This collection documents the activities of Willis H. Warner, who was a member of the Orange County Board of Supervisors for 24 years, including the activities of the Board of Supervisors and numerous Orange County governmental units from the 1930s through the 1960s. The collection also contains personal materials, including the records of Warner's business, the Warner Hardware Store (Huntington Beach, California), and materials documenting his prolific career in the public sector working for the Westminster Drainage District, the Beach Protective Association of Huntington Beach, and other Orange County public institutions and political organizations. The bulk of the materials in this collection document a wide-range of political, economic, and social issues affecting Orange County, reflected in the activities of the various County agencies and departments. These documents were maintained by Warner in an expansive topical file. Some of the significant topics represented in these files are airport development; environmental issues such as air and water pollution, beach erosion, and shoreline development (including reports by consulting engineer R.L. Patterson); civil defense; county finances; employment; fire programs; land use and planning; freeway and highway development; county buildings; correctional facilities; parks and recreation; oil drilling; public health and hospitals, particularly the Orange County General Hospital; publicity and tourism; schools and school districts; and welfare and public works programs. The largest group of these files document the activities of the Flood Control, Sanitation, and Water Districts, which were of great interest to Warner.

Willis H. Warner was a prominent Orange County government official who served on the Orange County Board of Supervisors from 1939 to 1963 and was its chairman for almost 15 years. He is known for his extensive work on flood control and sanitation issues.

57 Linear Feet (60 boxes and 8 oversize folders)

Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact the Head of Special Collections and University Archives.

Collection is open for research.