Angelus Funeral Home
Why it's listed
Built in 1934 at 1010 East Jefferson Boulevard in Los Angeles, this two-story stucco funeral home was designed by architect Paul R. Williams. It occupies a triangular lot and is primarily Spanish Colonial Revival in style, with Art Deco and Georgian Revival features such as a tabernacle-framed entrance with a swan's neck pediment and a lobby with a circular staircase. The business was founded in 1922 and later grew under owner John L. Hill into one of the most successful black-owned businesses in Los Angeles. His son, John L. Hill Jr., became the first African American on the California State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers in 1954. The company moved to Crenshaw Avenue in 1951 as its clientele shifted west. The building was listed for its role in Black community development, representing enterprises that arose when African Americans faced exclusion from many parts of the economy. The property is now vacant.
Significance in brief: The building is significant under Criterion A at the local level in the area of Ethnic Heritage - Black, as an example of a successful commercial enterprise founded by African Americans. Black-owned businesses arose when people of color were excluded from many sectors of the economy and denied services by white-owned firms. The funeral home grew under John L. Hill into one of the most prominent black-owned businesses in Los Angeles.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 09000146, listed March 17, 2009. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1010 E. Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | March 17, 2009 |
| Reference number | 09000146 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1934-1958 |
| Architect / builder | Williams, Paul R., architect |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals - Spanish Colonial Revival, Georgian Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Black |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function listed as vacant; the building is described as retaining all aspects of integrity, with no apparent exterior alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 34.01202, -118.25786 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 09000146.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4763118
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.