Janet Gray Hayes Papers Addition MSS.2014.05.31
Monika Lehman
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
November 2014
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
San José State University
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0028
special.collections@sjsu.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Title: Janet Gray Hayes Papers Addition
creator:
Janet Gray Hayes
Identifier/Call Number: MSS.2014.05.31
Physical Description:
4.667 Linear feet
4 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1950- 2014
Date (bulk): 1971-1987
Abstract: The Janet Gray Hayes Papers Addition documents her tenure as a city council member, vice mayor and mayor, from the 1960s to
2014. This collection consists of newspaper clippings, campaign materials, photographs and other memorabilia. Additionally,
some material dates before her election to public office and continues through the end of her life.
Biographical / Historical
In 1974 Janet Gray Hayes became mayor of San Jose, California and the first female elected to the office of mayor of a large
American city. She was overwhelmingly reelected to a second term, and served as mayor until 1982. Prior to her groundbreaking
election in 1974, she won a seat on the San Jose City Council and also served as vice mayor. This collection documents her
political trajectory from 1974-1982. During her tenure as mayor she focused on urban development issues and smart growth planning,
and was very responsive to increased citizen access to the mayor's office. Gray Hayes became an important role model for women
in politics, her success in government represented a watershed for politically minded women in the region, and the Santa Clara
Valley became known as the "Feminist Capital of the World." This collection consists of administrative files, election materials,
personal files, and public relations materials.
Scope and Contents
The Janet Gray Hayes Papers Addition documents the significance of Janet Gray Hayes in local, state and national politics.
She was the first woman elected to the office of mayor of a large American city. Gray Hayes was pivotal in popularizing the
Santa Clara Valley's reputation as the "Feminist Capital of the World" which drew international attention to San Jose. With
her connections to feminist groups such as the League of Women Voters, the National Organization for Women and National Women's
Political Caucus, Gray Hayes kept women's issues at the forefront of her politics and motivated other women to get involved.
Even though she faced criticism and many news outlets referred to her simply as an "argumentative housewife" during her campaigns,
she continued in her commitment to improve citizen access to the mayor's office, reducing crime, and promoting controlled
urban growth in San Jose. She also aided in the appointment of women administrators in city government and also helped women
campaign for other political offices. Janet Gray Hayes retired from political life in 1982 after two successful terms serving
as the mayor of San Jose.
The Janet Gray Hayes Papers Addition is organized into six series: Series I: Administrative Files, Series II: Campaign & Election
Materials, Series III: Public Relations Files, Series IV: Press Clippings, Series V: Memorabilia (three-dimensional) and Series
VI: Personal Materials.
Preferred Citation
Janet Gray Hayes Papers Addition Collection, MSS -2014-05-31, San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright has been assigned to the San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives. All requests for permission
to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Special Collections. Permission for publication
is given on behalf of the SJSU Special Collections & Archives as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include
or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader. Copyright restrictions also apply
to digital reproductions of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.
Processing Information
Processed by Monika Lehman and reviewed by Danelle Moon in 2014. Folder level description added to Finding Aid by Kate Steffens,
November 2019.
Arrangement
The Janet Gray Hayes Papers Addition is organized into six series: Series I: Administrative Files, Series II: Campaign & Election
Materials, Series III: Public Relations Files, Series IV: Press Clippings, Series V: Memorabilia (three-dimensional) and Series
VI: Personal Materials.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
California -- Politics and government
Mayors -- California -- San Jose
San Jose (Calif.) -- History -- 20th century
Women in politics -- California -- History
Series I: Administrative Files
1963-1983
Scope and Contents
Series I documents the mayoral administration of Janet Gray Hayes in San Jose, California from 1976- 1982. Represented are
standard administrative records that include project files, correspondence, events and programs, financial statements,, memoranda,
awards and speeches, and travel documentation. The correspondence records include letters from President Jimmy Carter; President
Ronald Reagan; Elizabeth II, Queen of Great Britain; Senator Dianne Feinstein (at the time, she was President of the Board
of Supervisors); judo coach Yosh Uchida; tennis player Billie Jean King; and actress Helen Hayes. The collection also includes
her travel itinerary to China, photographs and memoranda from her trip, as well as campaign material.
This series is arranged alphabetically by format, and then chronologically within each folder.
Box 1, Folder 1
Administrative, Guadalupe Project
1971
Box 1, Folder 2
Architectural Drawings
1981
Box 1, Folder 3
Awards and Recognition
1968, 1976, 1982
Box 1, Folder 4
Chart - City Council Organization
1980
Box 1, Folder 6
Correspondence (Incoming)
1976-1983
Box 1, Folder 7
Correspondence (Outgoing)
1963-1982
Box 1, Folder 8
Events and Programs
1974- 2012
Box 1, Folder 9
Financial statements and contributions
1974-1981
Box 1, Folder 10
Measure M advertisement
undated
Box 1, Folder 13
Notes and Jaycees awards dinner speech
1983
Box 1, Folder 15
State of the City speeches
1977, 1982
Series II: Campaign & Election Materials
1971-1978
Scope and Contents
Series II documents multiple campaigns of Janet Gray Hayes, for city council Seat 3, mayor, and re-election as mayor. Included
in this collection are flyers, campaign mailings and information about her campaigns This series has endorsements for campaigns
from local community leaders, canvassing materials from her campaigns and photographs of Gray Hayes on the campaign trail.
This series is arranged alphabetically by format, and then chronologically within each folder.
