Clark, Mary Andrews, Memorial Home
Also known as: Clark, Mary Andrews, Residence
Why it's listed
Built in 1912 on a hillside west of downtown Los Angeles, the Mary Andrews Clark Memorial Home is a four-story, U-shaped residence in the French Chateauesque manner, designed by architect Arthur B. Benton and built by contractor George H. Whyte for $200,000. Its brick walls, copper flashings, slate mansard roof, conical-capped central tower and dormers give it the steep, vertical look of a French chateau. Inside, the lobby, lounge, library, lecture hall and dining room retain marble fireplaces, wood wainscoting and stained glass. William Andrews Clark gave the building to the Los Angeles YWCA as a memorial to his mother, and it housed young working women for more than seventy years. It is recognized both as a well-preserved example of its architectural style and as the last YWCA residence run in the city. A certified rehabilitation begun in 1992 converted it to single room occupancy housing while keeping its character-defining features.
Significance in brief: It is nominated under Criterion C as an intact, excellent example of the Chateauesque style in Los Angeles institutional architecture. It is also nominated under Criterion A as the last of the YWCA residences run in Los Angeles and a reflection of the women's philanthropic movement. It was a gift from William Andrews Clark in memory of his mother.
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 95001152, listed October 5, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 306--336 S. Loma Dr., Los Angeles |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | October 5, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95001152 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1912 - 1945 |
| Architect / builder | Benton, Arthur Burnett, Architect; Whyte, George H., Contractor |
| Architectural style | Late 19th & 20th Century Revival; Other: French Chateauesque |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Rehabilitated beginning in 1992 to repair earthquake damage and convert to single room occupancy housing, with main public spaces rehabilitated for community use; the form says historic integrity is retained. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 34.06006, -118.26511 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 95001152.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6778839
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.