Inventory of the Mary Julia Workman Research Materials Collection

Clay Stalls

William H. Hannon Library

Loyola Marymount University

One LMU Drive, MS 8200

Los Angeles, CA 90045-8200

Phone: (310) 338-5710

Fax: (310) 338-5895

Email: speccoll@lmu.edu

URL: http://library.lmu.edu/specialcollections.htm

Finding aid for the Mary Julia Workman Research Materials

Collection number: CSLA-35

William H. Hannon Library

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, California

Processed by:: Clay Stalls
Date Completed:: 2008
Encoded by:: Tammi Kim

Descriptive Summary

Title: Mary Julia Workman Research Materials

Dates: 1921/2004

Collection number: CSLA-35

Creator: Engh, Michael E., S.J., 1949-

Collection Size: 7 archival document boxes

Repository: Loyola Marymount University. William H. Library. Department of Archives and Special Collections.

Los Angeles, California 90045-2659

Languages: Languages represented in the collection:English

Access

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

Publication Rights

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 number, Box and Folder number, Mary Julia Workman Research Materials, CSLA-35, Department of Archives and Special Collections, William H. Hannon Library, Loyola Marymount University.

Acquisition Information

Biography / Administrative History

Mary Julia Workman was born in 1871 as the daughter of William and Maria Workman. The Workman family are a prominent Los Angeles family. William was Protestant, but the Roman Catholic faith of her mother, Maria, predominated; consequently, Mary Workman received a Catholic education, graduating in 1890 from the Convent of the Sacred Heart of Mary and Jesus, in Oakland. In 1902 she completed studies in kindergarten teaching, at the State Normal School in Los Angeles; Workman would teach in the city's public schools until 1923.

At some point during these years, because of her studies, Mary Workman became deeply influenced by the ideals of American Progressivism. The fruit of this influence was manifested in her leadership in the establishment of the Brownson House (1901), a landmark on the West Coast of the settlement house philosophy and one of its stronger Roman Catholic expressions.

In politics she was likewise dedicated to reform and humanitarian causes. Her advocacy of the Progressive tenet of city government based on civil service led to her presidency of the Los Angeles City Civil Service Commission (1927-1928). Mary Workman also participated in other civic reform groups, such as the Municipal Light and Power Defense League, which watched over city services, and helped in the recall of corrupt Los Angeles mayor Frank Shaw, campaigning for reform candidates John Anson Ford and Fletcher Bowron through such means as radio speeches. Her work with the Democratic National Committee, Southern California Division, involved her in Democratic politics in the Los Angeles area.

Mary Workman's political pursuits extended beyond parochial Los Angeles issues--vital as they may have been--to national and international issues. Part of the post-World War I movement for world peace, Workman vigorously labored for the participation of the United States in the League of Nations. To this end, she founded, and was an officer in, the Southern California chapter of the League of Nations Association. Of a similar nature was her participation in the Catholic Association for International Peace, Southern California Committee, of which she was secretary. The CAIP was intended to apply Christian ideals to the troubled world politics of the post-war era; this application of Christian principles to resolve international conflict clearly expresses Mary Workman's philosophy of social activism.

Thus, underlying all her life's work was Mary Workman's Roman Catholic faith, a connection vividly demonstrated in Pope Pius XI's grant of the papal medal "Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice" to Mary Workman in 1926. The medal rewarded Roman Catholics for their humanitarian work and, in Mary Workman's case, especially recognized her contribution to the field of social work, but within the Roman Catholic tradition. This was a signal honor for Workman, for she was the first woman in the diocese of Los Angeles to receive this medal. Mary Workman's praiseworthy life ended in 1964, following complications from a broken hip.

1871	Mary Julia Workman born to William and Maria
1890	Graduates from the Convent of the Sacred Heart of Mary and Jesus, in Oakland
1902	Completes studies in kindergarten teaching, at the State Normal School in Los Angeles
1926	Granted the papal medal, "Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice" by Pope Pius XI
1927-1928	Served as president of the Los Angeles Civil Service Comission
1964	Mary Workman passes away due to complications from a broken hip

Scope and Content of Collection

This collection consists of research notes and materials that Professor Michael Engh, S.J., then of the Department of History, Loyola Marymount University, compiled for a proposed biography of Mary Julia Workman (1871-1964), a Roman Catholic social activist and member of a prominent Los Angeles family. The call to the presidency of Santa Clara University, and its incumbent responsibilities, on Michael Engh, S.J., halted this project, but the research materials gathered for this project provide a wealth of information on not only Mary Julia Workman and her important family, but also on Los Angeles history in the early 1900s, the history of settlement houses in Los Angeles, Roman Catholic social activism, and women’s history.

