Inventory of the James L. Ellis Papers

Archives Staff

California State Archives

1020 "O" Street

Sacramento, California 95814

Phone: (916) 653-2246

Fax: (916) 653-7363

Email: ArchivesWeb@sos.ca.gov

URL: http://www.sos.ca.gov/archives/

Inventory of the James L. Ellis Papers

Collection number: See series description

California State Archives

Office of the Secretary of State

Sacramento, California

Processed by:: Archives Staff
Date Completed:: November 2004
Encoded by:: Lola Aguilar

Descriptive Summary

Title: James L. Ellis papers

Dates: 1977-1988

Collection number: See series description

Creator: Ellis, James L.

Collection Size: 5.25 cubic feet.

Repository: California State Archives

Sacramento, California

Abstract: James "Jim" L Ellis, Republican, was a State Assembly Member, 1977-1980, and a State Senator, 1981-1988. The James L. Ellis Papers consist of 5.25 cubic feet of records reflecting Ellis's activities during his time as both an Assembly Member and a Senator.

Physical location: California State Archives

Languages: Languages represented in the collection: 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], James L. Ellis papers, LP[number]:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.

Acquisition Information

California State Archives acquired the James L. Ellis Papers following his final term in the California State Legislature.

Biography

James "Jim" L Ellis, Republican, was a State Assembly Member, 1977-1980, and a State Senator, 1981-1988. He represented El Cajon, La Mesa, Santee, and parts of the City of San Diego within San Diego County in the 77th Assembly District and in the 39th Senate District.

Ellis was born on October 28, 1928 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. During World War II, he moved with his family to Colorado, where he completed high school and attended Western State College and Colorado AM College. He received a B.A. in Political Science. In 1949, Ellis was accepted into the Naval Aviation Cadet Flight Training program, receiving his wings and commission at Pensacola, Florida in 1950. He served as a carrier pilot until his retirement with the rank of Commander in 1970. He holds two Distinguished Flying Cross Medals, a Bronze Star, eleven Air Medals, and three Navy Commendation Medals. During his naval career, Ellis attended the United States Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island, and the United States Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, California.

Ellis married Barbara Gilligan on December 31, 1955 with whom he had four children: Jim, Gay, Jon, and Merrilee. He first moved to San Diego in 1957. After his retirement from the Navy in 1970, Ellis established two family-owned and operated businesses.

In 1973, Ellis successfully ran for the San Diego City Council and served until his election to the State Assembly in 1976. He was also a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Quiet Birdmen, the Military Order of World Wars, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Daedalians.

James L. Ellis won election to the State Assembly in 1976 and served through 1980. He was then elected to the State Senate, where he served until 1988.

According to the California Legislature at Sacramento (Handbooks), Ellis served on the following committees:

California State Assembly, 1977-1980

Standing Committees
Finance, Insurance, and Commerce, 1979-1980
Labor, Employment, and Consumer Affairs, 1977-1980
Local Government, 1977-1978
Resources, Land Use, and Energy, 1977-1978
Ways and Means, 1979-1980
Subcommittees
Unemployment-Disability Insurance, 1979-1980
Ways and Means Subcommittee on Education, 1979-80
Select Committees
Veterans Affairs, 1979-80

California State Senate, 1981-1988

Standing Committees
Banking and Commerce, 1981-1982
*Vice Chair, 1981-1982
Budget and Fiscal Review, 1987-1988
Business and Professions, 1981-1982
Constitutional Amendments, 1983-1987
*Chair, 1983-1987
Elections, 1985-1988
Elections and Reapportionment, 1981-1984
Governmental Organization, 1981-1982
Housing and Urban Affairs, 1983-1986
Revenue and Taxation, 1985-1987
*Vice Chair, 1985-1987
Rules, 1987-1988
Transportation, 1981-1988
*Vice Chair, 1981-1988
Senate Subcommittees
Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee on Education, 1987-1988
1992 California Quincentennial, 1988
Select Committees
Border Issues, Drug Trafficking, and Contraband, 1987-1988
*Vice Chair
California's Wine Industry, 1987-1988
Small Business Enterprises, 1984-1988
Southern California Transportation Problems, 1981-1983
State Procurement and Expenditure Practices, 1983-1988
Tourism and Aviation, 1987-1988
Joint Committees
Campaign and Election Reform, 1985-1986
State's Economy, 1983-1988
Rules, 1988

Senator Ellis did not seek reelection after completing his term of office in 1988. As of 2004, he continues to serve the public; for example, he serves as an advisor to the Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation.

Scope and Content

The James L. Ellis Papers consist of 5.25 cubic feet of records reflecting Ellis's activities during his time as both an Assembly Member and a Senator. The records contain Assembly and Senate bill files, 1977-1988. The bill files document his legislative activity during his term as a member of the California State Legislature. The bills introduced by James L. Ellis include a wide array of subjects. He authored bills concerning transportation, border issues, education, law enforcement, campaign reform, and coastal development.

Arrangement

Bill files are arranged chronologically by legislative session and numerically by bill number.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Ellis, James L.

Border issues and public policy

Gun control

Transportation

Series Description

File folders: LP257, LP258

Series 1. Bill Files 1977-1988

Physical Description: 97 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by legislative session and numerically by bill number.

Scope and Content Note

Bill files created by James L. Ellis may include bill analyses, amendments, conflict statements, correspondence, position statements, author's statements, press releases, newspaper clippings, background information, and reports.

1977-1978: AB389-AB3829; ACA61-ACA81; ACR56-ACR97 (2ff) LP257:217-218

1979-1980: AB176-AB3458; ACA76; ACR38; HR12; HR33 (2ff) LP257:219-220

1981-1982: SB146-SB1706 LP257:221-236

1981-1982: SB1884-SB2056; SCA11; SCR12-SCR46; SJR3-SJR47 (24ff) LP258:1-8

1983-1984: SB24-SB2334; SCA4-SCA5; SCR32; SJR17-SJR52 SB21X (29ff) LP258:9-37

1985-1986: SB212-SB2535; SCA13; SCA28; SCR103; SJR1; SJR4 (23ff) LP258:38-60

1987-1988: SB95-SB2795; SCA5; SCR17; SCR101; SJR1 (17ff) LP258:61-77

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