Jump to Content

Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
View entire collection guide What's This?
Search this collection
Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Conditions Governing Access note
  • Conditions Governing Use
  • Preferred Citation
  • Biographical note
  • Scope and Contents note
  • Arrangement note
  • Processing note

  • Language of Material: English
    Contributing Institution: Pepperdine University. Special Collections and University Archives.
    Title: James K. Hahn Papers
    Identifier/Call Number: 0005
    Physical Description: 80 Linear Feet (72 boxes, 9 oversize boxes, 4 oversize pictures)
    Date (inclusive): 1905-2006
    Date (bulk): 1990-2006
    Abstract: James Kenneth Hahn has served in numerous public office positions including Deputy City Attorney (1975–1979), City Controller (1981–1985), City Attorney (1985–2001), and Mayor of Los Angeles (2001-2005). The collection includes press clippings, press releases, Hahn's mayoral files, budget books, business plans, audio and video recordings, awards and plaques, as well as personal memorabilia. The bulk of the materials date from 1990 to 2006.
    Physical Location: Pepperdine University. Special Collections and University Archives.
    Language of Material: Materials are in English.

    Conditions Governing Access note

    COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE: Advance notice required for access.

    Conditions Governing Use

    Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.

    Preferred Citation

    [Box/folder# or item name], James K. Hahn papers, Collection no. 0005, Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Pepperdine University.

    Biographical note

    James Kenneth Hahn was born on July 3, 1950, in Los Angeles, California. Hahn comes from a family of public servants. His father, Kenneth Hahn, served as the Los Anegeles City Councilman and as Los Angeles County Supervisor for 40 years. His uncle, Gordon Hahn, was a state assemblyman and a Los Angeles City Councilman. His cousin, Dale Hahn, serves as Superior Court judge in San Mateo County and his sister, Janice Hahn, is the Congressional Representative for California's 36th District.
    Hahn grew up in the Morningside Park district of Inglewood near South Los Angeles. He attended Pepperdine University where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in English and a minor in Journalism in 1972. He continued his education at Pepperdine School of Law where he received his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree in 1975.
    After law school, Hahn worked in the Office of the City Attorney as a Prosecutor and Deputy City Attorney until 1979. At this point, he turned to private practice with a colleague, Robert Horner, until 1981. In 1981, Hahn was elected City Controller of Los Angeles and held the post until 1985. Hahn went on to serve as the Los Angeles City Attorney until 2001. He used his time in office to create the Tobacco Enforcement Project, Citywide Nuisance Abatement Program, and Kid Watch LA. He focused on gang activity, domestic violence laws, and the tobacco and gun industries.
    On June 5, 2001, Hahn narrowly defeated former California Speaker of the Assembly Antonio Villaraigosa in a run-off election to succeed Mayor Richard Riordan. Hahn assumed office on July 2, 2001, as 40th Mayor of the City of Los Angeles. During his time as Mayor, he focused on homeland security, public safety, housing and economic development, education, youth and families, energy and the environment, transportation, and city services. He remained in office until 2005, when he lost to Villaraigosa.
    After leaving office, Hahn accepted the position of a managing director and partner at the firm Chadwick Saylor & Company. On November 5, 2008, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Hahn to fill a vacant judgeship in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Presently, he presides over Small Claims cases in Santa Monica.

    Scope and Contents note

    The collection contains materials that span Hahn's sixteen years as the Los Angeles City Attorney to his four years as Los Angeles Mayor. Included are press clippings, Hahn's mayoral files, press releases, budget books, business plans, audio and video recordings, awards and plaques, and personal memorabilia.

    Arrangement note

    The collection is arranged in the following series: 1. Press Clippings 2. City Attorney Press Clippings 3. City Attorney Items 4. Mayor's Chronological Files 5. Media Advisories and Misc. Folder 6. Press Releases 7. Miscellaneous Papers for Jim Hahn 8. Budget Books 9. Final Reports with Media Presentations 10. VHS Tapes 11. Audio Tapes 12. CD Digital Photos 13. Awards and Plaques 14. Miscellaneous City Attorney Office/ Mayor Office Files 15. Oversize Items.

    Processing note

    The collection was originally processed by Morgan Honeycutt in 2008. In 2012, Katie Richardson updated some of the information and encoded the finding aid.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Correspondence
    Political campaigns -- California -- History -- 20th century
    Legislation -- California
    Elections -- California -- Los Angeles
    Urban policy -- California -- Los Angeles -- History -- 20th century
    City planning -- California -- Los Angeles -- History -- 20th century
    Speeches, addresses, etc., American -- 20th century
    Los Angeles (Calif.) -- Politics and government -- 20th century
    Clippings
    Reports
    Press releases
    Memorandums
    Los Angeles (Calif.) -- History
    Plaques
    Publications
    Financial records
    Audiocassettes
    Videocassettes
    Hahn, James K. -- Archives
    Los Angeles (Calif.). Office of the Mayor
    Los Angeles (Calif.). City Attorney's Office
    Los Angeles (Calif.). Office of Controller