The materials include notes on archival research; photocopied journal articles; genealogies; family memoirs; Mary Julia Workman’s incoming and outgoing correspondence regarding her activities, reports of various charitable organizations in Los Angeles, both Roman Catholic and secular; public and private reports on housing in Los Angeles; public and private reports on the status of Mexican-Americans in Los Angeles; and material on Brownson House, the settlement house that Mary Julia Workman established in Los Angeles. Much of the material has been photocopied from originals, including some archival originals. Most material in this category from other archives has been separated from this collection, since it was deemed unacceptable to offer as research sources other repositories’ documents, even if only copies.

Arrangement

This collection has been divided into two series. Series 1 consists of materials that Michael Engh, S.J., collected from the Workman family itself on the history of the family, including Mary Julia Workman; Series 2 consists of materials that he collected from other sources for his proposed biography of Mary Julia Workman.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

California--Los Angeles--Boyle Heights

Workman, Mary Julia, 1871-1964

Women human rights workers--United States

Brownson House (Los Angeles, Calif.)

Women civic leaders--California--Los Angeles--History--20th century--Sources

Church work with the poor -- Catholic Church -- California -- Los Angeles -- History -- 20th century

Boyle Heights (Los Angeles, Calif.) -- History -- Sources

Social service -- History -- California -- Los Angeles

Series 1 Workman Family Materials 1889-2003

Series size: 0.834 linear feet

Scope and Content

Series 1 includes two archival boxes consisting of materials that Michael Engh, S.J., collected from the Workman family on Mary Julia Workman.

box-folder 1 : 1

"Loose Leaves from the Family Tree." Compiled by Richard D. Workman. Scrapbook re Workman family history: photographs, correspondence, genealogies, family memoirs by Maria Elizabeth Workman and Thomas Edgar Workman. Holdings separated from album.) 1884

box-folder 1 : 2

Cover of "Loose Leaves from the Family Tree." Undated

box-folder 2 : 1

"Mary J. Workman Family Letters." Mary J. Workman incoming and outgoing correspondence re family and business matters. Sheets from ledger re Mary J. Workman expenses 1921-1959 (dates broken)

box-folder 2 : 2

Photocopies of articles from "Tidings" re Catholic social work and thought 1916-1917

box-folder 2 : 3

"Workman: Newspaper Clippings of Family." Newspaper articles re Workman family 1930, 1933, 1962

box-folder 2 : 4

"Mary J. Workman Notebook on Topics of Concern." (photocopy) Undated

box-folder 2 : 5

"Workman Photos." Photographs (copies) and negatives of William Workman family, including Mary J. Workman and Workman residence; Boyle Heights; Mary Workman kindergarten class; first settlement house in Los Angeles 1890-1910

box-folder 2 : 6

"MJW: Politics" Mary J. Workman incoming and outgoing correspondence (copies) re resignation from Democratic National Committee; Mary J. Workman speech re re-election of Franklin D. Roosevelt 1938-1940

box-folder 2 : 7

"MJW: Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice." Photocopies of newspaper articles and newspaper articles re Mary J. Workman and papal award, "Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice." 1926-1927

box-folder 2 : 8

"Workman, Mary." Michael Engh, S.J., incoming and outgoing correspondence re research on Mary J. Workman 2000, 2002

box-folder 2 : 9

"Workman, William H." Photocopies of articles on William H. Workman, including from "Tidings", Pioneers of Los Angeles County. Paper and research notes by Michael Engh, S.J., on William H. Workman 1889-2001

box-folder 2 : 10

Undergraduate research paper on William H. Workman’s investigation into civic corruption 2003

box-folder 2 : 11

" 'MJW: Cath. Conscience of LA,' California History article" Incoming and outgoing correspondence, rough draft of Michael Engh, S.J., article on Mary Julia Workman 1993

box-folder 2 : 12

"Cushwa Paper (1990) (Workman)." Conference paper and programs 1990

box-folder 2 : 13

"MJW: Book-Outline, Precis." Notes, outline for proposed biography of Mary J. Workman by Michael Engh, S. J., Undated

box-folder 2 : 14

"MJW: Chap. 1." Rough draft of first chapter of Mary J. Workman biography Undated

box-folder 2 : 15

Michael Engh, S.J., notes re Workman family genealogy 2000

Series 2 Research Notes and Materials 1889-2003

Series size: 2.085 linear feet

Scope and Content

Series 2 includes five boxes consisting of materials that Michael Engh, S.J., collected from other sources for his proposed biography of Mary Julia Workman.

