Guide to the Judge Julian Beck Collection
Special Collections & Archives
University Library
California State University, Northridge
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330-8326
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives
Title: Judge Julian Beck Collection
Creator:
Beck, Julian, 1905-
Identifier/Call Number: URB.JB
Extent:
2.34 linear feet
Date (inclusive): 1926-1986
Abstract: Julian Beck was a teacher, politician,
and judge in Los Angeles and was instrumental in the establishment of San Fernando Valley
State College, now known as California State University, Northridge. Documented in the
collection are Beck's family life, judicial and legislative services, his key role in the
founding of CSUN, and his wide-ranging involvement in community activities. Records in the
collection include assembly bills, correspondence, identification cards, newspaper
clippings, photographs, and scrapbooks.
Language of Material: English
Biographical Information:
Judge Julian Beck was born on May 13, 1905 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He moved to
California in 1923 and has been a resident of the city of San Fernando since 1935. He
obtained an A.B. degree in economics from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1929,
followed by an M.A. degree in history from the University of Southern California and an
LL.B. degree in law from Loyola University, both in 1935.
Beck was a teacher in the Los Angeles City High School District from 1931 to 1946. During
this period, he served on the Board of Directors of the High School Teachers Association and
was Director-at-Large of the Association of California Classroom Teachers. He engaged in
private law practice in San Fernando after successfully passing the 1935 California Bar
Exam.
Beck's political career started with his election to the California State Assembly from
the 41st Assembly District in 1942. He was reelected six times and served two terms as the
Democratic floor leader in the Assembly. As a member of the State legislature, he
orchestrated a number of bills including those which secured the opening and widening of
Truman Street, establishment of the first Municipal and Superior Court in the San Fernando
Valley, initiation of the San Fernando Fair and the imposition of the death penalty for
extreme offenses by saboteurs.
In 1953, Beck was appointed judge of the Los Angeles Municipal Court by Earl Warren, then
Governor of California and later Supreme Court Justice of the United States. In November
1958, Beck was handpicked by Governor-elect Edmund G. Brown as Legislative Secretary. Nine
months later, Governor Brown appointed him Superior Court Judge of Los Angeles County in the
San Fernando court which Beck helped create.
Judge Beck was instrumental in the founding of San Fernando Valley State College, later to
be renamed California State University, Northridge (CSUN). An Assemblyman in 1952, Beck
arranged a meeting to hear testimony on the need to establish a state college in the San
Fernando Valley. The following year, he co-authored a resolution requesting the California
State Department of Education investigate sites for the construction of the college. The
resolution was approved by both houses of the legislature. Beck was one of the founding
members of CSUN's Advisory Board and assumed its chairmanship from September 1958 to May
1975.
Beck was much-admired for his contribution to CSUN by the faculty and student body alike.
His generous donation to the college generated many awards and scholarships. In 1965, Beck
was presented with the President's Distinguished Service Award. He was made an honorary
member of Phi Kappa Phi, the CSUN chapter of the National Honor Society in 1975 and named
"Distinguished Alumnus for 1983." The Judge Julian Beck Seminar Room located in Sierra Hall,
Room 202 was dedicated in his honor in 1984.
Following thirty-two years of judicial and legislative service, Beck retired from the
bench in 1975, but remained active in civic and community affairs. He was a life member of
the San Fernando Elks, a past-president of the San Fernando Lions Club, YMCA and Shrine
Club. He was also past-deputy district governor of Lions International, past-director of the
San Fernando Chamber of Commerce and a former vice-president of the San Fernando Valley Bar
Association. Judge Beck passed away in 1992.
Scope and Contents
Julian Beck was a teacher, politician, and judge in Los Angeles and was instrumental in the
establishment of San Fernando Valley State College, now known as California State
University, Northridge. Documented in the collection are Beck's family life, judicial and
legislative services, his key role in the founding of CSUN, and his wide-ranging involvement
in community activities. Records in the collection include assembly bills, correspondence,
identification cards, newspaper clippings, photographs, and scrapbooks. Judge Beck's
accomplishments and popularity are further highlighted with a number of certificates and
letters of commendation, including those from President Ronald Reagan and Governor George
Deukmejian. Of particular interest are the documents pertaining to Beck's association with
CSUN, which record his long-standing service to the University. Also of interest are the
related records on the history of CSUN from its infancy.
