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Joseph L. Wyatt collection of California Democratic Council records, 1953-1967
1082
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Title: Joseph L. Wyatt collection of California Democratic Council records
Collection number: 1082
Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
7.0 linear ft.
(14 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1953-1967
Abstract: The California Democratic Council (CDC), a federation of local volunteer clubs, was established in 1953. CDC endorsements
and campaign support led to the first full statewide slate of Democrats in 40 years (1954) and also figured prominently in
the election of Edmund G. “Pat” Brown as California governor in 1958. Joseph Lucian Wyatt, Jr. (b.1924) was the secretary
of the California Democratic Council (1953-57), and president (1957-61). He was also the California delegate at the Democratic
National Conventions in 1956, 1960, 1964, and 1968. The collection consists of correspondence, clippings, and printed material
related to the formation, development, and activities of the California Democratic Council (CDC) between 1953 and 1967, and
materials related to another organization, the Dime-A-Day Democracy Group.
Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library Special
Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Creator:
Wyatt, Joseph L., 1924-
Open for research. STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact UCLA Library
Special Collections for paging information.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical object belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright, are
retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright
and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Gift of Joseph L. Wyatt, Jr., 1969.
[Identification of item], Joseph L. Wyatt Collection of California Democratic Council Records (Collection 1082). Department
of Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, UCLA.
Joseph Lucian Wyatt, Jr. was born in Chicago, Illinois, February 21, 1924; attended Northwestern University (AB, 1947) and
Harvard Law School (LL.B., 1949); became a lawyer and sole practitioner, Los Angeles, California, in 1949; member California
State Personnel Board, 1961-71; Director, Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce, 1956-59; secretary, California Democratic
Council (CDC), 1953-57; president, CDC, 1957-61; California delegate, Democratic National Convention, 1956, 1960, 1964, and
1968.
The California Democratic Council (CDC), a federation of local volunteer clubs, was established in 1953; under the direction
of founding president Alan Cranston, the CDC was able to balance its electoral and legislative goals; CDC endorsements and
campaign support led to the first full statewide slate of Democrats in 40 years (1954) and also figured prominently in the
election of Edmund G. “Pat” Brown as California governor in 1958; as the CDC's focus became increasingly ideological, tensions
led to a steady decline in its membership and presence in California politics; membership peaked at 75,000 in 1964.
Collection consists of correspondence, clippings, and printed material related to the formation, development, and activities
of the California Democratic Council (CDC) between 1953 and 1967. Materials relate to Wyatt's involvement in the CDC as its
secretary and president. Also contains materials related to another organization, the Dime-A-Day Democracy Group.
Partial List of Correspondents in Collection
Anderson, Glenn M.
lieutenant-governor of California
Bowlest Chester
Brown, Edmund G. (Pat)
governor of California
Burns, Hugh
California State Senate
Cranston Alan
Doyle, Clyde
California congressman
Eagle, Clair
California senator
Galbraith, John Kenneth
Gore Albert
Tennessee senator
Hanna, Richard T.
California state legislator
Johnson, Lyndon Baines
Senate majority leader
Kefauver, Estes
Senator
Miller, George
California congressman
Mosk, Stanley
judge and California state attorney-general
Pitchess, Peter J.
Los Angeles County sherrif
Rees, Thomas
California state legislator
Richards, Richard
California state legislator
Roosevelt, James
California congressman
Schleisenger, Arthur M. Jr.
Unruh, Jesse
California state legislator
Wagner, Robert F. Jr.
New York City mayor
Wyman, Rosalind
Los Angeles City councilwoman
Yarborough, Ralph
Texas senator
Yorty, Samuel
Los Angeles Mayor
Ziffren, Paul
Democratic national committeeman
CDC Officer: 1953-1965 [oral history transcript] / Wyatt, Joseph L., interviewee. UCLA Oral History Department interview, 1971.
Available at UCLA Library of Special Collections.
California Democratic Council Records (Collection 1389). Available at UCLA Library Special Collections.
UCLA Catalog Record ID:
3649313
Subjects and Indexing Terms
California Democratic Council--Archives.
Democratic Party (Calif.).
Wyatt, Joseph L., 1924- --Archives.
California--Politics and government, 1951- .