Title supplied by cataloger.; Original negative is damaged. Antonio Franco Coronel (1817-1894) was a successful merchant and rancher who owned several orange groves and vineyards in and around Los Angeles, and attained great wealth and influence during his lifetime. Don Antonio took an active role in the politics of the 'new government' of California - eventually becoming one of the leading Hispanics of the Democratic Party. Some highlights worth mentioning are as follows: 1843, Don Antonio became the Justice of the Peace of the Los Angeles region; 1840s, began acquiring land in the San Juan Capistrano area; 1846, was granted Sierra de los Verdugos; 1850, served as the first Los Angeles County Assessor; 1853, was elected mayor of Los Angeles (the first and only Hispanic to hold that title until Antonio Villaraigosa was elected in 2005); 1854, elected to the City Council and served nine terms between 1854 and 1867; 1860, elected to the county Board of Supervisors; 1863, came into ownership of Rancho Los Feliz. 1867, nominated for the office of California State Treasurer, which he held from 1867 to 1871; 1873, married Mariana Williamson (he was 56, she was 22); 1881, famed novelist Helen Hunt Jackson visits Don Antonio and Dona Mariana at their Rancho Los Feliz home; April 17, 1894, Coronel dies at the age of 76 (his wife would die 24 years later, on November 3, 1918). Coronel donated many items from his collection which were the basis for the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Photograph shows Father Relbana and Father Emile Cote with Don Antonio F. Coronel, who is examining church documents. Their location appears to be either La Plaza Church or the Padre's house, located at 535 N. Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Photograph circa 1890.
Type
image
Format
1 negative : safety ; 25 x 20 cm. Photographic safety negatives
Coronel, Antonio Franco,--1817-1894 Plaza Church (Los Angeles, Calif.) Catholic church buildings Catholic Church Catholic Church--Clergy Clergy--Clothing Priests Documents Politicians Mayors Historic sites Lost architecture Men El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument (Los Angeles, Calif.) El Camino Real (Calif.) Los Angeles (Calif.) Portrait photographs Group portraits
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