Finding Aid for the Joseph Mesmer Papers, 1860-1914
Processed by Manuscripts Division staff; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé
UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
Manuscripts Division
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
URL: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/special/scweb/
© 2002
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Finding Aid for the Joseph Mesmer Papers, 1860-1914
Collection number: 539
UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
Manuscripts Division
Los Angeles, CA
Contact Information
- Manuscripts Division
- UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
- Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
- Box 951575
- Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
- Telephone: 310/825-4988 (10:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., Pacific
Time)
- Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
- URL: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/special/scweb/
- Processed by:
- Manuscripts Division staff, May 1972
- Encoded by:
- Caroline Cubé
- Text converted and initial container list EAD tagging by:
- Apex Data Services
- Online finding aid edited by:
- Josh Fiala, April 2002
© 2002 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Joseph Mesmer Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1860-1914
Collection number: 539
Creator:
Mesmer, Joseph, 1855-1947
Extent:
7 boxes (3.5 linear ft.)
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.
Los Angeles, California 90095-1575
Abstract: Al Mesmer (1855-1947) was the president of the North Los Angeles Development Company, served as a member of the Freeholder's
Charter Commission to frame a city charter for Los Angeles, and served as Los Angeles park commissioner. The collection consists
of notes gathered by Joseph Mesmer for a projected history of Los Angeles.
Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Department
of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Language:
English.
Administrative Information
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections. Literary rights, including
copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds
the copyright and pursue the
copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Restrictions on Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Advance notice required for access.
Additional Physical Form Available
A copy of the original version of this online finding aid is available at the UCLA Department of Special Collections for in-house
consultation and may be obtained for a fee. Please contact:
- Public Services Division
- UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
- Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
- Box 951575
- Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
- Telephone: 310/825-4988 (10:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., Pacific
Time)
- Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Gift of Al Mesmer, ca. 1950.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Joseph Mesmer Papers (Collection 539). Department of Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research
Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
UCLA Catalog Record ID
Biography
Mesmer was born on November 3, 1855 at Tippecanoe City, Ohio; moved to Los Angeles with his parents in 1859; attended the
College of Strasburg, Germany; returned to Los Angeles, opening the Queen Shoe Store in 1878, which he sold in 1896; became
president of the St. Louis Fire Brick and Clay Company, president of the N.E.W. Commercial and Improvement Association, and
president of the North Los Angeles Development Company; served as a member of the Freeholder's Charter Commission to frame
a city charter for Los Angeles, and also as Los Angeles park commissioner.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of notes gathered by Joseph Mesmer for a projected history of Los Angeles. Subject files include business,
churches, Chinese, French, lighting and gas, parks, San Pedro, suicides, and transportation. Biography files include Don Juan
Bandini, Alfred Beck Chapman, William Mulholland, Mesmer family, Pio Pico, and Don Abel Stearns.
Expanded Scope and Content
Joseph Mesmer came to Los Angeles in the mid-1800's with his parents, brothers, and sisters. He was educated in the Los Angeles
schools, but was sent to college in Stras bourg, France. The Franco-Prussian War cut short his academic aspirations. After
returning to Los Angeles, he acquired training by clerking in his parents businesses - a bakery and the U.S. Hotel. From 1878-1906
he owned and operated the Queen Shoe Store. After 1906 his business was the St. Louis Fire Brick & Clay Company. Aside from
his business enterprises he was actively engaged in civic affairs. He was a member of the Parks Commission, Property Owners
Committee, Volunteer Fire Department, president of the Jackson Democratic Club, president of the Los Angeles Catholic Benefical
Society, etc. The entire Mesmer family was extremely active in philanthrophy. Their donations ranged from churches to raising
and contributing large sums for the relief of the disaster stricken in the Galvaston, Johnstown floods, and the San Francisco
earthquake.
This collection consists of the files and research materials that Joseph Mesmer compiled on the history of Los Angeles. The
organization of the collections is alphabetical by subject heading. Most of these headings were established by Joseph Mesmer
for his own files and have been retained here in order to facilitate the processing of the collection. The time-span that
is covered is roughly from the birth of Los Angeles to approximately World War I.
Organization and Arrangement
Arranged in the following series:
- Alphabetical subject files (Boxes 1-5).
