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Boberg (Dorothy) Collection
URB.DBC  
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  • Biographical Information:
  • Scope and Contents
  • Arrangement of Materials:
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  • Immediate Source of Acquisition
  • Preferred Citation:
  • Processing Information:

  • Contributing Institution: Special Collections & Archives
    Title: Dorothy Boberg Collection
    Creator: Boberg, Dorothy, 1930-
    Identifier/Call Number: URB.DBC
    Extent: 14.46 linear feet
    Date (inclusive): 1957-1990
    Abstract: Dorothy Boberg was a community activist who, as a member of numerous local civic and activist organizations, worked on myriad community issues within the San Fernando Valley and greater Los Angeles areas, and beyond. The Dorothy Boberg Collection includes research material pertaining to issues such as atomic energy, nuclear disarmament, energy alternatives, urban planning and growth, women's issues, and state/federal politics and policies.
    Language of Material: English

    Biographical Information:

    Dorothy Kurth was born on March 17, 1930 in Lincoln, Nebraska. She received a bachelor's degree in Social Welfare from the University of Nebraska in June, 1951. Kurth married John Elliot Boberg on September 17, 1951. In 1952 the Bobergs moved to Burbank, CA where John took a position at the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation. From 1953 to 1957, Dorothy worked as a social worker for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services. In 1957, the Boberg family moved to Northridge, California. From 1959 to 1962 Boberg attended California State University, Northridge (then San Fernando Valley State College) as a graduate student, majoring in Education, and in the 1970's she studied real estate at the University of Southern California.
    Boberg was a member of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) whose leaders had stimulated her interest in government and community problems. Boberg went on to become active in many of AAUW's study groups. It was also at this time that she became co-chair of a San Fernando Valley Voter Registration Drive and co-chair of the Committee to Secure a Fifth City Council District in the San Fernando Valley. She served on the Welfare Planning Council, West Valley Parks Committee, Save Elysian Park Committee, League of Women Voter's Water Committee, and the World Affairs Council Center for International Visitors. Boberg was co-chair of the Women's Committee for a Humane Abortion Law, a group started by AAUW members, from 1964-1966. During the same period was involved in local PTA functions and co-wrote a study on Valley Secession from the City of Los Angeles.
    The next ten years found Boberg involved in many projects and organizations. She chaired the Overview Committee of "Destination 90" (city planning study) sponsored by CSUN, was on the Health, Education, and Welfare, Social Concerns, and Townscape committees, and served on the local Election Board. She also volunteered in numerous political campaigns which included serving as the issues chair and volunteer coordinator for the "Barbara Klein for City Council" campaign. For many years, Boberg was on the Board of Directors of the Northridge Civic Association, and served as president from 1971-1973. She conducted studies of the Los Angeles General Plan, Granada Hills and Northridge Specific Plans, Lobbyist Registration Ordinance, Public Funding of Campaigns, Expansion of Northridge Park, Elimination of White Oak Avenue Freeway Off-Ramp, Requirement for Environmental Impact Study and Building of Berms for Route 118 Freeway, and worked on many zoning issues.
    In 1971, Boberg founded the North Valley Ecology Council and was a member of the CSUN University-Community Advisory Planning Committee, with an interest in saving space on campus. Women's issues continued to be of concern to Boberg, and in 1972 she was responsible for the founding of the Women's Coalition to encourage women to participate in government commissions and to run for elective office. She also instructed a seminar entitled "Quality Of Life Tomorrow," at CSUN in 1973. From 1974 to 1977 Boberg served on Mayor Tom Bradley's Social Concerns Task Force. Boberg also served as chairperson of the Hazardous Facilities Committee of Mayor Bradley's Task Force on Earthquake Prediction. She was an active member of the Sierra Club Nuclear Task Force and observed City Council and Department of Water and Power Commission meetings, frequently testifying on environmental issues and against plans for construction of nuclear power facilities.
    From 1975-1976, Boberg was vice president of the Northridge Community Coordinating Council. She also worked as a research associate for the group "Another Mother for Peace" which culminated in the report: Nuclear Facilities and Radiation Monitoring in California . In 1976, Boberg became the research director for GUARD (a Southern California environmental organization) which intervened in the Nuclear Regulatory Commission hearings on the construction of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Stations, Units 2 & 3. Boberg also wrote a detailed study of and campaigned for California's Nuclear Safeguards Initiative (Proposition 15). In the late 1970's Boberg was the executive vice president of the Southern California Council of the United Nations Association. She helped to organize the first Sun Day (International Solar Exhibition) at the World Trade Center in Los Angeles, May 3-5, 1978, coordinated the Great Decisions Program for Southern California, and was chair of a "UN and the Environment" study.
    In 1983, Boberg was invited to present a paper on her concept of "Complementary Dynamics" at a Universal Peace Conference held in Mount Abu, India. In 1986, she was elected to the Los Angeles County Democratic Central Committee, and was re-elected to the Committee in 1988. In the capacity of chair for the Environment Committee, Boberg was responsible for assisting in the writing of numerous resolutions recommending federal and state legislation.

    Scope and Contents

    The Dorothy Boberg Collection primarily contains research material that pertains to political, environmental, and social issues. In addition, testimony given by Boberg before various committees, correspondence files and articles, reports, and speeches can also be found in the collection. The collection consists of three major series: Energy and the Environment (1930-1987), Urban Planning and Government (1957-1985), and Personal Papers (1960-1990).
    Series I, Energy and the Environment, consists of documents pertaining to the implementation and effects of atomic/nuclear energy. Boberg's concerns about air pollution, radioactive waste, alternative energy sources, and land use are well documented within this series. The series is filed alphabetically.
    Series II, Urban Planning and Government,consists of documents which reflect Boberg's interest and involvement with political issues, women's issues, and urban problems, such as tax reform, housing, transportation, earthquake preparedness, social welfare, and Los Angeles city government. The series is filed alphabetically.
    Series III, Personal Papers,consists of materials that chronicle Boberg's personal and written efforts in regards to the issues she was involved with, and is divided into six subseries: Articles (1972), Correspondence (1963-1984), Photographs (1960-1990), Reports (1975), Speeches (1963-1987), and Testimony (1972-1978). Each subseries is filed chronologically.

    Arrangement of Materials:

    Series I: Energy and the Environment, 1930-1987
    Series II: Urban Planning and Government, 1957-1985
    Series III: Personal Papers, 1960-1990
        Subseries A: Articles, 1972
        Subseries B: Correspondence, 1963-1984
        Subseries C: Photographs, 1960-1990
        Subseries D: Reports, 1975
        Subseries E: Speeches, 1963-1987
        Subseries F: Testimony, 1972-1978

    Related Material

    Conditions Governing Access:

    The collection is open for research use.

    Conditions Governing Use:

    Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection has been transferred to California State University, Northridge. Copyright status for other materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

    Immediate Source of Acquisition

    Dorothy Boberg. 08/1989.

    Preferred Citation:

    For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual, or see the Citing Archival Materials  guide.

    Processing Information:

    Robert Pflug, 1991

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Documents
    Photographs