Fritz Burns papers, bulk 1939-1972

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Summary

Creators:
Burns, Fritz and Marlow, F. W.
Abstract:
The collection contains business files from Fritz Burns's association with Fred W. Marlow. There is also biograpical information about Burns and photographs of Burns, his wife Gladys, son F. Patrick, and others. Many photographs show Hawaiian hotels in which Burns had a business interest along with Henry J. Kaiser and Conrad Hilton.
Extent:
21.5 linear feet
Language:
English and Languages represented in the collection: English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Series number, Box and Folder number, Fritz Burns papers, CSLA-2, Department of Archives and Special Collections, William H. Hannon Library, Loyola Marymount University.

Background

Scope and content:

The Fritz Burns Papers (CSLA-2) consist of textual and non-textual materials that provide excellent coverage of the development of Los Angeles in in the 1940s and 1950s. The holdings cover the following partnerships of Burns: Marlow-Burns Development Co.; Murphy-Baker-Burns; Marlow-Burns Investment Co.; Marlow & Co.; Marlow-Burns and Co. The holdings in these areas include information on properties owned by Burns with these various partners. There are partnership agreements, leases, mortgage and tax information, internal office memos, real estate brochures and maps, and other materials pertaining to property ownership.

In addition there are newspaper clippings and scrapbooks with articles related to Burns's real estate developments. Filling out the collection are photographs of Fritz Burns, Burns and his business associates, Burns and his family, and some of his developments. Finally there is memorabilia consisting of the many awards that Burns received for his philanthropy and professional achievements.

Biographical / historical:

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.

Date Event
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.

Date Event
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.
Acquisition information:
Gift of the Fritz B. Burns Foundation. Accession number: 1996.26.
Arrangement:

The Fritz Burns Papers (CSLA-2) are arranged in five series:

  1. Series One: Business Files, 1939-1985
  2. Series Two: Biographical Files, 1922-1982
  3. Series Three: Scrapbooks and Clippings, 1939-1966
  4. Series Four: Photographs, 1922-probably 1973
  5. Series Five: Awards and Honors, 1918-1979
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

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 number, Box and Folder number, Fritz Burns papers, CSLA-2, 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