Collection Guide
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Finding Aid to the San Francisco Citizens Charter Revision Committee Records 1889-1973 (bulk 1968-1971),
SFH 33
SFH 33
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Table of contents
Title: San Francisco Citizens Charter Revision Committee Records
Date (inclusive): 1889-1973
Date (bulk): (1968-1971)
Collection Identifier: SFH 33
Creator:
San Francisco (Calif.). Citizens Charter Revision Committee.
Physical Description:
4.0 cubic feet
(in 4 cartons and 1 map drawer file)
Contributing Institution:
San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 557-4567
info@sfpl.org
Abstract: This collection documents the work of the San Francisco Citizens Charter Revision Committee, which met from to 1968 to 1972
and submitted Proposition E which failed (on Nov. 4 1969), and Proposition R which passed (on Nov. 2, 1971).
Language of Materials:
Collection materials are in
English.
The collection is open for research and stored off site. A minimum of two working days' notice is required for use. Please
call the San Francisco History Center for hours and information at 415-557-4567.
[Identification of item], San Francisco Citizens Charter Revision Committee Records (SFH 33), San Francisco History Center,
San Francisco Public Library.
The collection was transferred from the committee to the San Francisco Public Library after its dissolution in 1973.
Some monographs were transferred from the San Francisco Research series to the library's catalog. See Appendix B for list
of titles.
Charter documents of other cities were removed from the Comparative Studies series. See Appendix A for the list of cities.
Some monographs were removed from the San Francisco Research series. See Appendix C for the list of titles.
Researchers are encouraged to see also SFH 5, Joseph L. Alioto Papers; SFH 25, San Francisco Charter Commission Records, 1931-1980
(bulk 1979-1980); SFH 32, San Francisco Select Committee on Charter Reform records, 1978-1996; SFH 24, Jack Morrison Papers,
1962-1988; San Francisco Charter Revision Committee Scrapbooks, 1930-1931; and the San Francisco History Center's subject
and card files; and to check the library catalog.
The charter is San Francisco's constitution. The first city charter was adopted in 1898, creating a "strong mayor" form of
government. Reformers in the 1920s succeeded in voter adoption of a new charter in 1932, establishing a chief administrative
officer to direct most of the city's departments. Under this charter, power was diffused throughtout the city. Over time,
numerous incremental charter changes made governing arrangements more complex.
Charter revision was attempted several times--including three failed attempts--but resulted in little change. Mayor John Shelley
initiated charter reform in 1967, establishing the San Francisco Citizens Charter Revision Committee. This fourth committee
made recommentations that appeared on the November 1969 ballot as Proposition E; the measure was defeated.
A reconstituted committee then rearranged charter sections more logically with no substantive changes. This recodification,
Proposition R, passed in November 1971 by a two-to-one margin. Following this, Mayor Joseph Alioto charged the committee to
study recommendations of the Crime Commission, Blyth-Zellerbach management committee, and other blue-ribbon committees. A
committee member noted that 150 pages of the 225-page charter were concerned with City employees' rights and obligations.
A final report was produced in June of 1972, and the committee was dissolved the following spring.
This collection documents the work of the San Francisco Citizens Charter Revision Committee, which met from to 1968 to 1972
and submitted Proposition E, which failed (on Nov. 4 1969), and Proposition R, which passed (on Nov. 2, 1971). Materials include
charter history, drafts and final text, reports, minutes, memoranda, research materials, and newspaper clippings.
Organized into six series: Series 1. Comparative Studies; Series 2. San Francisco Research; Series 3. Working Files and Ballot
Measures; Series 4. Minutes; Series 5. Office Files; and Series 6. Newspaper Articles. Original order was maintained except
for San Francisco Research (arranged alphabetically by subject), and Minutes and Newspaper Articles (arranged chronologically).
Subjects and Indexing Terms
San Francisco (Calif.). Citizens Charter Revision Committee.
County charters--California--San Francisco
Municipal charters--California--San Francisco
San Francisco (Calif.)--Charters