box-folder 3 : 1

"MJW: Americanization Article (PHR)." Incoming and outgoing correspondence, rough draft of Michael Engh, S.J., article on Mary Julia Workman 2003

box-folder 3 : 2

"Americanization in L.A." Articles (photocopies) Undated

box-folder 3 : 3

"MJW" Bowron, Fletcher." Mary J. Workman correspondence (photocopies) to Fletcher Bowron; Michael Engh, S.J., notes re same 1938, 1952

box-folder 3 : 4

"Boyle, Andrew." Articles (photocopies), Michael Engh, S. J., research notes re Andrew A. Boyle 2000

box-folder 3 : 5

"Boyle Heights Exhibit." Brochures re Japanese-American Museum exhibit on Boyle Heights 2002

box-folder 3 : 6

"Brownson, Orestes." Article (photocopy) on Orestes Brownson, namesake of Brownson House. Undated

box-folder 3 : 7

"Workman, Mary: Brownson House." Articles, Mary J. Workman correspondence re Brownson House (photocopies) 1901-1966

box-folder 3 : 8

"Brownson House: Articles in "Tidings." Photocopies of articles on the Brownson House from the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. 1906, 1909-1921

box-folder 3 : 9

"Brownson House: CYO article." Photocopy of article on the Brownson house from the Catholic Youth Organization newspaper. 1951

box-folder 3 : 10

"Brownson House: Articles of Incorporation." Copy of e-mail correspondence. 2002

box-folder 3 : 11

"Brownson House Photographs." Includes copy of photograph of Brownson House workers, including Mary J. Workman. Undated

box-folder 3 : 12

Material re Sister Assyium and Mary J. Workman 1904, 1906, 1940

box-folder 3 : 13

"Brownson House: Staff and Volunteers." Lists of Brownson House volunteers and staff; biographical information re same 1901-1922

box-folder 3 : 14

"Annual Reports, Catholic Charities, LA, 1920-1925." Annual reports (photocopies) 1922-1924, 1987

box-folder 3 : 15

"Catholic Charities: Poor Belong to Us(1997)." Photocopy of excerpt from book Undated

box-folder 3 : 16

"Natl. Conf. Cath. Charities L.A. Mtg., 1927." Photocopies of proceedings of National Conference Catholic Charities. 1927

box-folder 3 : 17

"Catholic Charities, LA." Michael Engh, S.J., notes re same Undated

box-folder 3 : 18

"Cath. Charities—Annual Reports C.W.B." Photocopies of Catholic Charities Annual Reports 1919-1924, 1933

box-folder 3 : 19

"Catholic Directories 1892-1904, 1914-1915." Photocopies 1892-1915

box-folder 3 : 20

"MJW: Catholic Truth Society." Notices in The "Tidings" re meeting of Catholic Truth Society, Mary J. Workman organizer 1896-1897

box-folder 3 : 21

"Catholic Woman’s Club Bulletins." Dissertation on National Council of Catholic Women 1918-1921

box-folder 3 : 22

Articles from Companion re Brownson House 1949-1951

box-folder 4 : 1

"Brownson House: 1910 Census Tract Returns." Notes, photocopies of 1910 census re Brownson House area 1992

box-folder 4 : 2

"1900 Census Districts." Michael Engh, S.J., notes, photocopies of 1900 census re Brownson House area 1900

box-folder 4 : 3

Census returns (photocopies)

box-folder 4 : 4

"Workman: Challis Interview (1993)." Transcript of oral history interview of Beatrice Ward Challis 1993

box-folder 4 : 5

"Civil Service Commission." Michael Engh, S.J., notes, annual reports, lists re Civil Service Commission 2002

box-folder 4 : 6

"Civic Association." Michael Engh, S.J., notes re same Undated

box-folder 4 : 7

"Community Chest." Letter from Father Robert Lucey, director of Bureau of Catholic Charities, to Mary J. Workman 1922

box-folder 4 : 8

"C.Y.O.—L.A." Catholic Youth Organization article (photocopy) 1949

box-folder 4 : 9

"Examiner Copies, USC Clippings." Newspaper articles re Brownson House staff 1928-1937

box-folder 4 : 10

"MJW: Ford, John Anson." Michael Engh, S.J., notes re same Undated

box-folder 4 : 11

"MJW: Letters to Gertrude Workman Furman." Mary J. Workman outgoing correspondence to Gertrude Workman Furman. Michael Engh, S.J., correspondence with David Furman re same. 1926-1995

box-folder 4 : 12

"Furman, Gertrude Workman." Newspaper article (photocopy), memoirs re same. 1919

box-folder 4 : 13

"Gahagan, Helen Douglas." Michael Engh, S.J., correspondence, notes re research on same. 1992

