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Carreon (Reynaldo J.) collection
CEMA 129
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Contributing Institution:
UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections
Title: Reynaldo J. Carreon collection
Identifier/Call Number: CEMA 129
Physical Description:
1.5 Linear Feet
2 document boxes and 1 flat box
Date (inclusive): circa 1950s-1980s
Abstract: The Reynaldo J. Carreon Collection consists of two document boxes and one flat box, which contain photography, documents and
newspaper clippings regarding Mr. Carreon's career as a member of the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners, civic activities
and travels.
Language of Material:
English
.
none
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection was part of a purchase in 2011 and came with the Chinese in America Collection (Wyles Mss 174).
Reynaldo J. Carreon, Jr. M. D. was born in 1900 and died in 1991. Most notably, he was a member of the Los Angeles Board of
Police Commissioners for sixteen years; he served as President of the board for four years. He was appointed on June 18, 1959.
Carreon recieved his Dr. of Optometry in 1925 from the Southern California College of Optometry. In 1936, he completed his
degree in Osteopathic Medicine and Osteopathic Physician and Surgeon at the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
in Pomona, California. He earned a Dr. of Medicine Degree in 1962 from the California College of Medicine at the University
of California in Irvine.
During World War II, Carreon established a clinic serving the disabled, elderly, and needy. He continued to develop and direct
the Pan American Medical Center during his twenty-seven years on staff at the Los Angeles County Hospital Department of Opthalomology.
He retained the title of Doctor Emeritus after his retirement from the Los Angeles County Hospital.
In 1958, Carreon was awarded Spain's Honorary Citizen of Madrid for sustaining successful diplomatic activities between the
City of Los Angeles and cities of Spain during the International Conference of City Mayors. President Eisenhower chose Carreon
during his presidential term (1953-1961) to represent the United States in the "People to People" Program; he was named Ambassador
at Large to Central and South America. Mexican President, Adolfo Lopez Mateos, awarded Carreon the Mexican Order of the Aztec
Eagle for his dedication to improving Inter-American relations on July 27, 1964.
Carreon was co-founder of the Indio Community Hospital, which was constructed on his property. Now it is known as the John
F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital, located on the corner of Dr. Carreon Blvd. (named in his honor) and Monroe Street in Indio.
Additionally, he was member of the California Advisory Committee to U.S. Civil Rights Commission. Carreon was Chiarman of
the Board of the Los Angeles Civil Defense and Disaster Board. He helped establish the Los Angeles Mexican Civic and Patriotic
Commitee in which he was a lifetime member. Moreover, Carreon was member of the Los Angeles Mexican Chamber of Commerce and
the Mexican Welfare Committee.
Reynaldo J. Carreon established four college and university endowments: College of the Desert, College of Osteopathic Medicine
at the Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California College of Medicine at the University of California in
Irvine, and the Southern California College of Optometry in Fullerton.
For more information see links:
http://carreonfoundation.org/bio.html
http://carreonfoundation.org/historical.html
Created April 2011 by Callie Bowdish and Danely Segoviano.
The Reynaldo J. Carreon Collection is arranged according to subject matter. The original order has been maintained wherever
possible to reflect the order that the photos and ephemera were arranged in the original albums and boxes. The subjects contains
various groupings, one of which is Mexico's Order of the Aztec Eagle. It consists mostly of photographs of the ceremony in
which Carreon was awarded the Order of the Aztec Eagle in Mexico. The folder Hawaii contains photographs of a vacation to
Hawaii. Coachella Valley Mexican Coordinating Council and Indio, California holds photgraphs of an event for the Mexican Coordinating
Council, Coachella Valley and Indio, and some shots of working in the hospital and in a palm orchard. Los Angeles Civic Duties
and Indio Fair encompasses photographs from various events and ceremonies in Los Angeles and Indio. Mexican Festivities contains
photographs pertaining to various Mexican celebrations and festivities. Police Commissioner files consist of photographs,
documents, newspaper clippings, and miscellaneous materials regardings Carreon's appointment and tenure as member of the Los
Angeles Board of Police Commissioners. These materials originated from one scapbook and maintain their order to reflect the
creator's design. Subjects are arranged alphabetically.
Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Collections, UCSB. All requests for permission to publish or
quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given
on behalf of the Department of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply
permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained.