Inventory of the Doris Allen Papers

Processed by Nicholas Jackson
California State Archives
1020 "O" Street
Sacramento, California 95814
Phone: (916) 653-2246
Fax: (916) 653-7363
Email: ArchivesWeb@sos.ca.gov
URL: http://www.sos.ca.gov/archives/
© 2012
California Secretary of State. All rights reserved.

Inventory of the Doris Allen Papers

Collection number: LP440

California State Archives

Office of the Secretary of State

Sacramento, California
Processed by:
Nicholas Jackson
Date Completed:
January 2012
Encoded by:
Cori Schmidtbauer
© 2012 California Secretary of State. All rights reserved.

Descriptive Summary

Title: Doris Allen Papers
Dates: 1983-1996
Collection number: LP440
Creator: Doris Allen, California Legislator
Collection Size: 7 cubic feet
Repository: California State Archives
Sacramento, California
Abstract: Doris Allen, Republican, was a State Assembly Member from 1983 to 1995. She was first elected to represent the 71st Assembly District. After district reapportionment in 1992, she won re-election in the 67th Assembly District. The Doris Allen Papers consist of 7 cubic feet of textual records and audio cassettes reflecting Allen's legislative activities during her time as a member of the California State Legislature. The collection is organized into the following record series: Bill Files, 1983-1996; Correspondence, 1985-1993; Press Releases, 1983-1992; Prospective Legislation, 1981-1993; Speeches, 1986-1991; and Subject Files, 1985-1995.
Physical location: California State Archives
Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English

Administrative Information

Access

While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions are noted in the record series descriptions.

Publication Rights

For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives collections.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Doris Allen Papers, LP440:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.

Acquisition and Custodial History

The California State Archives acquired the Doris Allen Papers following her final term in the State Legislature.

Biography

Doris Allen, Republican, was a State Assembly Member from 1983 to 1995. She was first elected to represent the 71st Assembly District. This district covered northwest Orange County, including Buena Park, Cypress, La Palma, Los Alamitos, and parts of Anaheim, Garden Grove, Westminster, and Rossmoor. After district reapportionment in 1992, she won re-election in the 67th Assembly District, which covered Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Los Alamitos, and parts of La Palma, Westminster, Buena Park, Garden Grove, Anaheim, and Rossmoor in southwest Orange County.
Allen was born on May 26, 1936 in Kansas City, Missouri. She attended the University of Wyoming, Long Beach Community College, and Golden West College. In 1960, she established residence in Westminster, California. She married James Allen in 1967 and had two children. In 1976, she was elected to serve on the Huntington Beach Union High School District Board of Trustees. She founded the Orange County Bus-Bloc in 1978 in order to prevent the forced busing of students from Orange County into Los Angeles Schools. Allen ran for office in the 71st Assembly District unsuccessfully in 1978 and 1980. She finally defeated the incumbent, Democrat Chester Wray, in 1982 with 51.6% of the vote.
Allen often clashed with members of her party. She became disgruntled with the Republican delegation in 1990 when it supported Senator Ross Johnson's (R-Irvine) campaign against her for the 35th Senate District election. In 1995, when the Republicans claimed a 40-39 edge in Assembly seats, she took advantage of a deal sanctioned by Willie Brown to become the first female Speaker of the California Assembly. The Republican Party had preferred to elect Curt Pringle (R-Garden Grove) to the position. Allen lost her Assembly seat after losing a recall election in November of 1995.
Allen died of cancer on September 22, 1999.
During her time in the Legislature, Doris Allen was a member of the following committees:

State Assembly, 1983-1995

  • Standing Committees
  • Aging and Long Term Care, 1987-1988
  • Economic Development and New Technology, 1989-1990
  • Education, 1983-1986, 1993-1995
  • Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials, 1989-1990
  • Governmental Organizations, 1991-1992
  • Health, 1983-1984, 1987-1995
  • Housing and Community Development, 1995
  • Labor and Employment, 1987-1988 (Vice Chair, 1987-1988)
  • Vice Chair, 1987-1988
  • Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, 1989-1990
  • Natural Resources, 1985-1986, 1991-1994 (Vice Chair, 1985-1986; Vice Chair, 1991-1992; Transportation, 1985-1986; Water, Parks and Wildlife, 1983-1986, 1995)
  • Vice Chair, 1991-1992 Transportation, 1985-1986 Water, Parks and Wildlife, 1983-1986, 1995
  • Vice Chair, 1985-1986
  • Ways and Means, 1991-1994
  • Select Committees
  • California Youth, 1983-1984
  • Insolvency of Orange County, 1994-1995
  • Small Business, 1989-1990
  • Youth and Drug Abuse Prevention, 1989-1990
  • Joint Committees
  • Refugee Resettlement and Immigration, 1983-1986

Scope and Content

The Doris Allen Papers consist of 7 cubic feet of textual records and audio cassettes reflecting Allen's legislative activities during her term as a member of the California State Legislature. The collection is organized into the following record series: Bill Files, 1983-1996; Correspondence, 1985-1993; Press Releases, 1983-1992; Prospective Legislation, 1981-1993; Speeches, 1986-1991; and Subject Files, 1985-1995.
The Bill Files are particularly useful for researchers interested in topics relating to education or wildlife in California. Allen introduced legislation in order to reform school financing and vocational training. She also introduced legislation intended to establish recreational fishing policies and to prohibit the use of gill, trammel, and trawl nets. Other topics of note within this series include mandatory motorcycle helmets, refugee social services, and suction dredging.
The Correspondence, Press Releases, Prospective Legislation, Speeches, and Subject Files also document Allen's interests in education, natural resources, and wildlife. The correspondence and press releases cover legislation introduced by Allen and the issues affecting the 71st Assembly District. Allen considered prospective legislation concerning bilingual education, health education, and the detection and treatment of child sexual abuse. She also kept substantial subject files on gill net regulations, violence in schools, and vocational education.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Allen, Doris
California. Legislature. Assembly
California. Legislature. Assembly. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources


LP440:1-105

Series 1 Bill Files 1983-1996

Physical Description: 105 file folders

Arrangement

Bill files are arranged chronologically by legislative session and numerically by bill number.

Scope and Content Note

Bill files created by Doris Allen may include bill analyses, amendments and resolutions, author's statements, testimony, newspaper clippings, correspondence, committee statements, and other information. Some bills of note include AB2497 (1983-1984), which made helmets mandatory for motorcycle and motorized bicycle passengers under the age of sixteen; AB512 (1987-1988), which established a civil penalty program within the Dept. of Fish and Game for certain code violations; and AB2954 (1987-1988), which prohibited the use of gill, trammel, and trawl nets from sunrise Saturday to sundown Sunday within three miles of shore along the Orange County coastline. Bill files from the 1985-1986 and 1989-1990 legislative sessions are not included in this series.
1983-1984: AB248-AB3118, ACR95, AJR81 (LP440:1-28)
1987-1988: AB192-AB4606, ACA2, ACR38-ACR115 (LP440:29-77)
1991-1992: AB3076 (LP440:78-80)
1993-1994: AB116-AB1045, ACR16-ACR71 (LP440:81-92)
1995-1996: AB56-AB1884, AB22XX (LP440:93-105)
LP440:106-127

Series 2 Correspondence Files 1983-1993

Physical Description: 22 file folders

Arrangement

Correspondence Files are arranged chronologically by month.

Scope and Content Note

Outgoing correspondence issued by Doris Allen may include reports, newspaper clippings, press releases, and other information. The correspondence is addressed to members of the State Legislature, the Legislative Counsel, state agencies, associations, and constituents. The subjects covered include prospective legislation, Republican Party news, and district issues.
LP440:128-135

Series 3 Press Releases 1983-1992

Physical Description: 8 file folders

Arrangement

Press Releases are arranged chronologically by month.

Scope and Content Note

Press releases issued by Doris Allen. The subjects covered include legislation introduced by Allen, Republican Party news, and district issues. Press releases from 1986 and 1990 are not included in this series.
LP440:136-159

Series 4 Prospective Legislation 1981-1993

Physical Description: 24 file folders

Arrangement

Prospective Legislation are arranged alphabetically by subject heading.

Scope and Content Note

Prospective legislation considered by Doris Allen may include Legislative Counsel opinions, newspaper clippings, correspondence, and other information. Allen used some of the materials in this series to draft legislation. Files pertain to such topics as bilingual education, the detection and treatment of child sexual abuse, and school financing.
For a list of subject headings see Appendix A at the California State Archives.
LP440:160-168

Series 5 Speeches 1986-1991

Physical Description: 9 file folders

Arrangement

Speeches are arranged alphabetically by subject heading.

Scope and Content Note

Speeches delivered by Doris Allen. The files in this series may contain correspondence, reports, and publications. Some notable speech topics include fish and wildlife management, hunter harassment, labor and employment, the conservation of bighorn sheep, and vocational education.
LP440:169-186

Series 6 Subject Files 1985-1995

Physical Description: 18 file folders

Arrangement

Subject Files are arranged alphabetically by subject heading.

Scope and Content Note

Subject files created by Doris Allen may include correspondence, memoranda, reports, photographs, and publications. The subject files contain information gathered by Allen in support of her legislative activities and her participation in various committees. Files pertain to such topics as gill net regulations, Orange County bankruptcy legislation, refugee services, tax restructuring, violence in schools, and vocational education.