- Alphabetical biographical files (Boxes 5-7).
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Mesmer, Joseph, 1855-1947--Archives.
Businessmen--California--Los Angeles--Archival resources.
Los Angeles (Calif.)--History.
Index
Ada Hancock disaster:
Box 1, folder 1
Amat, Thaddeus, bishop of Monterey & Los Angeles, 1854-1878:
Box 1, folder 21
Agriculture:
Box 1, folder 11
Aguilar, Don Christoval:
Box 5, folder 18
Aguirre, Martin G.:
Box 5, folder 18
Alexander, Ramon:
Box 5, folder 18
Allen, George Greek George:
Box 5, folder 18
Apostolic delegate, 1903:
Box 1, folder 22
Aqueduct, Los Angeles:
Box 5, folder 13
Arcadia block:
Box 4, folder 9
Ayers, James Joseph:
Box 5, folder 18
Baker, Mrs. Arcadia de:
Box 5, folder 18
Bakeries:
Box 3, folder 13
Bandini, Don Juan:
Box 5, folder 18
Banning, General Phineas:
Box 5, folder 18
Beaudry, Prudent:
Box 5, folder 18
Bell Captain Alexander:
Box 5, folder 18
Bicknell, John D.:
Box 5, folder 18
Board of Education:
Box 4, folder 19
Boyle, Andrew A.:
Box 5, folder 18
Braun, Frederick William:
Box 5, folder 18
Breweries:
Box 4, folder 12
Bridge, Dr. Norman:
Box 5, folder 18
Bus service:
Box 5, folder 9
Business center:
Box 1, folder 11
Campo Santo:
Box 4, folder 20
Carpenter, Lemuel:
Box 5, folder 21
Cattle:
Box 1, folder 11
Chalmers, John Kelman:
Box 5, folder 21
Chamber of Commerce:
Box 2, folder 3
Chapman, Alfred Beck:
Box 5, folder 21
Children's games:
Box 1, folder 4
Chinese massacre, 1871:
Box 2, folder 6
Church of Our Lady, Queen of Angels:
Box 1, folder 19
City Hall:
Box 2, folder 3;
Box 2, folder 9
City taxes:
Box 5, folder 6
Civic Center:
Box 2, folder 3;
Box 4, folder 9
Cole, Cornelius:
Box 5, folder 21
Coronel, Antonio Francisco:
Box 5, folder 21
Courthouse:
Box 2, folder 11
Covarrubias, Nicholas A.:
Box 5, folder 21
Dancing:
Box 1, folder 3
De Valle, Regimaldo F.:
Box 5, folder 21
De Valle, Ygnacio & Ysable:
Box 5, folder 21
Dimmick, Kimball H.:
Box 5, folder 21
Dillon, Richard:
Box 5, folder 21
Dockweiler, John Henry:
Box 5, folder 21
Domestic water:
Box 5, folder 13
Domingo, Juan:
Box 5, folder 21
Downey, John Gately:
Box 5, folder 21
Dress making:
Box 3, folder 13
Earthquakes:
Box 1, folder 1
East Los Angeles Cable Line:
Box 5, folder 9
East Side Board of Trade:
Box 1, folder 11
Eastlake park:
Box 4, folder 3
Eaton, Frederick:
Box 5, folder 21
Elections:
Box 4, folder 7
Eylsian park:
Box 4, folder 3
Federal building:
Box 1, folder 10;
Box 3, folder 2
Financial panic of 1893:
Box 1, folder 7
Fire fighters:
Box 2, folder 3
Flint, Senator Frank P.:
Box 5, folder 21
Franklin, Mary A.:
Box 5, folder 21
Fruit processing:
Box 3, folder 13
Forster, Don Juan:
Box 5, folder 21
Gambling:
Box 1, folder 3
Govenors:
Box 5, folder 1
Great White Fleet:
Box 3, folder 7
Greenbaum, Ephraim:
Box 6, folder 2
Griffith, J.J.:
Box 6, folder 1
Griffith park:
Box 4, folder 3
Hamilton, Henry:
Box 6, folder 2
Hayes, Judge Banjamin:
Box 6, folder 2
Hayes, Judge J.C.:
Box 6, folder 2
Hewitt, Randall Henry:
Box 6, folder 2
Highways:
Box 5, folder 8
Hospitality:
Box 1, folder 4
Hospitals:
Box 4, folder 20
Howard, General Volney E.:
Box 6, folder 2
Irrigation:
Box 5, folder 13
Joughim, Andrew, Sr.:
Box 6, folder 2
Joughim, Mrs. Ann Cannell:
Box 6, folder 2
Keller, Don Mateo:
Box 6, folder 2
Kenealy, John:
Box 6, folder 2
Kremer, Mr. & Mrs. Maurice:
Box 6, folder 2
Kurts, George J.:
Box 6, folder 2
Le Grand, Louis:
Box 6, folder 2
Lelman, Round House George:
Box 6, folder 2
Lichtenberger, Louis:
Box 6, folder 2
Lincoln's assassination:
Box 2, folder 4
Lotteries:
Box 1, folder 3
Lugo, Don Antonio Maria:
Box 6, folder 2
Lumber:
Box 3, folder 13
Lynch, Joseph David:
Box 6, folder 2
McGill, James. J., Rev:
Box 1, folder 22
Market House and Theater building:
Box 4, folder 9
Mellus, Henry:
Box 6, folder 3
Mellus, Francis:
Box 6, folder 3
Meyer, Eugene:
Box 6, folder 3
Mora, Francis, bishop of Monterey & Los Angeles, 1876-1896:
Box 1, folder 21
Moram, Mr. & Mrs. John:
Box 6, folder 3
Moran, John P., Jr.:
Box 6, folder 3
Morrison, Judge Murray:
Box 6, folder 3
Mulholland, William:
Box 6, folder 3
Nadeau, Remi:
Box 6, folder 3
Negro Alley:
Box 5, folder 3
Negro settlers:
Box 4, folder 4
Newmark, Rev. Joseph:
Box 6, folder 3
Newspapers, catholic:
Box 1, folder 22
Nicholas, John Gregg:
Box 6, folder 3
Nurseries:
Box 1, folder 11
Orange County:
Box 4, folder 7
Orphanage, catholic:
Box 1, folder 20
Osborne, Henry J.:
Box 6, folder 3
O'Sullivan, John:
Box 6, folder 3
Pershing Square,
Box 4, folder 3
Pest poison:
Box 3, folder 13
Picnics:
Box 1, folder 4
Pico, Pio:
Box 6, folder 3
Plaza:
Box 4, folder 3
Post office:
Box 3, folder 2
Post-masters:
Box 3, folder 21
Preuss, Dr. Edward A., Jr.:
Box 6, folder 3
Property tax:
Box 4, folder 9
Prudhomme, Louis Victor:
Box 6, folder 3
Pryor, Nathaniel M.:
Box 6, folder 3
Raho, Blas, rev:
Box 1, folder 21
Railroads:
Box 5, folder 8
Resort:
Box 1, folder 3
Rose, Truman Harrison:
Box 6, folder 3
Rowland, John:
Box 6, folder 3
Sacred Heart church:
Box 1, folder 22
Saddles and harness:
Box 3, folder 13
Sainsevain, Jean Louis:
Box 7, folder 4
St. Vibiana Cathedral:
Box 1, folder 21
St. Vincents College:
Box 1, folder 21
Saloons and restaurants:
Box 1, folder 11
San Bernadino:
Box 4, folder 7
San Francisco earthquake:
Box 1, folder 1
San Pedro harbor:
Box 3, folder 7
Schaeffer, Henry C.B.:
Box 7, folder 4
School Commissioners:
Box 4, folder 19
Schools, catholic:
Box 1, folder 20
Schumacher, Mrs. & Mrs. John:
Box 7, folder 4
Schirvamm, Anthony:
Box 7, folder 4
Shaw, Dr. Joseph:
Box 7, folder 4
Sherman, General Moses H.:
Box 7, folder 4
Sister Scholastica:
Box 4, folder 20
Sisters of Charity:
Box 4, folder 19
Sister Xavier Shauer:
Box 1, folder 20
Soap:
Box 3, folder 13
Sports:
Box 1, folder 3
Stage lines:
Box 5, folder 8
State capitol:
Box 4, folder 7
State Normal School:
Box 4, folder 19
Stearns, Don Abel:
Box 7, folder 4
Sunset blvd.:
Box 5, folder 3
Sycamore park:
Box 4, folder 3
Temple, Francis Pliny Fish:
Box 7, folder 4
Temple, John:
Box 7, folder 4
Temple and Workman bank failure:
Box 1, folder 7
Temple block:
Box 4, folder 9
Tibbet, Jonathan, Sr.:
Box 7, folder 4
Tibbet, Jonathan, Jr.:
Box 7, folder 4
Tobacco:
Box 3, folder 13
Trinkets:
Box 3, folder 13
Union Depot:
Box 5, folder 9
University of California at Los Angeles:
Box 4, folder 19
Varela, Don Cervelo:
Box 7, folder 4
Vasallo, Fransicso:
Box 7, folder 4
Vigilance Committee:
Box 2, folder 6
Vincentian Sisters:
Box 4, folder 19
Warner, Jonathan Trumball:
Box 7, folder 5
Weaver, Pliny E.
