Description
A group of seven photographs: Arcadia Bandini de Baker (1825-1912) and members of her family, taken in 1904; a photograph
of her summer home in Santa Monica; a photograph of Kate Sullivan, Bandini's personal assistant for many years.
Background
Arcadia Bandini was the daughter of the Juan Bandini, a Peruvian-born Italian who arrived in California at the time of Mexico's
struggle for independence against Spain. Arcadia acquired land and wealth through inheritance and marriages, first to Abel
Stearns (1798-1871); after being widowed, she married Colonel Robert S. Baker (1826-1894), owner of Rancho San Vicente y Santa
Monica, and they co-founded the city of Santa Monica. She died September 15, 1912 in Santa Monica.