Documents for the History of the Daniel Freeman Family and the Rancho Centinela.
Clay Stalls
William H. Hannon Library
Loyola Marymount University
One LMU Drive, MS 8200
Los Angeles, CA 90045-8200
Phone: (310) 338-5710
Fax: (310) 338-5895
Email: special.collections@lmu.edu
URL: http://library.lmu.edu/
© 2013
Loyola Marymount University. All rights reserved.
Documents for the History of the Daniel Freeman Family and the Rancho Centinela
Collection number: CSLA-33
William H. Hannon Library
Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, California
- Processed by:
- Clay Stalls
- Date Completed:
- 2007
- Encoded by:
- Clay Stalls and Bri Wong
© 2013 Loyola Marymount University. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Documents for the History of the Daniel Freeman Family and the Rancho Centinela. CSLA-33
Dates: 1792-1995 (dates of the originals)
Collection number: CSLA-33
Collector:
Forsyth, Betty
Collection Size:
8 archival document boxes; 1 oversize box; 1 flat file
Repository:
Loyola Marymount University. Library. Department of Archives and Special Collections.
Los Angeles, California 90045-2659
Abstract: This collection consists of primary sources (mostly copies) and notes that Betty Forsyth (d. 2006) compiled on the Daniel
Freeman family, their Rancho Centinela, and local towns, such as Inglewood, California.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Spanish
Access
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, Documents for the History of the Daniel Freeman Family and
the Rancho Centinela, CSLA-33, Department of Archives and Special Collections, William H. Hannon Library, Loyola Marymount
University.
Acquisition Information
Forsyth family gift. Accession number: 2006.27
Biography
The Canadian businessman and lawyer Daniel Freeman (1837-1918) came with his family to Los Angeles area in 1873, where the
Rancho Centinela became the center of the family's fortune. His wife Catherine leased the Ranchos Aguaje de la Centinela and
Sausal Redondo from Sir Robert Burnett of Scotland in 1873--the name Rancho Centinela was that given to the combination of
the two ranchos under their joint ownership by Sir Robert. During Mexican rule in California the ranches had been owned by
members of the Avila and Machado families. After his wife's death in 1874, Daniel Freeman assumed the lease, eventually buying
the ranchos. The Centinela Adobe was the well-known ranch house of Freeman's rancho. From his rancho holdings came the foundation
of Daniel Freeman's business interests, and from them the town of Inglewood would also be birthed, with his indirect involvement.
Collection Description
Betty Forsyth (d. 2006), of Manhattan Beach, was an active member of the Centinela Valley Historical Society, an organization
concerned with the local history of Westchester, El Segundo, and Inglewood, California. During the over twenty year association
with this organization Ms. Forsyth collected primary sources, mostly copies, related to these area's early history, especially
the Ranchos Centinela and la Ballona, and the families most intimately acquainted with them, the Machados and the Freemans.
On her death, her family donated these materials to Loyola Marymount University, with Mike Engh, S. J., serving as the intermediary.
The materials were divided into two collections based on subject matter, one of which is this collection on the Daniel Freeman
family and their Rancho Centinela, CSLA-33: Documents for the History of the Daniel Freeman Family and the Rancho Centinela.
CSLA-33 consists of materials related to the family history of the Daniel Freeman family; the family's ranch, the Rancho Centinela;
Freeman business enterprises; and the local towns which grew around and on the rancho. The Canadian businessman and lawyer
Daniel Freeman (1837-1918) came with his family to Los Angeles area in 1873, where the Rancho Centinela became the center
of the family's fortune. His wife Catherine leased the Ranchos Aguaje de la Centinela and Sausal Redondo from Sir Robert Burnett
of Scotland in 1873--the name Rancho Centinela was that given to the combination of the two ranchos under their joint ownership
by Sir Robert. (During Mexican rule in California the ranches had been owned by members of the Avila and Machado families.)
After his wife's death in 1874, Daniel Freeman assumed the lease, eventually buying the ranchos. The Centinela Adobe was the
well-known ranch house of Freeman's rancho. From his rancho holdings came the foundation of Daniel Freeman's business interests,
and from them the town of Inglewood would also be birthed, with his indirect involvement.