Electronic Format:
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 not 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
Julian Beck, 1987.
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 Marshall and Xiaoquan Han, June 1987
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Documents
Photographs
Scrapbooks
Audiovisual materials
Box 1, Folder 1
Biographical, Assembly Bills,
1943-1947
Box 1, Folder 2
Biographical, California State Assembly,
1983
Box 1, Folder 3
Biographical, Certificates,
1927-1984
Box 1, Folder 4
Biographical, General Correspondence,
1931-1958
Box 1, Folder 5
Biographical, General Correspondence,
1959-1986
Box 1, Folder 6
Biographical, Identification Cards
Box 1, Folder 7
Biographical, Newspaper Clippings,
1939-1951
Box 1, Folder 8
Biographical, Newspaper Clippings,
1952-1983
Box 1, Folder 9
Biographical, Retirement, Correspondence,
1975
Box 1, Folder 10
Biographical, Retirement, Newspaper Clippings,
1975
Box 1, Folder 11
Biographical, Scrapbook,
1932-1936
Box 1, Folder 12
Biographical, Scrapbook,
1937-1940
Box 2, Folder 1
Biographical, Scrapbook,
1942
Box 2, Folder 2
Biographical, Scrapbook,
December 1950-March 1951
Box 2, Folder 3
Biographical, Scrapbook,
April 1951-June 1951
Box 2, Folder 4
Biographical, Scrapbook,
1952
Box 2, Folder 5
California State University, Northridge, Correspondence,
May 1965-June 1985
Box 2, Folder 6
California State University, Northridge, Correspondence,
March 1986-December 1986
Box 2, Folder 7
California State University, Northridge, Newspaper Clippings,
May 1965-January 1986
Box 2, Folder 8
California State University, Northridge, History,
1953-1965
Box 2, Folder 9
San Fernando Lions Club,
May 1975-January 1986
Box 2, Folder 10
San Fernando Lions Club, Newspaper Clippings,
1975-1986
Box 3, Folder 1
Yearbook, Fiftieth Anniversary of San Fernando High School,
1869-1946
Box 4, Folder 1, Item 1
C.M.T.C. F.A. Staff posing in the lawn in front of their barracks, Julian
Beck on far left of photograph,
1926
Box 4, Folder 1, Item 2
Julian Beck getting conferred at the University of Southern
California,
1935
Box 4, Folder 1, Item 3
Opening of San Fernando Valley Branch of Supreme Court with John Clark
(Judge), Julian Beck and James Reitz (President Of San Fernando Valley Bar
Association),
1940
Box 4, Folder 1, Item 4
Dressed in silk costumes Julian Beck joins other Judge in
performance,
1961
Box 4, Folder 1, Item 5
Beck posing in front of the State Assembly building in
Sacramento,
1945
Box 4, Folder 1, Item 6
Beck joins Gallon Club after donating a total of 8 pints of blood, the eighth
pint is the initiation into the club,
1945
Box 4, Folder 2
Campaign for State Assembly Photographs
Box 4, Folder 2, Item 7
Reception for Beck's re-election campaign (for State Assembly),
1950
Box 4, Folder 2, Item 8
Officials and Legislators locating site for San Fernando State College
(SFSC),
ca. 1950-ca. 1959
Box 4, Folder 2, Item 9
Campaigning for State Assembly, in photograph with Holefield and Herman Bayon
taken on ranch,
1950
Box 4, Folder 2, Item 10
Family photo: at dinner with his wife and two daughters during re-election
campaign for State Assembly,
1952
Box 4, Folder 2, Item 11
Family photo: in living room with wife and two daughters; for re-election
campaign for State Assembly,
1952
Box 4, Folder 2, Item 12
Portrait of Judge Julian Beck
Box 4, Folder 3, Item 13
Opening of the San Fernando Valley Courthouse,
1952
Box 4, Folder 3, Item 14
Municipal court in Van Nuys, Beck reads documents on bench,
1955
Box 4, Folder 3, Item 15
Judge in chambers during work break,
1955
Box 4, Folder 3, Item 16
San Fernando Valley Shrine Club
Box 4, Folder 3, Item 17
Judges Night at the Valley Shrine Club (Left- Right) Beck, Ware (U.S.
