Description
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.
Background
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.
Extent
14 boxes and 1 oversize folder.
Availability
Materials are open for research.