Genealogies, newspaper and journal articles, photographs, personal reminiscences, research notes, and business records make
up the collection. Much material is copies that Betty Forsyth made for her research and for the records of the Centinela Valley
Historical Society. This is especially true of photographs and of business records. Thus, in the box and folder list, the
date given is that for the original source from which copies were made.
Arrangement
The holdings of the Freeman Family and Rancho Centinela collection have been organized according to subject matter or topic
into series, each with a box and folder list providing indices to the series' holdings. The original order of the materials
was not clearly discernible.
- Series 1: Daniel Freeman Family Records
- Series 2: Freeman Business Companies and Related Companies
- Series 3: Rancho Centinela and Centinela Adobe
- Series 4: Cities
- Series 5: Research Notes and Miscellany
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Freeman, Daniel, 1837-1918
Sausal Redondo Rancho (Calif.)
Rancho La Centinela (Calif.)
Real estate development -- California, Southern -- History -- Sources
Inglewood (Calif.) -- History -- Sources
Los Angeles (Calif.) -- History -- 20th century -- Sources
Real estate developers -- California, Southern -- Biography -- Sources
Land titles -- California -- Los Angeles County
Land titles -- California -- Inglewood
Ranches -- California, Southern -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
Related Collections
Series 1:
Freeman Family Records
1873-1995 (dates of originals)
Physical Description: 11 folders, 3 oversize folders
Series Description
This series holds materials on the history of Daniel Freeman's family, including Daniel himself; his children, Grace (1870-1956),
Archibald (1867-1931), and Charles (1868-1906); and his son-in-law, Charles Howland (1863-1934), husband of Grace. Of interest
are family genealogies, including one prepared by Gustave Anjou in 1901 expressly for Daniel Freeman. Also of value are the
wills of Daniel Freeman; Catherine Freeman (1841-1874), the wife of Daniel Freeman; and Grace Freeman Howland in this series,
for they record not only the initial disposition of Freeman property (by Catherine, Daniel's wife) but also the last (by Grace,
his daughter). There is also some business correspondence of Daniel Freeman, as well as a lease from Catherine Freeman to
José Dolores Machado. Information on Grace and Charles Howland comes from correspondence between Betty Forsyth and Howland
family relatives containing family reminiscences that they wrote expressly for Betty Forsyth.
Box 1 , Folder 2
"Freeman Family Wills": Photostatic copies and typed transcripts of wills of Daniel Freeman, Catherine Freeman, and Grace
Freeman Howland
1874, 1918, 1954
Box 1 , Folder 3
Gustave Anjou. Early History of the Freeman Family
Compiled for Daniel Freeman. (1901). Freeman Family genealogy. From "Freeman-Howland Families" folder
1901
Box 1 , Folder 4
Marriage licenses of Archibald Freeman and Nora Kirkpatrick; Charles Freeman and Alice Lyon (photostatic copies). From "Freeman-Howland
Families" folder
1890, 1903
Box 1 , Folder 5
Incoming correspondence to Betty Forsyth from Howland family relatives re Charles and Grace Freeman Howland. From "Freeman-Howland
Families" folder
1992-1995
Box 1 , Folder 6
Fact sheet re life of Daniel Freeman; Daniel Freeman certificate of membership in Ellis Club (photocopy); Daniel Freeman outgoing
business correspondence. From "Freeman-Howland Families" folder
1888-1968 (dates broken)
Box 1 , Folder 7
Grace Freeman Howland diary re trip to San Diego; with notes by Betty Forsyth. From "Freeman-Howland Families" folder
1940
Box 1 , Folder 8
Religious card with religious aphorisms (the latter handwritten by Grace Freeman Howland); handwritten account of death of
Grace Freeman Howland; newspaper notice of funeral rites of Grace Freeman Howland; Catherine G. H. Freeman lease to José Dolores
Machado. From "Freeman-Howland Families" folder
1873, 1956
Box 1 , Folder 9
Handwritten transcription of notice in Inglewood Star re Charles Howland and Grace Freeman wedding; photocopy of Grace Howland
check and Continuous Kiln Company receipt; Grace Freeman Howland Christmas card; Grace Freeman Howland funeral program. From
"Freeman-Howland Families" folder
1888, 1956
Box 1 , Folder 10
Photographic portrait of Grace Freeman (?) on cabinet card. From "Freeman-Howland Families" folder
1880s (?)