box-folder 4 : 14

"Hanna, Edward." Article, Michael Engh, S.J., correspondence re same 2000-2001

box-folder 4 : 15

"Haynes Collection Guide." Print-out of collection guide to the Haynes Papers at UCLA. Michael Engh, S.J., incoming correspondence and notes re same. 1992, 2000

box-folder 4 : 16

"Housing Survey." Housing Authority, City of Los Angeles. Final digest. (photocopy) 1940

box-folder 4 : 17

"International Institute." Article re same. Undated

box-folder 4 : 18

"Juvenile Court." Photocopy of master’s thesis on Los Angeles juvenile court 1932

box-folder 4 : 19

"Keller Family." Michael Engh, S.J., notes re same. Menu for Don Mateo Keller’s restaurant 1875

box-folder 4 : 20

"LAPL." Notes re Los Angeles Police and censorship. Los Angeles Police League newsletter Undated

box-folder 4 : 21

"L.A.: Charity-Associated Charities, 1893-1910." Reports of Associated Charities (photocopies). Michael Engh, S.J., notes re city charities. 1893-1897, 1910

box-folder 4 : 22

"LA: Charity-Municipal Charity Comm. Report (1913-1914)." First annual report of Charities Commission. Article in "Tidings" re charity. 1914

box-folder 4 : 23

"L.A.: Labor and Churches, 1900-1910." Los Angeles Times articles re church and labor. Notes from sources on church and labor. Undated

box-folder 4 : 24

"L.A. Housing (Report, 1915-1916) State Commission." First annual report of the California Commission of Immigration and Housing (photocopy). 1915

box-folder 4 : 25

"L.A.: Housing, Public Housing (Parsons Articles)." 1998

box-folder 5 : 1

"L.A.: Housing Kinele," "Hsing. Conds. Mex. Po. 1912." Master’s thesis on housing of Los Angeles Mexican population (photocopy) 1912

box-folder 5 : 2

"L.A.: Housing Commission, 1906-1913." Annual reports of Los Angeles Housing Commission, articles re housing (photocopies) 1906-1989

box-folder 5 : 3

"L.A.: Housing Conditions 1900-1920." Articles re house courts in Los Angeles 1913, 1916

box-folder 5 : 4

"L.A.: Maps." Photocopies and notes re maps with locations of Brownson House Undated

box-folder 5 : 5

"LA: Playground Movement." Articles (photocopies) re Los Angeles playgrounds. Playground Commission annual report: photocopy of volunteer workers. 1909, 1910

box-folder 5 : 6

"L.A.: "Oxnam, Bromley." Michael Engh. S.J., notes re archival holdings. Photocopy of book chapters on Bromley Oxnam. Collection guide to Oxnam Papers. Undated

box-folder 5 : 7

"League to Enforce Peace." Photocopy of book chapter on League to Enforce Peace Undated

box-folder 5 : 8

"Lucey, Robert." Michael Engh, S.J., correspondence re archival sources for Lucey; photocopies of Robert Lucey’s personal correspondence 2001

box-folder 5 : 9

"Masson, Charlotte Workman." Michael Engh, S.J., notes re same Undated

box-folder 5 : 10

"McCormick, P.: Desegregation of Public Education in CA." Articles (photocopies), Michael Engh, S.J., incoming correspondence re same 2000

box-folder 5 : 11

"McGarry Family P.J. McGarry, Anna and Mary T." Genealogies, family histories re McGarry family. Michael Engh e-mail correspondence (hardcopies) with family members 2003

box-folder 5 : 12

"Mexican Activity/Response." Articles (copies) from the Heraldo de Mexico. Michael Engh, S.J., notes re same Undated

box-folder 5 : 13

"Mary J. Workman: The Articles." Michael E. Engh, S. J., articles re Mary J. Workman. Correspondence notes re sources on Mary J. Workman 1992, 1993

box-folder 5 : 14

"Mex. In LA: Los Angeles City Survey (Oxnam, 1920)." Photocopy of Bromley Oxnam publication on Mexicans in Los Angeles 1920

box-folder 5 : 15

"MJW: Family." Census information, genealogies, articles, Michael Engh, S.J., correspondence re Workman family 1995-2004

box-folder 5 : 16

"MJW: Golden Friendships Letters." Michael Engh, S.J., notes, photocopy of "Golden Friendship Letters" (Mary J. Workman correspondence with Sister Mary Leopold). Undated

box-folder 5 : 17

"MJW: L.A. Unified School District." Michael Engh, S.J., notes re Mary J. Workman and Los Angeles City school district. Excerpts (photocopies) of Los Angeles Board of Education Annual Reports 1895/1902

