Workman Family Papers Addendum, 1826-2019

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Summary

Title:
Workman Family Papers Addendum
Dates:
1826-2019
Abstract:
The Workman Family were prominent figures in the early history of Los Angeles. This addendum provides significant additions to the Workman Family Papers, further illustrating their lives.
Extent:
20.7 Linear Feet (63 boxes)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Series, Box and Folder [#, if applicable], Workman Family Papers Addendum, CSLA-09, Department of Archives and Special Collections, William H. Hannon Library, Loyola Marymount University.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of correspondence, newspaper clippings, business documents, photographs, and personal belongings of the Workman family. This addendum provides significant additions to the Workman Family Papers, further illustrating their lives.

Biographical / historical:

Tracing its residence in Los Angeles back to the mid-nineteenth century, the Workman family holds a distinguished place in the city's history. Two brothers, David (1798-1855) and William (1800-1876), originally from England, were the first Workmans to settle in Los Angeles: David came from Missouri, and William from Taos, New Mexico. Of their descendants, the following Workmans figure most prominently in this addendum: William H. Workman (the son of David) and Maria Elizabeth (the wife of William H.); Andrew A. Boyle (Maria's father); Thomas E. (the son of William and Maria) and Margaret K. (the wife of Thomas E.); and David A. (the son of Thomas and Margaret).

William Henry Workman (1839-1918) would make his great mark in Los Angeles politics and the development of the city infrastructure. The most important civic office that William Workman held was mayor of Los Angeles, from 1887 to 1888, during which time he investigated civic corruption in Los Angeles, had Fort (Broadway), Spring, Hill, and Main streets paved, and supported the establishment of the city library. Workman had served on the city council for much of the 1870s (1872-1874;1875-1880). As a council member, he fought for, and won, a restriction of fifty years on the management by the privtely-owned Los Angeles Water Company of the water rights of the Los Angeles River. In 1875, William Workman paid the Los Angeles Water Company to extend its services to Boyle Heights, thus ensuring a domestic water supply there. He also persuaded fellow council members to permit the building of a conduit bringing the water of the Elysian Hills to Boyle Heights for irrigation. These improvements permitted William Workman's opening of Boyle Heights to real estate sales, which led to the development of this important and historic segment of Los Angeles east of the Los Angeles River.

William Workman was also instrumental in the building of street car lines in Los Angeles, some of which would reach Boyle Heights. He led the fight to bring the Southern Pacific Railroad, against considerable local opposition, to Los Angeles, a link to the outside world that would help make the land booms of the 1880s possible. As City Treasurer (1901-1907), he oversaw a general election for the building of the Silver Lake Reservoir. During his term on the Park Commission, he donated two-thirds of the land for Hollenbeck Park, a Los Angeles landmark. He also helped found the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce.

He and Maria Elizabeth Boyle (1847-1933) married in 1867, joining two distinguished Los Angeles families. Maria's family had settled in Boyle Heights before William Workman's acquisitions there. A devout Roman Catholic, she received her education from the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul and strongly supported the Orphans' Fairs, an important charitable work, and was also active in the Catholic Women's Club and the Women's Athletic Club.

Andrew Aloysius Boyle (1818–1871), namesake of Boyle Heights, was an Irish immigrant who left a legacy in Los Angeles. Born in the year of 1818, in Ireland Andrew immigrated to the United States in 1832 with his siblings to reunite with their father, but they were unsuccessful. He later joined an Irish colony in Texas and served in the Texas Revolution, surviving the Goliad Massacre. After the war, Andrew moved to New Orleans, married Elizabeth Christie in 1846, and had a daughter, Maria Elizabeth (1847–1933). Following Elizabeth's death in 1849, Andrew migrated to California during the Gold Rush, establishing a shoe business in San Francisco before relocating to Los Angeles in 1858. In Los Angeles, Andrew purchased the "Paredon Blanco" tract east of the Los Angeles River, developed a successful vineyard and winery, and began building houses. He also served on the Los Angeles Common Council from 1867 to 1868 and in 1870, advocating for community interests. Andrew died in 1871, leaving behind Elizabeth, his wife and Maria Elizabeth, his daughter. Later, his daughter Maria married William Henry Workman, who honored her father by naming the Boyle Heights community after him.

Thomas Edgar Workman (1890–1972) was a prominent executive, athlete, and civic-minded individual, whose life reflected the legacy of his pioneering Southern California family. Thomas, born in Los Angeles in the year 1890, was the son of William H. Workman, who held the mayoral office from 1887 to 1888, and Maria Elizabeth Boyle, whose father played a key role in founding Boyle Heights with an initial 22-acre purchase.

He graduated from St. Vincent's College in 1910 and Stanford University in 1915, where he earned All-American honors in baseball. During World War I, he served in the aviation section of the Army Signal Corps, the nation's first air arm. Following the war, Thomas embarked on a distinguished career with the California Portland Cement Company, where he served as an executive until his retirement.

Thomas married Margaret Kilgariff in 1925, and they remained together in Los Angeles for 47 years. They raised four sons (Henry K., Thomas Jr., David A., and Richard) and welcomed seven grandchildren. Thomas died March 18th, 1972. He was also very committed to conducting familial research throughout his life, passing on that mission to his own son David.

Like her sister-in-law Mary Julia Workman, Margaret Kilgariff Workman (1902-1987) achieved similar, notable accomplishments in social and philanthropic causes, often working together on issues. Margaret was born into a well-known California family, the Kilgariffs: her mother, Regina, was a suffragette and one of the first women on the Democratic State Central Committee. In 1925, Margaret, after graduating from college, married Thomas Edgar Workman (1890-1972), son of William H. and Maria E. Workman. The couple would make their home in Los Angeles, where Margaret would compile an outstanding record of service in social welfare, politics, and education. Her membership on the board of the California Relief Commission (1935-1937) saw the implementation of the New Deal in California. Margaret was a member of the famous Citizens' Committee headed by Clifford Clinton that was the key in toppling Frank Shaw, the corrupt mayor of Los Angeles. A leader in the state-wide Democratic Party, she served as co-chair of the Culbert Olson campaign for governor in 1938, which led to the election of the first Democratic governor in California in the twentieth century. Margaret Workman was delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1940 and played a role on the Democratic Women's Advisory Platform Committee. That Los Angeles news publisher Manchester Boddy would solicit her support in his senatorial primary campaign against Helen Gahagan Douglas in 1950 also testifies to her importance in state Democratic circles.

In World War II, she served as secretary of the Los Angeles branch of the National Committee Against Nazi Persecution and Extermination of the Jews. She also was a member of William Allen White's Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies, a group active before the United States's entrance into World War II that strongly advocated logistical support for Great Britain in its war with Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany. Her support for liberal causes was manifested in her membership in the National Conference of Jews and Christians, and she actively opposed the anti-labor Proposition 1, which was on the California ballot in 1938. Her service to both secular and Roman Catholic philanthropy in Los Angeles was tireless: the latter included work with the Social Service Auxiliary, and the former involved such organizations as the Hollywood Studio Club of the Young Women's Christian Association. This list of activities, impressive in its own right, is still incomplete, which suggests that Margaret Workman's record of service to her community and nation knew few peers in Los Angeles.

David Andrew Workman (1930–2020) was a dedicated judge, Marine Corps officer, and steadfast public servant whose life was marked by significant contributions to the Los Angeles community and the preservation of its history. Born in Los Angeles, David was one of four sons to Thomas Edgar Workman and Margaret Kilgariff Workman. David graduated with distinction in history from Stanford University in 1952 (Phi Beta Kappa) and earned his law degree from Stanford Law School in 1955. After completing his education, he chose to serve his country by enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps. From 1955 to 1958, David served as a lieutenant, prosecuting and defending courts-martial cases. He remained active in the Marine Corps Reserve until 1985, achieving the rank of colonel.

Following his military service, David pursued a career in law, first in private practice and corporate law before finding fulfillment in public service. He became a Deputy City Attorney in 1976 and was elected to the bench as a Municipal Court judge in 1980, later becoming a Los Angeles Superior Court judge in 1982.

In addition to his legal career, David was a passionate advocate for preserving Los Angeles history. As a member of the Pueblo de Los Angeles State Historic Park Commission (1966–1973), he worked to protect the city's historic Plaza from commercialization, ensuring its integrity as a cultural landmark. He also worked relentlessly on family research, filling in gaps of the Workman family history for generations to come. David died on March 23rd, 2020.

Some family description written by Clay Stalls for the original Workman Family Papers.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Paul C. Workman. Accession number: 2022.39.
Arrangement:

This addendum collection is arranged into five series: William H. and Maria E. Workman, Thomas E. and Margaret K. Workman, David A. Workman, Photographs, and Artifacts. Items within each series are listed chronologically and remain in original order whenever possible.

The Workman Family Papers Addendum adds an additional 63 boxes to the existing 38 boxes (24 standard and 14 oversized) of the Workman Family Papers. Donor Paul Workman transferred these additional items in 2022. Box numbers in this addendum will continue the numbering system from the previous collection, with the first addendum box being number 25.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Marissa Corona, with transcription work by Marisa Ramirez, Rylee Harrington, and Isabella Fernando.
Sponsor:
Processing of this addendum collection was made possible by generous contributions from donor Paul C. Workman and his uncle, David A. Workman.
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-01-26 15:23:06 -0800 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open to research under the terms of use of the Department of Archives and Special Collections, Loyola Marymount University.

Terms of access:

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, Box and Folder [#, if applicable], Workman Family Papers Addendum, CSLA-09, Department of Archives and Special Collections, William H. Hannon Library, Loyola Marymount University.

Location of this collection:
1 LMU Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90045-2659, US
Contact:
(310) 338-5710
Special.Collections@lmu.edu
Website