Box 1, Folder 17
Bart Collins campaign and election materials
1974
Box 1, Folder 18
Campaign and election materials
1972-1973
Box 1, Folder 19
Campaign materials for City Council election
1971
Box 1, Folder 21
Mayoral election materials (Folder 1 of 3)
1974, 1976
Box 1, Folder 22
Mayoral election materials (Folder 2 of 3)
1974
Box 1, Folder 23
Mayoral election materials (Folder 3 of 3)
1974
Box 1, Folder 24
Mayoral re-election materials
1976-1978
Series III: Public Relations Files
1971-1983
Scope and Contents
Series III is comprised of publicity materials that include photographs, speeches, press releases, and audio materials. Most
of the files consist of publicity correspondence in which Gray Hayes communicated her ideas and policy recommendations with
the press. Also of note are photographs of Gray Hayes meeting with her constituents and speaking to the public.
The files are arranged alphabetically by format, and then chronologically within each folder.
This series is arranged alphabetically by format, and chronologically within each folder.
Box 1, Folder 25
News Publications
1973-1980
Box 1, Folder 27
Publicity photographs (1 of 3)
1974-1978
Box 1, Folder 28
Publicity photographs (2 of 3)
1974-1978
Box 1, Folder 29
Publicity Photographs (3 of 3)
undated
Series IV: Press
1969-2014
Scope and Contents
Series IV has newspaper clippings about Janet Gray Hayes from her first campaign for city council in 1974 through the years
to information about her death in 2014. Many of the articles highlight her commitment to making San Jose better not bigger
and also enforcing the idea of Santa Clara Valley as the "Feminist Capital of the World". Included in this series is a copy
of Time Magazine's January 1976 issue entitled Women of the Year which featured Gray Hayes. Of note are news stories of the
times such as the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle which featured President Richard Nixon's resignation in 1974 and
Ronald Reagan's assassination attempt in 1981 which caused the press to speculate if Gray Hayes should escalate her service
detail. Also included is a booklet celebrating artist (and uncle of Hayes' husband) Alexander Calder's 1978 exhibit at San
Jose Museum.
The files are arranged alphabetically by format, and then chronologically within each folder.
Box 2, Folder 2
Audio Reel, KXRX Radio
undated
Box 2, Folder 4
Journal of Housing
March 1969
Box 2, Folder 5
Newspaper Clippings
1971-1972
Box 2, Folder 7
Newspaper Clippings
January-June 1974
Box 2, Folder 8
Newspaper Clippings
July-October 1974
Box 2, Folder 9
Newspaper Clippings
November-December 1974
Box 2, Folder 10
Newspaper Clippings (Bart Collins, Folder 1 of 2)
1974
Box 2, Folder 11
Newspaper Clippings (Bart Collins, Folder 2 of 2)
1974
Box 2, Folder 21
Newspaper Clippings
1994- 2012
Box 2, Folder 22
Newspaper Clippings
undated
Box 2, Folder 23
VHS Tape: Announcement of AIDS Hospice
1987
Series V: Memorabilia (three-dimensional)
1978-2012
Scope and Contents
Series V contains three dimensional memorabilia of Janet Gray Hayes. Most of the memorabilia is from her campaigns for public
office and awards she received while in office.
The files are arranged alphabetically by format.
Box 3
Button – Mayor Janet Gray Hayes
undated
Box 3
Appreciation bell
April 1978
Box 3
City of San Jose Proclamation
March 2012
Box 3
Forget Me Not campaign seeds
undated
Box 3
Commendation for Kenneth Hayes
1982
Box 3
Congressional Record
December 1982
Box 3
Frisbee- Office of Mayor Janet Gray Hayes
undated
Box 3
Key to the city of San Jose
undated
Box 3
Mug- Office of Mayor Janet Gray Hayes
undated
Box 3
Mug- Indiana University
undated
Series VI: Personal Materials
1950-2014
Scope and Contents
Series VI includes personal materials which belonged to Janet Gray Hayes. Included in this collection is a copy of her marriage
certificate to Kenneth Hayes, various articles friends gave her and pictures from her college reunion. Also included is a
photo album of pictures from her first trip to China as mayor with her family. There are also condolence letters sent to her
children following her death in April 2014. Of note are letters from Senator Barbara Boxer from California, California State
Senator Jim Beall and Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren. Along with Congresswoman Anna Eshoo and Congressman Mike Honda, Lofgren paid
tribute to Janet Gray Hayes in the Congressional Record on June 5, 2014.
The files are arranged alphabetically by format, and then chronologically within each folder.
Box 4
Commendation for Kenneth Hayes
1982
Box 4
Framed portrait of Janet Gray Hayes
undated
Box 2, Folder 25
Indiana University reunion photo
1998
Box 2, Folder 26
Marriage certificate and anniversary letter
1950, 1975, 2010
Box 2, Folder 27
Condolence letters and Congressional Record
2014
Box 2, Folder 28
Memorial service program
2014
Box 4
Photo album from China trip
Feb. 22-29, 1976
Box 4
Resolution of Senate Rules Committee
1976
Box 4
Frame of three photo cut outs
Box 4
Framed Oil Painting Portrait of Hayes
Box 4
"Little Yellow Flower" Picture Frame
Box 4
"Running Man" Framed Picture
Box 4
Janet Gray Hayes Portrait
Box 4
Janet Gray Hayes' Framed Certificate of Marriage
March 20, 1950