The modest Leimert Park home where Tom Bradley, Los Angeles’ first Black mayor, and his wife, Ethel, the city’s first Black First Lady raised their family has officially been designated a Historic-Cultural Monument, cementing its place in the city’s history.
On Thursday, August 14, 2025, Councilwoman Heather Hutt joined the Getty Conservation Institute and community leaders to celebrate the designation of three new Historic-Cultural Monuments, marking a milestone for the African American Historic Places Los Angeles (AAHPLA) initiative. The program, launched in 2022, is dedicated to preserving sites that tell the story of Los Angeles’ Black heritage.
The Bradleys’ residence—purchased in 1950 through a white proxy buyer due to racially restrictive covenants—became a hub of political and social life. At the time, Black families were barred from purchasing homes in Leimert Park. “I was almost 7 years old when we moved in,” recalled their eldest daughter, Lorraine Bradley. “We couldn’t have lived there without help from the ACLU.”
The family lived in the 1,282-square-foot home until 1977, when Bradley was re-elected to his second term as mayor and moved into the Getty House. Bradley went on to become the longest-serving mayor in Los Angeles history, remembered for bridging divides and ushering the city onto the world stage, while Ethel was celebrated as a community leader in her own right.
During the plaque unveiling, Councilwoman Hutt emphasized the importance of safeguarding Black history. “We live in a time where accurate depictions of our history are often under threat, where important stories can be overlooked or even erased,” she said. “Today, we take a stand against that.”
“Council District 10 is the tapestry of Los Angeles, filled with the stories and histories of everyday Angelenos,” Hutt added. “These landmark designations are more than just plaques; they are powerful reminders of the strength and joy of Black LA. By honoring sites like St. Elmo Village, the Tom and Ethel Bradley Residence, and Jewel’s Catch One, we are not only preserving our city’s shared history, but we’re also ensuring that future generations recognize the vital role African Americans have played in shaping Los Angeles.”
The Bradley residence is one of six African American landmarks newly designated as Historic-Cultural Monuments. Others include St. Elmo Village and Jewel’s Catch One in Mid-City, StylesVille Barbershop & Beauty Salon in Pacoima, the California Eagle newspaper offices in South L.A., and New Bethel Baptist Church in Venice.
“These historic buildings are not only markers of our history but remain vibrant social and cultural hubs for the African American community in Los Angeles, connecting the past with the present,” said Rita Cofield, associate project specialist at the Getty Conservation Institute and leader of the AAHPLA project.
City Planning Director Vince Bertoni called the designations “an exciting first milestone” in the partnership between the city and the Getty, at a time “when our diverse societies core values are being challenged.”
Bronze plaques have now been installed at several of the sites, offering Angelenos the chance to interact with pieces of history that might otherwise have gone unrecognized. For many, the designations are both a celebration and a promise—that the legacy of Black Los Angeles will endure.