box-folder 5 : 18

"MJW: Municipal League." Michael Engh, S.J., notes and photocopies re Mary J. Workman and Municipal League. Undated

box-folder 5 : 19

"MJW: Peace." Michael Engh, S.J., notes re Mary J. Workman and peace activitie 2001

box-folder 5 : 20

"Our Diocesan Charities." Excerpts (photocopies) from the "Tidings"; Michael Engh, S.J., notes re same 1919-1920

box-folder 5 : 21

"McGuinness, Catholic Women and Soc. Settlement Movement." Articles (photocopies) re Catholic Women and social settlements 1990

box-folder 6 : 1

"Los Angeles: Progressives." Michael Engh, S.J., notes and research materials, hard copies of e-mail correspondence re Progressives in Los Angeles 2000, 2001

box-folder 6 : 2

"Progressives: Bibliography." Articles, excerpts from books (photocopies) on Progressives 2002

box-folder 6 : 3

"Rodman, Mrs. Willoughby." Obituary, "Who’s Who" biography (photocopies) re Mrs. Willoughby Rodman Undated

box-folder 6 : 4

"St. Thomas More Library." Michael Engh, S.J., notes, incoming and outgoing correspondence, and articles (photocopies) re St. Thomas More Library 1992-1993

box-folder 6 : 5

"Salt Lake Rail Road (sic)." Photocopy of book on same Undated

box-folder 6 : 6

"Neighborhood Music Settlement." Paper (photocopy) re same Undated

box-folder 6 : 7

"Neighborhood Settlement House." Michael Engh, S.J., incoming correspondence, newspaper articles (photocopies), papers re Neighborhood Settlement House Undated

box-folder 6 : 8

"Settlement House: Sources." Michael Engh, S.J., notes, personal bibliography, bibliographies (photocopies) re settlements houses. Handbook of Settlements (photocopy) Undated

box-folder 6 : 9

"Settlements/Reform." Articles (photocopies), Michael Engh, S.J., notes re same Undated

box-folder 6 : 10

"Settlements—Catholic." Articles (photocopies), Michael Engh, S.J., notes re same 2002, 2005

box-folder 6 : 11

"Settlements: Catholic—Santa Maria Institute." Article, hard copy of e-mail re Santa Maria Institute 2000

box-folder 6 : 12

"Settlement Houses: Bethlehem Institute." Newspaper articles, books (photocopies) re Bethlehem Institute 1904-1913

box-folder 6 : 13

"Coleman Settlement House Community Settlement House." Newspaper articles (photocopies), Michael Engh, S.J., note re Coleman House 1904, 1919

box-folder 6 : 14

"RC—El Hogar Feliz." Excerpt from book, articles in The "Tidings" re El Hogar Feliz 1897, 1920

box-folder 6 : 15

"Sklar, 'Hull House in the 1890s.' Sign (1985)." Journal article (photocopy) Undated

box-folder 6 : 16

"Stoddart, Bessie D. (1871-1950) Evelyn." Newspaper articles (phtocopies), Michael Engh, S.J. notes re Bessie Stoddart and tuberculosis movement 2001

box-folder 6 : 17

"Stoddart, Bessie. The Courts of Sonoratown." 1905

box-folder 6 : 18

"Stoddart, 'Public Playgrounds of L.A.,' (1912)." 1912

box-folder 6 : 19

"Stoddart, Bessie, 'Around a City Campfire,' 1919." 1919

box-folder 6 : 20

"Stoddart, Bessie. State Recreation Report, 1914." 1914

box-folder 7 : 1

"Bessie Stoddart. 'Recreative Centers of L.A.' (1910." 1910

box-folder 7 : 2

"Whipple, Lucille Mesmer (Mrs. Chas. L.)." Newspaper articles, Michael Engh, S.J., notes re same 1924-1959

box-folder 7 : 3

"Workman, A. Boyle." Biographical information, photocopies of photographs re same Undated

box-folder 7 : 4

"Workman, Margaret Kilgariff (Mrs. Thomas E.)." Michael Engh, S.J., notes re same 1992

box-folder 7 : 5

"Workman, Maria Elizabeth Boyle." Newspaper articles, correspondence, obituary (photocopies 1895, 1933, 1964

box-folder 7 : 6

"Workman, Mary Julia Biographical Material." Obituaries, newspaper articles (photocopies) re same. Mary J. Workman incoming and outgoing correspondence (photocopies) 1920-1964

box-folder 7 : 7

"85 Unsung Heroes of the Nonprofit Community." California Community Foundation annual report P. 35 with notice re Mary Julia Workman 2000