Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Inventory of the California State Heritage Task Force Records
R294
No online items
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Title: California State Heritage Task Force Records
Dates: 1979-1984
Collection number: R294
Creator:
California State Heritage Task Force
Collection Size:
2.75 cubic feet of textual records
Repository:
California State Archives
Sacramento, California
Abstract: Senate Concurrent Resolution 4 created the Heritage Task Force (HTF) in 1981 to study and recommend policies, programs, and
legislation to preserve and enhance California's architectural, cultural, and historic resources. The Heritage Task Force
(HTF) records consist of 2.75 cubic feet of textual material covering the period of 1978-1984. The records reflect background
information, working correspondence, and the development of the final reports produced for the State Legislature regarding
the status of California's cultural heritage.
Physical location: California State Archives
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
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.
[Identification of item], California Heritage Task Force Records, R294.[Series Number], [box and folder number], California
State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.
Acquisition and Custodial History
The California State Archives acquired the California Heritage Task Force Records according to state law.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 4 created the Heritage Task Force (HTF) in 1981. In 1980, Congress enacted Public Law 96-515,
as an amendment to the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, calling for the State Historic Preservation Officers to
prepare and implement a comprehensive statewide historic preservation plan. Authored by Senator Milton Marks, Senate Concurrent
Resolution 4 expressed the concern of historians, archeologists, and preservationists nationwide for a review, documentation,
and preservation of cultural resources. The HTF was established to study and recommend policies, programs, and legislation
to preserve and enhance California's architectural, cultural, and historic resources. The HTF's findings and recommendations
were presented to the legislature in 1984 as a formal report identifying problem areas and recommending a statewide preservation
policy and programs to preserve and enhance California's architectural, cultural, and historic resources.
The HTF received funding from a public/private partnership where organizations such as the National Trust for Historic Preservation
offered grant seed money, the State Office of Historic Preservation offered staff support, and non-profit preservation groups
such as Californians for Preservation Action offered their services and monetary support. Initially established as a one-year
task force, the HTF did not become fully staffed and funded until 1982. The final report was submitted to the Legislature
in 1984. In addition to the California Heritage Report, the HTF also produced reports titled California's Historical and
Cultural Resources as well as Heritage and Tourism in California.
The HTF consisted of sixteen members appointed by the Senate Rules Committee and the Speaker of the Assembly. Roger Holt,
an assistant Los Angeles City attorney, was appointed as chair of the task force and James Jones was hired to act as executive
director after providing similar services for the State of Oregon. SCR 4 specified that the members of the HTF represent
a broad spectrum of interests such as business, historic, archeology, architecture, government, and trade.
The HTF became aware that the breadth of issues and concerns needing attention were too large for a single committee to investigate
in the time allotted during the organizational phase. The HTF divided itself into three committees representing state and
local policy, financial incentives, and museums and education in order to produce a more detailed review. Paul Chase, an
archeological consultant, served as chair of the state and local policy committee; Peggy Hathaway, an attorney from Californians
for Preservation Action, served as chair of the financial incentive committee; and Tom Frye, director of the Oakland Museum
of California, served as chair of the museum and education committee.
The HTF disbanded in 1984 after the final report was delivered to the California State Legislature. Senator Milton Marks
and Assembly Member Sam Farr introduced many of the recommendations from the HTF during the 1983-1984 legislative session
to improve the state's management of its cultural resources.
The Heritage Task Force (HTF) records consist of 2.75 cubic feet of textual material. This record group is identified by
R294. The records are arranged into six series covering the period of 1978-1984. The records include out-of-state Office
of Historic Preservation materials, organizational files, state and local policy committee files, financial incentive committee
files, press and publication files, and reports. The collection is comprised of material submitted primarily by executive
director James Jones and Mark Ryser, legislative counsel to Senator Milton Marks. The records reflect background information,
working correspondence, and the development of the final reports produced for the State Legislature regarding the status of
California's cultural heritage.
The out-of-state Office of Historic Preservation material files, Series R294.1, represent the information culled from other
states focusing on their heritage laws and programs. Some states that replied to the HTF's request for information had more
established programs than others. Oregon and Louisiana offered extensive legislative examples while states such as Hawaii
and Pennsylvania offered extensive cultural resource material. Numerous State Historic Preservation Officers commented they
would be following the HTF's findings since they believed the state of California often led national trends in preservation.
The organizational committee files, Series R294.2, describe the development of the task force mission and the logistics of
completion. An official summary of the organizational committee is included in this series as well as the general correspondence
files of the committee and Jim Jones. A file of meeting agendas, minutes, and notes is also included.
The state and local policy committee files, Series R294.3, describe issues facing cultural resource management and the legal
statutes that could assist or dissuade governmental entities and the public from participating in preservation of historic
structures. A new field addressed by the HTF was underwater-archeology where they proposed policy to encourage preservation.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Historic Building Code, and Redevelopment Law are some of the major policies
that the committee suggested more substantial recommendations to. The legislative files reflect the large number of bills
introduced after the HTF's final report by Senator Milton Marks in order to implement the task force's findings.
The financial incentive committee files, Series R294.4, describe the types of financial incentives the State could make available
in order to make historic preservation a financial benefit as well as financial disincentives to prevent the destruction of
historic structures. The funding and grant files reflect how the task force was funded by a combination of federal, state,
and private resources and the grant file contains copies of some grant applications and informative background material.
The press and publications files, Series R294.5, contain newspaper clippings, press releases, and other published material
sent to the task force by interested parties. The newspaper clippings reflect preservation, archeological, heritage, and
tourism issues that concerned many communities in California. Some articles also reference the final report issued by the
task force as well as the supplementary reports.
The report files, Series R294.6, contain copies of the final report delivered to the State Legislature, the report of California
Historical and Cultural Resources written by Laura Mintier, the Executive Summary written by James Jones, and the Heritage
and Tourism in California written by Paula Huntley and Hisashi Sugaya. The purpose of the task force was to produce a final
report of their findings and recommendations for preservation of California's heritage. The California Historical and Cultural
Resource report, released in 1983, summarized the findings of a preliminary research project to identify and summarize readily
available information. This was a limited report to assess what was already known about California's historical and cultural
resources. The report on Heritage and Tourism in California developed as the economic impact on preservation activities became
apparent and how tourism may be able to mitigate the negative aspects while encouraging financial benefits. Also included
in this series are files containing public responses to a questionnaire for legislative, regulatory, or policy recommendations
to the rough draft of the report. Written comments on the preliminary and final drafts from task force members are also included.
Related Collections at the California State Archives
Sam Farr Papers
Department of Parks and Recreation Records
Milton Marks Papers
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
California Heritage Task Force
California History
Archeology
Historic preservation Law and legislation