author
Harris Newmark
1834–1916
A Prussian-born immigrant who arrived in Los Angeles in 1853, he became one of the city’s early merchants and later captured its transformation in vivid memoirs. His life connects pioneer-era business, civic growth, and the story of Jewish Los Angeles.
1 Audiobook
About the author
Born in Löbau, Prussia, in 1834, Harris Newmark came to the United States in 1853 and settled in Los Angeles, where members of his family were already living. He built a successful career in trade and real estate and became part of the small group of early settlers who helped shape the city during its rapid growth.
Newmark is remembered not only as a businessman and philanthropist, but also as a careful observer of local history. His best-known book, Sixty Years in Southern California, 1853–1913, offers a firsthand account of Los Angeles as it changed from a small frontier town into a modern city.
He also played an important role in the Jewish community of Southern California, and his family became closely tied to the region’s development. Today, his writing remains valuable because it preserves everyday details, personalities, and places that might otherwise have been lost.