The Newmark Family, 1851-Present

I set up this family site for several reasons. I saved articles about my art so I could have records for my resume, and when there were articles about my family, I also kept them.  In 2007, I discovered some old papers, artifacts and family albums from the 19th century, so I had even more information.I donated these “papers” to the Southwest Museum in Los Angeles, now part of the Autry Center, since my family “The Newmarks”, had been instrumental in the Southwest’s founding in 1910. About the same time I had begun to set up a web site for my art, and because I had so much material, I added another one for family. Most of the family articles were uploaded in 2007. A few have been added later, as there is more interest in Los Angeles, it’s history, and in particular it’s Jewish History, and the Newmark family were very important to L.A.’s development into a great city.

Linda Levi

Harris Newmark

"I believe Los Angeles is destined to become, in not many years, a world-center prominent in almost every field of endeavor.  [Just] as nineteen hundred years ago the humblest Roman . . . would glow with pride when he said, "I am a Roman!" so will the son of the metropolis on these shores . . . be proud to declare, "I AM A CITIZEN OF LOS ANGELES!"

-- Harris Newmark, 1913 “My Sixty Years of Southern California: 1853-1913”

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John Newmark Levi Sr.

WESTERN STATES JEWISH HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

October 1971: Volume 4, Number 1

Contributor………

John Newmark Levi Sr., B.A.-----Mr. Levi is a fourth generation Los Angeleno, a great-grandson of the famous Harris Newmark. His grandmother was born in Los Angeles in 1881. Mr. Levi is an industrial executive with a firm that has been owned by his family for almost ninety years.  He is a graduate of Stanford University where he was an Economics and Journalism major and Editor of The Stanford Daily. Mr. Levi’s wife Aimee Nordlinger is a descendant of the pioneer Los Angeles families, the Nortons and the Nordlingers.

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Growing Up a Newmark in Los Angeles, 1935-1950

A Memoir

By Linda Levi

written for

WESTERN STATES JEWISH HISTORY

Vol. xxxx  NUMBER 3

Spring2007/s767

 

When I came, Los Angeles was a sleepy, ambitionless adobe village with very little promise for the future... I believe that Los Angeles is destined to become, in not many years, a world-center, prominent in almost every field of endeavor; and that, as nineteen hundred years ago the humblest Roman, wherever he might find himself, would glow with pride when he said, “I am a Roman!” so, in the years to come, will the son of the metropolis on these shores, wheresoever his travels may take him, be proud to declare, “I AM A CITIZEN OF LOS ANGELES!”
-Harris Newmark, 1913, “Sixty Years in Southern California: 1853-1913”

 

Family

My great-great grandfather Harris Newmark wrote the above statement. Every time I read it I get chills, as it must be one of the most prophetic statements ever made about a city.

I have always loved Los Angeles, perhaps, because my family has long deep roots here, and I have always felt “at home.” Los Angeles seems to be the hero of my story. If she hadn’t have been so receptive, open, generous, and had such great weather, I would have been born in San Francisco or New York. But my ancestors chose to live here permanently. They dabbled with San Francisco, but there were too many people and not as much opportunity for new arrivals. When Harris went to New York City to set up a new branch of the business, that venture was cut short because of the death of the relative running the business in Los Angeles. So, because all the stars were aligned, my ancestors stayed in the paradise of Los Angeles.

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L.A. Scene / The City Then and Now

Capitol Milling Co., 1890, 1916, and 1993

The Los Angeles Times: Los Angeles, Calif.; Jun 14, 1993; Cecilla Rasmussen

Next to the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks at the edge of Chinatown is a forgotten jewel of the city-a fading brick building belonging to the Capitol Milling Co. that is the oldest commercial structure in Los Angeles.

For 162 years-the last 110 under the ownership of the same two families-the three-story brick mill has produced flour for the city's bakeries.

Through three generations of Loews and Levis, the mill has served such companies as Ralphs Grocery Co. and Foix French Bakery.

 "It's provided a good livelihood," said Stephen N. Loew Jr., the current president of Capitol Milling and a grandson of the company's founder.

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Loeb and Loeb Law Firm

Pioneer Los Angeles Law Firm 1909 - Present

The Loeb and Loeb law firm is one of the oldest and most prestigious firms in Los Angeles. It was founded in downtown Los Angeles in 1909 and now has offices in downtown Los Angeles, Century City, New York, and Nashville. Its move from downtown LA to Century City mirrors the movement of the old-time Jewish and Gentile communities, as well as the members of my family.

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