Box 1 , Folder 11
Photograph (copy) of Daniel Freeman family: Grace Freeman Howland, Charles Freeman, Alice Lyon Freeman, Ynez Freeman, Nora
Kirkpatrick Freeman. Cardboard backboard (separated) with names of persons in photograph. From "Freeman-Howland Families"
folder
1904-1905
Box 1 , Folder 12
Photograph (copy) of interior of Grace Freeman Howland’s room at Freeman mansion; copies of photographs of Grace Freeman Howland
and interiors of Centinela Adobe; copies of photographs of Charles Howland and sister Amy in car. From "Freeman-Howland Families"
folder
undated
Box 1ov , Folder 1
Photograph of "Centinela", family home of Daniel Freeman
1900(?)
Box 1ov , Folder 2
Photograph on panel card of the Visitation graduating class of 1914. Ynez Freeman, daughter of Archibald Freeman and granddaughter
of Daniel Freeman, in class. Inscription on back of panel card: "77th Annual Commencement. To Dear Grandfather With love
from Ynez The Visitation Class of 1914."
1914
Box 1ov , Folder 3
Sketches of the Freeman mansion "Centinela" for the American Architect and Building News; sketch of Freeman College of Applied
Sciences
1889
Box 1ov , Folder 12
Photograph of portrait on china plate of Sir Robert Burnett, owner of the Centinela Rancho before Daniel Freeman
1889 (of copy)
Series 2:
Freeman Business Companies and Related Companies
1875-1975
Physical Description: 2 archival document boxes; 7 folders; 1 oversize folder
Series Description
This series contains materials on both the private and public businesses of Daniel Freeman, as well as companies related to
the development of the area. Most of these materials are photostatic copies or else photocopies. The companies with which
Daniel Freeman was associated include the Centinela Land Company and the Centinela-Inglewood Land Company, created to develop
the Rancho Centinela. The latter was formed in 1875, although unsuccessful in its goals of development. Records of interest
include the articles of incorporation and Daniel Freeman’s agreement to buy the shares of the company from a "Compton," perhaps
Griffith Compton. A later Centinela Land Company, unrelated to the Freemans, was formed in 1912, and its articles of incorporation
can be found in Box 1, Folder 14. Records of the Centinela-Inglewood Land Company (1887), which Freeman did not own or directly
participate in as a director, consist of the articles of incorporation and a sales contract. This company was responsible
for the establishment of Inglewood, and information on its land office there can be found in Box 1, Folder 18. Publicity was
important in promoting land development, and booklets and articles in this regard are found in this series. The articles of
incorporation and other legal documents of the Redondo Beach Railway Company, which helped in the development of the Inglewood
area, are found in this series.
Box 1, Folder 13
"Centinela Land Company" (1875): Articles of incorporation of original Centinela Land Company (photostatic copy), stock certificate,
Daniel Freeman and J. H. Shields agreement to buy shares of "Compton" (Griffith Compton?)
