Bunche, Ralph J., House
Why it's listed
This modest one-story bungalow at 1221 East 40th Place in Los Angeles, built around 1910, is notable as the boyhood and student home of diplomat Ralph J. Bunche. He moved in with his grandmother, aunts, uncle and sister in early 1919, at age 14, and lived there until the summer of 1927, finishing Jefferson High School and UCLA during those years. He considered it home until he married in 1930. Bunche later became the first Ph.D. in political science of his race in the nation, helped found Howard University's political science department, worked with the State Department and the United Nations, and directed the 1949 armistice negotiations between Israel and Arab states. That work earned him the 1950 Nobel Peace Prize. The house has shiplap siding, a gabled bay window and a front porch. Its exterior is largely unchanged, though the interior was altered in 1940 when it was converted to a duplex. The city had already designated it a Historic-Cultural Monument in 1976.
Significance in brief: The house is nominated for its association with Ralph J. Bunche, Nobel Peace Prize winner and diplomat of international standing. He lived there from early 1919 to 1927, through high school and UCLA, and regarded it as home until his marriage in 1930. The nomination evaluates its significance at the national level.
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 78000686, listed May 22, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1221 E. 40th Pl., Los Angeles |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | May 22, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000686 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- (specific date c. 1910) |
| Architectural style | Builder's bungalow |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as a private residence, with condition marked fair. The exterior is described as essentially unaltered since Bunche lived there; interior changes were made in 1940 when it became a duplex. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 34.01022, -118.25343 (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.
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 78000686.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7287691
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.