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Zoraster (Albert) Collection
URB.AZ
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Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives
Title: Albert Zoraster Collection
Creator:
Zoraster, Albert
Identifier/Call Number: URB.AZ
Extent:
1.51 linear feet
Date (inclusive): 1948-1979
Date (bulk): 1951-1979
Abstract: A resident of the San Fernando Valley
from 1920 to the mid-1970s, Albert Zoraster devoted much of his life to improving the
quality of services in the community, particularly in the areas of transportation and
municipal services. An active committee volunteer, Mr. Zoraster worked with the Los Angeles
City Board of Education, the Mayor's Valley Transportation Committee, Los Angeles City
Department of Airports, Valley Presbyterian Hospital, and California State University,
Northridge. The
Albert Zoraster Collection documents various
aspects of Zoraster's civic career, covering such topics as Birmingham High School, city
planning, land use, the proposed Malibu Freeway Project, transportation in the Valley, and
the development of the Van Nuys Airport.
Language of Material: English
As a resident of the San Fernando Valley from 1920 to the mid-1970s, Albert Zoraster
devoted much of his life to improving the quality of services in the community, particularly
in the areas of transportation and municipal services. An active committee volunteer, Mr.
Zoraster worked with the Los Angeles City Board of Education, the Mayor's Valley
Transportation Committee, Los Angeles City Department of Airports, Valley Presbyterian
Hospital and California State University, Northridge.
From 1954 to 1975, he served as the director of the West Van Nuys Chamber of Commerce, and
served as president of the organization from 1958-1959, again from 1962-1963 and again in
1965. Mr. Zoraster was also actively involved with California State University, Northridge,
serving as president of the CSUN Presidents Club from 1971-1973, a member and trustee of the
CSUN Foundation in 1973-1974, and a member of the CSUN Advisory Club from 1973-1975. Some of
his contributions to CSUN include the establishment of the Zoraster Pioneer Scholarship Fund
and the Zoraster Endowment for Adaptive Physical Education, as well as a number of monetary
donations to CSUN's Urban Archives Center.
Mr. Zoraster was a member and leader of several Valley rotary clubs and chambers of
commerce including the Van Nuys Rotary Club which he was a charter member of from 1954-1975,
and the Van Nuys Chamber of Commerce which he was a member of from 1928-1975. He also served
on many advisory committees for the improvement of the Valley, most notably, the Industrial
Association of the San Fernando Valley [now the Valley Industry and Commerce Association].
He received various civic awards, including the prestigious Fernando Award in 1975 for his
philanthropy. Zoraster continued to donate his time to Valley causes throughout his
retirement until his death after a long battle with cancer in April 1995.
The
Albert Zoraster Collection documents various aspects of
Zoraster's civic career, covering such topics as Birmingham High School, city planning, land
use, the proposed Malibu Freeway Project, transportation in the Valley, and the development
of the Van Nuys Airport. The collection is especially conducive to the study of legislative
lobbying techniques. The records date mostly from 1948-1979, with the majority of records
dating after 1951, and includes correspondence, maps, minutes, newspaper clippings,
photographs, press releases, reports, resolutions, and speeches. Of particular interest are
the files pertaining to the Malibu Freeway controversy, issues surrounding the growth of San
Fernando Valley Airport and the Van Nuys Airport, studies of population and housing in the
San Fernando Valley, the development of transportation systems in the San Fernando Valley,
and San Fernando Valley's early attempt to secede from Los Angeles County in 1976. The files
are arranged in alphabetical order by subject, and chronologically within.
Related Material
The collection is open for research 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
Albert Zoraster, 08/05/1980
For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style
manual, or see the
Citing Archival
Materials
guide.
Robert G. Marshall, Claire C. LaFia; November 1985
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Maps
Documents
Photographs