1875
Box 1, Folder 14
Articles of incorporation of 1912 Centinela Land Company (photocopy and photostatic copy)
1912
Box 1, Folder 15
"Centinela-Inglewood Land Company": Articles of incorporation of Centinela-Inglewood Land Company (photostatic copies); Centinela-Inglewood
Land Company sale contract (photocopy)
1887
Box 1, Folder 16
"Redondo Beach Railway Company": record book (photocopy) containing articles of incorporation, first mortgage documents, lease,
minutes of stockholders’ and directors’ meetings, articles of agreement creating Southern California Railway Company, articles
of consolidation of the Southern California Railway Company with Santa Fe Railroad
1888-1889
Box 1, Folder 17
"The Pacific Homeland
Published Under the Auspices of the R. B. and C. I. L. Companies." (photocopy)
1888
Box 1, Folder 18
"Brick Yard": flyer (photocopy); articles (photocopies and typed transcripts) re Continuous Brick Kiln Company; photographs
and photocopies of same
1887, 1911, 1941
Box 1, Folder 27
Photographs, notes, articles, Centinela Valley Historical Society meeting minutes re Daniel Freeman land company office; includes
photographs of Inglewood, California, railroad station, and aerial view of the "Centinela" on the grounds of the Daniel Freeman
Hospital. Separated from notebook
1975
Box 4
Respondents’ briefs and transcripts on appeal for case of W. L. Archer vs. Daniel Freeman and the Centinela-Inglewood Land
Company
1896
Box 5
Daniel Freeman ledger recording cash payments
1867-1888
Box 1ov, Folder 4
Article from "Resources of Southern California" (1902) re the Centinela and Inglewood; Articles from "The People at Work"
re development in Inglewood, including the Continuous Brick Kiln Company
1895-1896, 1902
Series 3:
Rancho Centinela and Centinela Adobe
1792-1991
Physical Description: 1 archival document box, 10 folders, 6 oversize folders
Series Description
Articles, research notes, photographs, and genealogical and biographical information on owners of the Rancho Centinela and
the Centinela Adobe are the foundation of this series. The owners found in this series include the Machado and Avila families,
Joseph Lancaster Brent, and Sir Robert Burnett. There is also a run of photocopies of transcriptions in English of Spanish
language documents (
expedientes) detailing the legal actions between the Avila and Machado families over the possession of the Rancho Aguaje de la Centinela
in the 1830s and the 1840s. The documents include maps (
diseños) of the ranchos and surrounding properties. The originals of the translations are found in the California State Archives.
Also found in this series are articles on the Centinela Adobe, the ranch house of the Centinela Adobe, as well as the photographs
of both the exterior and the interior of the Centinela Adobe from the twentieth century. There are also the reminiscences
of Martha Crawford about her life in the adobe from the 1920s until 1945.
Box 1 , Folder 1
"Avila": Transcriptions of marriage documents from San Gabriel Mission, Betty Forsyth index to work in Spanish archives;
article: Donn Tatum,General William S. Rosecrans and the Rancho Sausal Redondo, 51, no. 4 Southern California Quarterly
1792, 1969
Box 1 , Folder 19
Betty Forsyth notes (photocopy) on talk by Walter Heller re Freeman family and the Adobe Centinela
1972
Box 1 , Folder 20
Notes on design and history Centinela Adobe; chronology of Rancho Centinela; essay on origin of name Centinela; Martha Crawford
reminiscences re Centinela Adobe (From Centinela Adobe folder: 1 of 3)
1965
Box 1 , Folder 21
Photographs of Centinela Adobe (From Centinela Adobe folder: 2 of 3)
1966, 1971
Box 1 , Folder 22
Newspaper and magazine articles re Centinela Adobe and restoration (From Centinela Adobe folder: 3 of 3)
1955-1958 (dates broken)
Box 1 , Folder 23
Rough drafts of Betty Forsyth Chamber of Commerce speeches on Rancho Centinela and Adobe Centinela
1970
Box 1 , Folder 24
Notes, photographs (photocopies), biographical information on Joseph Lancaster Brent, owner of Rancho Centinela. Separated
from notebook
1975, 1991
Box 1 , Folder 25
Typed copy (photocopy) of Joseph Lancaster Brent's description of life in California. Copy from Huntington Library.
undated
Box 1 , Folder 26
Betty Forsyth translations of Machado and Avila documents re Rancho Centinela; "California Historian" article re Jose Manuel
Machado (photocopy)
1991
Box 2 , Folder 1-2
Photographs, genealogies, family history, correspondence re Sir Robert Burnett. Separated from notebook entitled "Burnett
notebook Research"
1965-1974
Box 3 , Folder 10
"Centinela Days" programs
1967-1968, 1970
Box 1ov , Folder 6
Expediente 394: Ignacio Machado petition and supporting documents, and government responses re dispute over Aguaje de la
Centinela with Jose Avila. Transcriptions in cursive from register of English translations of original documents in Spanish.
2 copies.
1844
Box 1ov , Folder 7
Expediente 382: Documents and government responses re Machado/ Avila dispute over Aguaje de la Centinela. Transcriptions
in cursive from register of English translations of original documents in Spanish. 2 copies (prints from microfilm negative?)
1844
Box 1ov , Folder 8
Expediente 82: Anastacio Avila's petition for Tajanta. Transcriptions in cursive from register of English translations of
original documents in Spanish. 2 copies (prints from microfilm negative?)
