Collection Guide
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Chattel, Robert
CHA.001.001
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
Los Angeles County Museum of Art Balch Art Research Library
Title: Robert J. Chattel Broadway Spring Center and Biddy Mason Commemoration Collection
Creator:
Chattel, Robert
Identifier/Call Number: CHA.001.001
Physical Description:
1 box
Date (inclusive): 1988-1993
Language of Material:
English
.
This collection consists of .42 linear feet (1 Hollinger box) and documents the construction and opening of the Broadway Spring
Center and the Biddy Mason Memorial Park located in downtown Los Angeles, California. The majority of the content dates to
1988-1989 with one magazine from 1993 The material contains correspondence between Robert Chattel and Donna Graves of The
Power of Place, ephemera, architectural model images, and articles that range from 1988 to 1993 related to the Biddy Mason
Memorial Park and its opening in 1989. Also included are photographs of the construction of the Broadway Spring Center and
detailed images and plans of the relief mural created by Tony Sheets located at the front of the building.
Robert Jay Chattel is an architect based in Los Angeles, California. Chattel has over 40 years of experience in historic preservation
and the rehabilitation and expansion of historic buildings. In 1989, Chattel assisted with the completion of a mixed retail
and parking structure called The Broadway Spring Center and a new public art project made by the organization, The Power of
Place. This center was built at the site of the homestead of Los Angeles pioneer and former slave, Biddy Mason. The Broadway
Spring Center includes a large memorial dedicated to Biddy Mason and an opening ceremony was held on November 16, 1989 for
both the Broadway Spring Center and the Biddy Mason Memorial Park.
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment only through the Balch Research Library, Los Angeles County Museum
of Art. Telephone 323-857-6118 or email library@lacma.org, or by using the Make an Appointment Link at https://www.lacma.org/learn/balch-research-library.
Some institutional records may be unavailable in order to protect the privacy and safety of museum staff, visitors, and collections,
and where prohibited by law.
Contact the Balch Research Library for information on
publishing or reproducing materials included in these records.
Permission is granted by the Los Angeles County Museum of
Art as the owner of the physical materials, and does not imply
permission from the copyright holder. It is the responsibility of
the researcher to obtain all necessary permissions from the
copyright holder.
Material is in original order, may have been in a binder before. The contents have been put into folders maintining order
and categorized by Tyler Haberkorn.
Tyler Haberkorn processed and rehoused the collection under the supervision of Jessica Gambling in October 2023.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Robert Jay Chattel donated the collection in October 2022.
An artist book, "Home/Stead" by Susan E. King and commissioned by the Power of Place and poster commissioned by the Power
of Place titled, "Grandma: Biddy Mason" designed by Sheila Levrant de Bretteville that were donated along with this collection
of ephemera. The book's call number is (N7433.4.K57 A4 1989) and the poster is (N7433.4.K57 A4 1988) and both can be accessed
at the Balch Art Research Library at Los Angeles County Art Museum.
[Description of item], Robert J. Chattel Broadway Spring Center and Biddy Mason Commemoration Collection, Los Angeles County
Museum of Art Balch Art Research Library, CHA.001.001.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Mason, Biddy, 1818-1891
Mason, Biddy,—1818-1891—Posters
Los Angeles (Calif.)
California History
Public art
Architectural drawings (visual works)
Clippings (information artifacts)
Correspondence
Ephemera
Photographic prints
Posters