The Rozelle collection, ranging from the late 1860's to the 1980's contains correspondence, photographs, official documents, newspaper clippings, and genealogy information pertaining to the family of Bazil Tillson Rozelle (paternal grandparent of former NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle). Other family names associated with this collection are Dr. William Owens, of Anderson, Indiana; and Dora Whaley, of Paramount, California. Photographs include family vacations in Catalina Island circa 1890s; images taken at the Rozelle family ranch and surrounding areas; Compton, Paramount, and Lynwood areas circa 1890s; World War II boat christening from Terminal Island, California circa 1940s; and mink farming in Southern California circa 1940s-1950s. Some material from this collection has been digitized and is available online: Rozelle Family Collection.  

Bazil Tillson Rozelle (also known as B. T. Rozelle) was born September 13, 1864 in Anderson, Indiana and died September 11, 1941 in Compton, California. In October 1891 he married Edith Owens (1867-1936), of Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1892 the Rozelle's moved to California and established a ranch located partly in what is now the Los Angeles River in the Lynwood Gardens sections bordering the northeast edge of Compton. Once settled in Compton, Bazil became active in civic and church affairs in his local community. Bazil and Edith Rozelle had seven children: Walter Miles Rozelle (1892), William Owens Rozelle (1894-1976), Mabel Rozelle (1897-1990), Raymond Foster Rozelle (1900-1983), Elmer Donald Rozelle (1902-1988), Edwin Glen Rozelle (1906-1993), and Ralph Lincoln Rozelle (1909).

8 boxes

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

There are no access restrictions on this collection.