Marshall), Barner (Judge), Director of Ally Mckissor
Box 4, Folder 3, Item 18
Van Nuys Board Meeting (Left- Right) Richard Nevins (member of state board of
equalization), Beck (Judge), Alan Cranston (State Controller),
1960
Box 4, Folder 4
Miscellaneous Photographs
Box 4, Folder 4, Item 19
Family photo: holding baby granddaughter, Sophia,
1968
Box 4, Folder 4, Item 20
Elbow room, Sacramento: party for Governor's staff shaking hands with
Adrienne Sausset (Governor's personal secretary on right),
1963
Box 4, Folder 4, Item 21
Touring: Beck walking in the Parthenon during his visit to
Athens,
1964
Box 4, Folder 4, Item 22
Portrait: Beck at the age of 79,
1984
Box 4, Folder 4, Item 23
San Fernando Valley State College advisory board at the initial meeting of
trust fund (Standind L-R) Simann, Hoffman, Duckeff, Prator and Fuller: (Seated L-R)
Freedman, Kissenger, Tuffh, Beck, and McNully,
1966
Box 4, Folder 4, Item 24
Retirement: Beck (Right) talking with Jim Corman (Congressman) on a roadside
stony bench,
1980
Box 4, Folder 5
Miscellaneous Photographs
Box 4, Folder 5, Item 25
Half-length photograph; Beck against the backdrop of a jungle,
January 1966
Box 4, Folder 5, Item 26
Family: Beck (right) posing with his family members in his
office,
1945
Box 4, Folder 5, Item 27
Portrait: taken when Beck was Superior Court Judge
Box 4, Folder 5, Item 28
San Fernando Valley University: Beck (left) posing with Ralph Prator
(President) and Glen Dumke (Chancellor)
Box 4, Folder 5, Item 29
Family Photo: Julie Ann (Beck's daughter) posing among a group of passengers
in front of a jetliner on her first trip to Europe
Box 4, Folder 5, Item 30
Family Portrait: Beck (left), Daughter Judy (center) and Son in law Frank
(right),
ca. 1970-ca. 1979
Box 4, Folder 5, Item 31
Graduation ceremony at California State University Northridge (CSUN): (L-R)
Moreffi (speaker); Walter Mirisch; Julian Beck,
1972
Box 4, Folder 6, Item 32
Class Reunion: Beck at Class reunion (Class of 1938) of San Fernando High
School - Taken at Odyssee Restaurant,
1978
Box 4, Folder 6, Item 33
Portrait: Beck in Retirement,
1980
Box 4, Folder 6, Item 34
25th Anniversary of Cal State Los Angeles: (L-R) Dr. Ralph Prator (former
president); Mrs. Prator; Mrs. Mary Cleary; Dr. James Cleary (current president);
Julian Beck (former Superior Court Judge); on the lawn outside the University Student
Union
Box 4, Folder 6, Item 35
Beck honored by CSUN: Sharing a joke with the audience at the new Judge
Julian Beck Seminar Room dedication; (L-R) Dr. Eugene Price (Political Science
professor/ Department Chair); James W. Cleary (President); Julian Beck,
1984
Box 4, Folder 6, Item 36
Beck honored by CSUN: James W. Cleary (Left - President) proposing a toast to
Beck, in recognition of Beck's contribution to the establishment of CSUN and support
of the university students
Box 4, Folder 6, Item 37
Beck speaking at the dedication of the Judge Beck Seminar room, James W.
Cleary (left),
1984
Box 4, Folder 6, Item 38
Beck honored by CSUN; Beck speaking at the dedication of the Judge Beck
Seminar Room for CSUN's Political Science Department, James Cleary (Right -
President),
1984
