Skip to main content

Willie L. Brown, Jr. Papers

 Collection
Identifier: asc.2007.001

Scope and Contents

The Willie L. Brown, Jr. Papers include Assembly Bill materials, correspondence, newspaper clippings, research files, awards, books, editorial cartoons, photographs and other materials created during his years in the California State Assembly (1965-1995).

Series 1: Assembly Bill Materials, 1965-1996, includes documents pertaining to legislative bills Brown introduced or co-sponsored in the California State Assembly. Also includes materials relating to House Resolutions, Assembly Constitutional Amendments, Assembly Concurrent Resolutions, and Assembly Joint Resolutions. Assembly Bill files minimally contain government published copies of the Assembly Bills, along with amended versions, and the Legislative Council Digest related to the bill. Files may also contain committee analyses of the bills, correspondence from government officials, constituent individuals and organizations, and newspaper or magazine articles, newsletters and brochures. Brown's legislative files reflect his early efforts to support health benefits for people with AIDS, support for dentists trained in foreign schools, and civil rights issues.

Series 2: Subject Files, 1965-1995, consists of documents on a variety of topics collected by Brown's legislative staff for research purposes.

Series 3: Political Appointments, 1981-1997, spans the years that Brown served as Speaker of the Assembly. Includes documentation of Brown's political appointments to California commissions, boards, and committees. Files include a description of each body, including its responsibilities, duties and membership; correspondence relating to potential appointees; and oath statements from appointed members.

Series 4: Correspondence, 1965-1994, includes endorsement letters from Brown in support of individuals and organizations; and letters to Brown seeking his support. There is also other correspondence throughout the collection in other series.

Series 5: Awards and Recognitions, 1972-1995, consists of paper certificates presented to Brown by various organizations for his achievements as a legislator. Related files include digital files of plaques presented to Brown. Special Collections and Archives has digital images of processed plaques and ephemera.

Series 6: Ephemera, 1962-1994, consists of newspaper clippings and memorabilia, such as printed programs from events.

Series 7: Books, 1985-1999, consists of books produced by or for Brown during his tenure as Speaker of the Assembly. Also includes a bound transcript of an oral history interview with Brown recorded in 1991-1992.

Series 8: Art, 1970-1995, contains framed and unframed artistic portrayals of Brown. Mostly editorial cartoons depicting his stance on various political issues and events.

Series 9: Photographs and Sound Recordings, 1966-1997, contains photographs, negatives, and slides that provide visual documentation of Brown's legislative career. The files include his early years, his family, assembly floor action, events hosted or attended by Brown including—his major fundraisers—and individuals he interacted with, including political figures, foreign dignitaries, athletes, celebrities, and friends. Also contains sound recordings of Brown and news programs. Formats include audio cassettes (bulk), open reel ¼-inch tape, and micro-cassettes.

Dates

  • 1955-1999

Language of Materials

English

Language of Materials

Languages represented in the collection: English.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research. Some materials may require the use of a computer to view digital files.

Conditions Governing Use

Some materials are in the public domain; transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. In addition, the reproduction of some materials may be restricted by terms of gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Biography of Willie L. Brown, Jr.

Willie Lewis Brown, Jr. was born in 1934 in Mineola, Texas. Raised by his grandmother, Brown graduated high school in 1951, moving to San Francisco where he attended San Francisco State University, receiving a liberal studies B.A. in 1955. He studied law at University of California Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco, and became a lawyer in 1959. Brown established his own law practice shortly thereafter. In 1964, Brown was elected to the California State Assembly, beginning his thirty-year career in the Assembly (1965-1995). In 1980, Brown became Speaker of the Assembly, a post he held until 1995. Brown was elected Mayor of San Francisco in 1995, a position he held until 2003.

Extent

100 Linear Feet (75 cartons, 5 oversize boxes)

Abstract

The Willie L. Brown, Jr. Papers include Assembly Bill materials, correspondence, newspaper clippings, research files, awards, books, editorial cartoons, photographs and other materials created during his years in the California State Assembly (1965-1995).

Arrangement

The Willie L. Brown, Jr. Papers are arranged into nine series: Series 1: Assembly Bill Materials, 1965-1976, Series 2: Subject Files, 1965-1995, Series 3: Political Appointments, 1981-1997, Series 4: Correspondence, 1965-1994, Series 5: Awards and Recognitions, 1972-1995, Series 6: Ephemera, 1962-1994, Series 7: Books, 1985-1999, Series 8: Art, 1970-1995, and Series 9: Photographs and Sound Recordings, 1966-1997. The Photograph and Sound Recordings series is further arranged into three subseries. Subseries 9.1: Events, 9.2: Individuals and 9.3: Sound Recordings.

Physical Location

Collection available on site.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The papers of Willie L. Brown, Jr. (accession #2007.1) were gifted from Willie L. Brown, Jr. to San Francisco State University President Robert A. Corrigan on November 8, 2007 and transferred to San Francisco State University J. Paul Leonard Library Special Collections & Archives.

Related Materials

The Willie L. Brown, Jr. Papers covering his mayoral years (1996-2004) are located at the San Francisco Public Library History Center.

Separated Materials

Video footage is available online as a part of the J. Paul Leonard Library Bay Area Television Archive's Willie L. Brown, Jr. Collection

Processing Information

Processed by Eva Martinez from June-December 2018.

Title
Guide to the Willie L. Brown, Jr. Papers, 1965-1995
Status
Completed
Author
Eva Martinez
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in: English.

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections and Archives, J. Paul Leonard Library Repository

Contact:
1630 Holloway Ave
San Francisco California 94132-1722