The Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company was founded in 1868 Initially the company offered life and endowment policies and began investing in community improvements. In 1885, the company began offering accident insurance, and in March 1906 it consolidated with Los Angeles-based Conservative Life. The collection consists of records related to the activities, history and real estate investment interests of the Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company. Among the development projects represented in the collection, the most extensive amount of material relates Pacific Mutual’s design, construction and opening of the Norwalk Square shopping center in the early 1950s in Southern California.

The Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company, founded in 1868 in Sacramento, California, as a stock company, had Leland Stanford (1824-1893), Central Pacific railroad magnate and former California governor, serve as its first President from 1868-1876. Initially the company offered life and endowment policies and began investing in community improvements, and by the end of its first year Pacific Mutual had five hundred life insurance policy owners and had paid its first death benefit. In 1885, the company began offering accident insurance, and in March 1906 it consolidated with Los Angeles-based Conservative Life.

14 boxes and 1 oversize folder.

Materials are open for research.