Descriptive Summary
Administrative Information
Biography
Scope and Content
Arrangement
Indexing Terms
Related Material
Descriptive Summary
Title: John T. Knox papers,
Date (inclusive): 1960-1980
Collection number: LP197:77-159
Creator:
Knox, John T.
Extent:
4.15 cubic feet
Repository:
California State Archives
Abstract: John T. Knox, Democrat, was a State Assembly Member, 1960-1980. During his term in the Legislature, Assembly Member Knox sponsored
legislation concerning, the reorganization of local government, the environment, the Bay Area, and medical plans.
Physical location: California State Archives
Language:
English.
Administrative Information
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication
is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility
for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives
collections.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], John T. Knox papers, LP197:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of
State, Sacramento, California.
Acquisition Information
The California State Archives acquired the John T. Knox Papers following his final Assembly term.
Alternative Forms of Material Available
Some of these records are on microfilm at the California State Archives.
Biography
John T. Knox, Democrat, was a State Assembly Member, 1960-1980. His 11th District included cities within Contra Costa County.
Knox was born on September 30, 1924 in Reno, Nevada and established residence in California in 1929. He attended public schools
in Sacramento and Alhambra before going on to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree from Occidental College, and a degree in Law
from Hastings College of the Law. He was an attorney by profession. Assembly Member Knox served in the U.S. Army Air Force
from March 1943 to December 1945. On December 27, 1949 he married Jean Henderson. They had three children: John, Charlotte
Marie, and Mary Lucretia.
Assembly Member Knox served as President of the Richmond Junior Chamber of Commerce and was a member of the Richmond Chamber
of Commerce. He was also been a member of the NAACP, as well as several fraternal and veterans associations. Assembly Member
Knox served on the Contra Costa County Democratic Central Committee and on the Executive Board of the Democratic State Central
Committee. In addition, he served on the Board of Trustees of Occidental College and the Sir Francis Drake Commission. In
1970, Assembly Member Knox was the recipient of the Bay Area Council Environmental Award. During his last year in the State
Assembly he was awarded the League of California Cities Distinguished Service Award.
Assembly Member Knox was elected to the State Assembly of California during a special election on November 8, 1960. The special
election was held in order to replace S.C. Masterson who resigned from the Assembly. On January 19, 1976, he was elected
Speaker Pro Tempore and was re-elected each year until 1980 when he retired from office. During his term in the Legislature,
Assembly Member Knox sponsored legislation concerning, the reorganization of local government, the environment, the Bay Area,
and medical plans. According to the California Legislature at Sacramento (Handbooks), he severed on the following committees:
California State Assembly, 1960-1980
-
Standing Committees
- Constitutional Amendments, 1971-1972
- Criminal Justice, 1975-1980
- *Vice Chair, 1979-1980
- Criminal Procedure, 1961-1967
- Finance and Insurance, 1963-1974
- Government Administration, 1971-1972
- Governmental Efficiency and Economy, 1961-1965
- *Vice Chair, 1961
- Industrial Relations, 1961
- Intergovernmental Relations, 1970
- Judiciary, 1975
- Local Government, 1969-1976, 1979-1980
- *Chair, 1969-1975
- Municipal and County Government, 1963-1967
- *Chair, 1963-1967
- Policy Research Management, 1979-1980
- Revenue and Taxation, 1961-1963
- Rules, 1977-1980
- *Ex officio member, 1977-1980
- Ways and Means, 1973-1974, 1976-1980
-
Select Committees
- County Jurisdiction, 1973-1974
- *Chair, 1973-1974
- Fire Services, 1976
- Manpower Development, 1972-1974
- Revision of the Corporations Code, 1973-1975
- *Chair, 1973-1975
-
Joint Committees
- Open Space, 1969-1973
- *Chair, 1969-1970
- Revision of the Penal Code, 1977-1980
-
Joint Legislative Committees
- Bay Area Regional Organization, 1969-1970
- *Chair, 1969-1970
-
Special Subcommittee
- Community Development, 1976-1978
Scope and Content
The John T. Knox Papers consist of Assembly Bill Files, 1968-1976. The bill files document his legislative activity during
only a portion of his term as a member of the California State Legislature. The bills introduced by Assembly Member Knox include
a wide array of subjects. He authored bills concerning pollution, the environment, and the San Francisco Bay Area. A number
of other bills focus on special education, local government, criminal justice, city development, employment, corporations,
workers compensation, health care, insurance, property, and income taxes.
Arrangement
Organized into one series of bill files then arranged chronologically by Legislative session and bill number.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been associated with these materials in the Archives'
automated public access system (currently in development, July 2004).
Subjects
Knox, John T.
California - - Legislature - - Assembly
Local government - - Law and Legislation
Environmental policy
Related Material
Additional records may be found at the Bancroft Library, University California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, 94720-6000
and the California State Library, Library and Courts Building II, 900 N Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.