The Golden State Mutual
Life Historical Murals...

"Let these describe the indescribable."

Hale Woodruff panel



Charles Alston panel

Golden State Mutual, recognizing the significance of preserving the image of Black settlers and historical events surrounding their deeds... through realistic murals recaptures a segment of this era.

More than mere murals ... these priceless panels incorporate documentary material, much of which appears in no annals of American history. California, (the home state of Golden State Mutual), her early Black settlers, historical events, and physical terrain, dominate these murals.

California was chosen, too, because of the availability of documents needed to relate the story. Theses murals, although native in scope, are also reflective of other states and Blacks who were prominent in their development.

Artists Hale Woodruff and Charles Alston were commissioned to do the paintings. They visited state and private libraries in California and also sites of the historical events. The murals were unveiled in August, 1949, at ceremonies commemorating the new Home Office building.

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