Box 7, folder 5
Weber, John:
Box 7, folder 5
Weid, Ivar A.:
Box 7, folder 5
Welcome, Adolphus Paula:
Box 7, folder 5
Wells Fargo:
Box 3, folder 21
Westlake park:
Box 4, folder 3
Wholesale stores:
Box 4, folder 12
Wicks, Moses Langley:
Box 7, folder 5
Williams, Colonel Isaac:
Box 7, folder 5
Wilson, Benjamin (Benito) David:
Box 7, folder 5
Wolfskill, William:
Box 7, folder 5
Workman, William:
Box 7, folder 5
Yarrow, Henry G.:
Box 7, folder 5
Alphabetical Subject Files
Box 1, Folder 1
Earthquakes.
Scope and Content Note
San Francisco earthquakes.
Box 1, Folder 7
Temple & Workman bank failure.
Box 1, Folder 10
Buildings.
Scope and Content Note
Federal Building.
Box 1, Folder 11
East Side Board of Trade.
Box 1, Folder 19
Church of Our Lady, Queen of the Angels.
Box 1, Folder 21
Amat, Thaddeus, bishop of Monterey & Los Angeles. 1854-1878.
Box 1, Folder 21
Mora, Francis, bishop of Monterey & Los Angeles. 1876-1896.
Box 1, Folder 22
Apostolic delegate. 1903.
Box 1, Folder 22
McGill, James J., reverend.
Box 4, Folder 9
Market House & Theater building.
Box 4, Folder 19
University of California at Los Angeles.
Alphabetical Biographical Files
Box 5, Folder 9
East Los Angeles Cable Line.
Box 5, Folder 18
Allen, George Greek George.
Box 5, Folder 18
Banning, General Phineas.
Box 5, Folder 18
Braun, Frederick William.
Box 5, Folder 21
Coronel, Antonio Grancisco.
Box 5, Folder 21
De Valle, Ygnavio and Ysabel.
Box 6, Folder 2
Howard, General Volney E.
Box 6, Folder 2
Joughim, Mrs. Ann Cannell.
Box 6, Folder 2
Kremer, Mr. & Mrs. Maurice.
Box 6, Folder 2
Lehman, Round House George.
Box 6, Folder 3
Newmark, Reverend Joseph.
Box 6, Folder 3
Preuss, Dr. Edward A., Jr.
Box 6, Folder 12
Mesmer, J.M. historical book. 1936.
Box 6, Folder 13
Mesmer, J.M. historical book. 1935.
Mesmer - Z & Miscellaneous
Box 7, Folder 1
Mesmer, J.M. historical book. 1937.
Box 7, Folder 2
Mesmer, J.M. historical book. 1938.
Box 7, Folder 4
Schumacher, Mr. & Mrs. John.
Box 7, Folder 4
Sherman, General Moses H.
Box 7, Folder 4
Temple, Francis Pliny Fish.
Box 7, Folder 5
Warner, Jonathan Trumbull.
Box 7, Folder 5
Wilson, Benjamin (Benito) David.
Box 7, Folders 7-12
Biography, miscellaneous.
