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Inventory of the James Keane Collection of Fritz Burns Biographical Materials
CSLA-24
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Title: James Keane Collection of Fritz Burns Biographical Materials
Dates: 1923-2001
Collection number: CSLA-24
Creator:
James Keane
Collection Size:
4 archival document boxes, 2 flat files
Repository:
Loyola Marymount University. William H. Hannon Library. Department of Archives and Special Collections.
Los Angeles, California 90045-2659
Abstract: The collection contains the materials that James Keane used to write his biography of Fritz Burns: notes, the manuscript of
Keane's book, photocopies of primary source materials, business brochures, and copies of business and personal correspondence
of Fritz Burns. There are
Physical location: Collection stored offsite. Research use requires both an advance notice of intent to use the collection and an appointment.
To schedule an appointment, please contact the Department of Archives and Special Collection, William H. Hannon Library, Loyola
Marymount University: 310-338-2780, 310-338-5357.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
The Fritz Burns Papers are part of the Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Center for the Study of Los Angeles Research Collection,
a program of the Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Center for the Study of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University. The Department
of Archives and Special Collections, Loyola Marymount University, administers the Research Collection. Research use requires
both an advance notice of intent to use the collection and an appointment. Collection is open to research under the terms
of use of the Department of Archives and Special Collections, Loyola Marymount University.
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.
[Identification of item], Series number, Box and Folder number, James Keane Collection of Fritz Burns Biographical Materials,
CSLA-24, Department of Archives and Special Collections, William H. Hannon Library, Loyola Marymount University.
Gift of James Keane, 2002 (acccession number 2002.17)
Fritz Bernard Burns (1899-1979), born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was a powerful real estate developer in Southern California.
As vice-president of Dickenson & Gillepsie real estate firm in Los Angeles in the 1920s, he oversaw the development of Palisades
Del Rey (now Play Del Rey). With partner F. W. Marlow, he was involved in the development of Westchester, Windsor Hills,
Panorama City, parts of North Hollywood and other areas in Los Angeles. Such projects made him a prominent developer in Los
Angeles and a leader in the development of mass-produced housing, resulting in community development and the notion of middle
class ownership of homes as a way of life. He was, consequently, a leading civic figure in the city. Burns was also a major
philanthropic benefactor to Roman Catholic institutions, including Loyola Marymount University and Aquinas College. Burns
was President of the Home Builders Association of Los Angeles in 1942 and of the National Association of Home Builders in
1945.
| 1899 | Born Fritz Bernard Burns, Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| 1916-1932 | Salesman, sales manager, and executive vice president, Dickinson & Gillespie Corporation. Responsible for the development of Palisades del Rey, a beachfront area of Los Angeles County. |
| 1924 | Marries Lucille Robinson, whom he divorced in 1927. The couple has one son, Fritz Patrick Burns (1925-1980). |
| 1937-1944 | General partner with F. W. Marlow in Marlow-Burns Development Company, which develops Windsor Hills, Toluca Wood, Westchester, and parts of West Los Angeles. |
| 1940 | Marries Gladys Carson Scheller (1897-1985). |
| 1945 | With Henry J. Kaiser forms Kaiser Community Homes. Best known development is Panorama City. Also the two partners develop properties in Hawaii. |
| 1955 | Burns receives "Man of Achievement" award from the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. |
| 1960-1979 | CEO, Fritz B. Burns and Associates. Partner in development of hotels and shopping centers in the Los Angeles area. |
| 1979 | Death of Fritz B. Burns. |
Scope and Content of Collection
This collection's holdings include copies of Keane's manuscript and his typewritten research notes, newspaper clippings, flyers
and brochures, taped interviews and photographs. Items of particular interest include Keane's manuscript with editorial comments,
photocopies of newspaper clippings regarding the life of Fritz Burns and news items regarding Los Angles City Housing Authority
official Frank Wilkinson, who was fired in 1952, after refusing to answer questions from the California State Un-American
Activities Committee. Also included in this collection are brochures and flyers for Burns development projects such as Palisades
Del Rey, Riverside Ranchos, Del Rey Hills, Hastings Ranch and Windsor Hills, and copies of personal and business correspondence
of Fritz Burns. The materials in this collection range in date from 1923 to 2001; however, the bulk of the collection dates
from 2000 to 2001.
The collection contains twenty-two micro-cassette tapes of interviews recorded during Keane's research for the book. Please
note that the Research Collection lacks a machine capable of playing them.
This small collection has no series; its holdings are listed by box and folder. James Keane's original filing system has been
preserved as closely as possible.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Burns, Fritz
Real estate development -- California, Southern -- History -- Sources
Real estate developers -- California, Southern -- Biography -- Sources
Los Angeles (Calif.) -- History -- 20th century -- Sources
Philanthropists -- California -- Los Angeles -- Biography -- Sources
Keane, James Thomas.
Fritz B. Burns and the Development of Los Angeles. Los Angeles, 2001