library	2001, N.D.
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, N.D.
2	6	Photocopies of Fritz B. Burns's business and personal corr. and other assorted corr. containing reference to Fritz B. Burns	1954-1980, 2001
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, N.D.
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	N.D.
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	N.D.
3	8	Photocopy of 2 photographs of Marlow-Burns Small Defense House	1942
3	9-13	Flyers and brochures advertising various Burns housing developments, including: Palisades Del Rey, Highway Highlands, Hollywood Riviera, Del Rey Hills, and Windsor Hills	1939-1949, N.D.
4		22 micro-cassette tapes of 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, N.D.