1843
Box 1 ov , Folder 9
Expediente 337: Petition and supporting documents, and government responses re Machado/Avila dispute over the Aguaje de la
Centinela. Transcriptions in cursive from register of English translations of original documents in Spanish. 2 copies prints
from microfilm negative
1837
Box 1ov , Folder 10
Expediente 567: Antonio F. Coronel petition and government responses re "Rancho of Centinela." Transcriptions in cursive
from register of English translations of original documents in Spanish. 2 copies (prints from microfilm negative?)
1846
Box 1ov , Folder 11
Diseno (maps) of ranchos LA Ballona, Sausal Redondo, and Tajanta. Part of documentation for expedientes 82, 337, 382, 394,
567. (photocopies of originals in California State Archives)
undated
Series 4:
Cities
1888-1975 (dates of originals)
Physical Description: 1 archival document box, 1 oversize folder, 1 flat file
Series Description
A number of cities developed from or around the Rancho Centinela. Betty Forsyth collected materials on their history, including
newspaper clippings on the development of Inglewood. These clippings are found in a scrapbook or else as photocopies, originals,
or as transcriptions by Betty Forsyth; the latter category includes transcriptions from the Ingelwood Star. Local histories
of Hawthorne and Inglewood also provide some information on these two cities. In addition there are photographs of early sites
in Inglewood, such as the post office, as well as a number of pamphlets on Inglewood churches.
Box 3, Folder 1
Chronology, list of postmasters, photograph, articles re Inglewood post office
1888
Box 3, Folder 2
Robert S. Hartman. "History of Hawthorne." (photocopy of typed manuscript)
undated
Box 3, Folder 3
Santa Monica Land and Water Company mortgages for property in El Segundo
1928-1929
Box 3, Folder 4
Newspaper articles (photocopies and transcriptions) from Inglewood Star, Inglewood Times, and the Southern California Bulletin
re Inglewood; local histories of Inglewood, including church and African-American; Centinela Valley Historical Society program;
photographs of Inglewood landmarks; list of Inglewood pioneers (1 of 2). See separated newspaper in flat file
1888-1975 (dates broken)
Box 3, Folder 5
Pamphlets re history of First Presbyterian and Episcopal Church of the Holy Faith and W. W. Robinson. "Inglewood. A Calendar
of Events in the Making of a City." Centinela Valley Historical Society pamphlets (2 of 2)
1955, 1961
Box 3, Folder 6
Bell System telephone directory for Inglewood, El Segundo, and Hawthorne
1926
Box 3, Folder 7
Inglewood Union High School alumni yearbook
1924
Box 3, Folder 8
Booklet advertising Inglewood published by Inglewood Realty Company
1906
Box 3, Folder 9
"Highlights of Inglewood History"
1972
Box 1ov, Folder 5
Scrapbook with newspaper clippings (some loose) on Inglewood history and death of Grace Freeman Howland
1950
Map Case 5, Drawer 25
Inglewood Fairview Gazette
1926
Series 5:
Research Notes and Miscellany
1897-1978
Physical Description: 3 archival document boxes, 1 folder
Series Description
During the course of her research, Betty Forsyth compiled notes on the history of Inglewood, the ranchos, and the Freeman
and Machado families. These notes (all on 3x5 inch note cards) have information ranging from the names of and information
on early Inglewood pioneers to furniture in the Adobe Centinela to the activities of the Centinela Valley Historical Society.
A folder with miscellaneous publications rounds out the holdings of this series
Box 2, Folder 3
Los Angeles Department of Airports 50th anniversary booklet; Security Pacific Bank community guide to southwest Los Angeles
County; Hollenbeck Hotel advertisement with picture of the California Building, Chicago World's Fair; Los Angeles Chamber
of Commerce guide to Los Angeles "The County and City of Los Angeles in Southern California." Notes re research activities
1897, 1978
Box 6, Folder 1-5
Notes arranged by alphabetical order: A-H
undated
Box 7, Folder 1-3
Notes arranged by alphabetical order: N-Z
undated
Box 7, Folder 4
Notes re Inglewood residents
undated
Box 8, Folder 1-5
Notes arranged by topic
undated
