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Floyd Mori Papers
2006.17  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Descriptive Summary
  • Access
  • Publication Rights
  • Preferred Citation
  • Acquisition Information
  • Processing Information
  • Biographical Note
  • Scope and Content
  • Related Materials
  • Arrangement
  • Indexing Terms

  • Descriptive Summary

    Title: Floyd Mori papers
    Dates: 1970s-2018
    Collection number: 2006.17
    Collection number: 2018.20
    Collection Size: 17.5 linear feet (17 boxes)
    Repository: Japanese American National Museum (Los Angeles, Calif.)
    Los Angeles, California 90012
    Creator: Mori, Floyd
    Abstract: This collection contains materials primarily from Floyd Mori’s time as a California State Assemblyman and his involvement with the JACL and APAICS. The bulk of the collection is from the late 1970s, and approximately 2000 through 2018. Items are mostly subject files, correspondence, and legislation (proposed and passed). A number of scrapbooks with photos and newspaper clippings, as well as ephemera are included.
    Physical location: Japanese American National Museum. 100 North Central Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

    Access

    By appointment only. Please contact the Collections Management and Access Unit (collections@janm.org). Advanced notice is required.

    Publication Rights

    All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from materials in this collection must be submitted to the Collections Management and Access Unit at the Japanese American National Museum (collections@janm.org).

    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item], Floyd Mori Papers. 2006.17 [or 2018.20], Japanese American National Museum. Los Angeles, CA.

    Acquisition Information

    The collection was acquired in 2006 and 2018 as a gift of Floyd Mori.

    Processing Information

    Items from the first accession (2006.17) were processed initially by museum staff. Further organization and a first finding aid was created in 2017 by Jamie Henricks. Items from the second accession (2018.20) were initially organized by Mrs. Irene Mori, and rehoused by museum staff and volunteers. The finding aid was updated in 2019 to include information about the second accession.

    Biographical Note

    Biographical information is taken from collection materials, the Who’s Who in Asian American Communities (http://wwaac.com/floyd-mori/), and the staff page on the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies website (http://apaics.org/our-staff/floyd-mori/):
    Shiro Floyd Mori was born in Murray, Utah, outside of Salt Lake City on May 30, 1939. His parents were immigrants to the United States from Kagoshima, Japan. He is the seventh of eight children. When he was a small child, the family bought a farm in Sandy, Utah, where Floyd attended school. Active in sports, he became an All State High School Baseball Player. After graduation from Jordan High School, he served for six months on active duty at Fort Ord, California, with the United States Army Reserves.
    Floyd entered college at the University of Southern California (USC). He interrupted his college studies to serve a two year mission to Hawaii for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon). He attended Brigham Young University (BYU) from which he received a bachelor’s degree with a dual major in Economics and Asian Studies. He received a master’s degree in Economics and Political Science from BYU. He has attended fellowship programs at Stanford University and UCLA.
    Upon completion of college, Floyd taught economics at Chabot College in Hayward, California, for ten years, which led to his introduction into politics. He ran for Pleasanton, California City Council and won a seat there, based on his outreach work and position on planned growth for the city. In 1974, he was elected Mayor of Pleasanton, and later won a seat in the California State Assembly in 1975. He stayed in the Assembly for six years, writing legislation in support of agriculture, decriminalizing marijuana use, tax reform, and was instrumental in helping pass the Spousal Rape Act (creating laws to fight spousal abuse).
    Mori is the former President and CEO of the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS). Previously, Mori served as the National Executive Director/CEO of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL). He was chair of the National Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) and has been on the Executive Council of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights (LCCR). He served four years as National President and four years as a National Vice President of the JACL.
    He was the Director of the Office of International Trade in California and worked extensively with Asian American groups and organizations. He has been an International business consultant and president of Mori-Silva International for many years. Mori has been a consultant in government relations and served as the Utah Trade Representative to Japan.

    Scope and Content

    Items from the first accession (2006.17) contains materials primarily from Floyd Mori’s time as a California State Assemblyman. Items are mostly subject files, correspondence, and legislation. Many files relate to proposed legislation, passed legislation, and correspondence and notes about legislation. Other binders contain campaign information. A number of scrapbooks with photos and newspaper clippings are also included. A number of the disbound photo binders document JACL activities and events extensively in the early 2000s. Other binders include Floyd Mori’s personal photos from the 1970s. A few pieces of ephemera include a name plate, pins, and proclamations; clothing includes three jackets and two shirts.
    Items from the second accession (2018.20) are materials from Floyd Mori’s time in Washington DC, where he was the National President and Executive Director for the JACL, and former President/CEO of APAICS. Materials include correspondence, event invitations, programs, and other documents and memorabilia.
    • Office files and legislation (5 boxes)
    • Photo binders (3 boxes)
    • Scrapbooks – photos and newspaper clippings (2 boxes)
    • Memorabilia (2 boxes)
    • Chronological files (5 boxes)

    Related Materials

    The museum holds collections donated by other political figures, including Sakae Takahashi (a former Hawaiian senator) and Norman Y. Mineta (former US Congressman and mayor of San Jose).

    Arrangement

    Original arrangement was preserved.

    Indexing Terms

    Mori, Floyd
    Japanese Americans
    California. Legislature. Assembly
    Politicians
    Japanese American Citizens' League
    Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies