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Title: Marian Bergeson papers
Date: circa 1915-2001,
Date (bulk): bulk 1982-1994
Collection Number: MS-R100
Creator:
Bergeson, Marian
Extent:
27.6 linear feet
(33 boxes, 1 rolled banner, and 1 oversized folder)
Languages: The collection is in English.
Repository:
University of California, Irvine. Library. Special Collections and Archives.
Irvine, California 92623-9557
Abstract: This collection comprises the administrative and legislative files of California state senator Marian Bergeson. Bergeson
was the first Republican woman elected to both the California State Assembly and California State Senate. During her years
in the California State Legislature, Bergeson was a strong advocate for education and children's issues. She has served Orange
County and the state of California as a school board representative, president of the California School Boards Association,
California state assemblywoman, California state senator, Orange County supervisor, secretary of Child Development and Education,
and member of the California Transportation Commission.
Important Information for Researchers
The collection is open for research.
Property rights reside with the University of California. Copyrights 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 Archives.
Marian Bergeson Papers. MS-R100. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California.
Gift of Marian Bergeson, 2002.
Processed by Cyndi Shein, 2008.
Marian Bergeson, the first Republican woman elected to both the California State Assembly and California State Senate, has
served Orange County and the state of California as a school board representative, president of the California School Boards
Association, California state assemblywoman, California state senator, Orange County supervisor, secretary of Child Development
and Education under Governor Pete Wilson, and member of the California Transportation Commission under Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
During her years in the California State Legislature Bergeson was a strong advocate for education and children's issues.
She served as vice chairman of both the assembly and senate education committees and also as a member of both the assembly
and senate budget sub-committees on education. As a member of the state senate she chaired the Committee on Local Government,
the Select Committee on Planning for California's Growth, and the Select Committee for Water Marketing. She also served on
committees for appropriations, ethics, health and human services, industrial relations, transportation, and others.
Among her many significant legislative achievements are:
- Bills to reform the teacher credentialing process, including the Marian Bergeson Beginning Teacher Assessment Act (BTSA).
- Critical Bond Funds for school facilities (SB 22, 1988).
- Bill to prevent "bracket creep" by indexing income taxes (AB 276, 1979).
- Reform to bring more certainty to the adoption process.
- "One strike you're out" for violent sex offenders.
- Cal/EPA streamlining bill.
- Joint author CAL ID fingerprinting for immediate identification.
- Immunity for local agencies from liability for accidents that occurred as a result of natural conditions.
- Upper Newport Bay sediment plan and channel basins development leading to maintenance dredging and sediment protections.
- Bergeson-Peace Infrastructure Bank, now called California Infrastructure Bank.
At the local level Bergeson served as a member of the Orange County Juvenile Justice Commission, Southern California Association
of Governments, CalOPTIMA, Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), Transportation Corridor Agencies, and the Orange
County Fire Authority. She also served on the Advisory Board of the Orange County Junior League, Orangewood Foundation for
abused and neglected children, Brigham Young University (BYU) Business Management Council, KOCE Foundation, EdVoice Policy
Board, University of California, Irvine (UCI) Foundation, UCI Leadership Council Center for the Study of Democracy, and Orange
County Technology Foundation.
As of 2008, Bergeson still serves on the California Transportation Commission. She also continues to act as an advocate for
children and education in the capacity of advisor or board member for several Orange County community organizations. The
Marian Bergeson Elementary School in Laguna Niguel and the Marian Bergeson Aquatic Center in Corona del Mar are named in her
honor. In 2007 she celebrated her 83rd birthday by skydiving.
Biography/Organization History
| 1925 August 31 | Born Marian Dorlene Crittenden in Salt Lake City, Utah to Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Herbert Crittenden. |
| 1943 | Graduates from University High School in Los Angeles. |
| 1945-1947 | Attends the University of California at Los Angeles. |
| 1949 | Earns BA in Education from Brigham Young University (BYU) in Salt Lake City. |
| 1950 | Marries Garth S. Bergeson. |
| 1965-1977 | Serves on the Newport-Mesa Board of Education. |
| 1974 | The Orange County School Boards Association creates the Marian Bergeson Award. |
| 1975 | Serves as president of the California School Boards Association. |
| 1978-1984 | Serves as California state assemblywoman, 70th and 74th districts. |
| 1984-1994 | Serves as California state senator. |
| 1987 | Named Woman of the Year by the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith. |
| Receives League of California Cities Legislator of the Year Award. | |
| Receives University of California Student Association Senator of the Year Award. | |
| 1988 | Named Senator of the Year by the California Business Properties Association. |
| 1989 | Receives Liberty Bell Award from the Orange County Bar Association. |
| 1991 | Receives Outstanding State Senator of the Year Award from the California School Boards Association. |
| 1992 | Receives Outstanding Citizen Award from Orange Coast College. |
| 1993 | Governor Wilson appoints her superintendent of Public Instruction. |
| Named Child Advocate of the Year by the Child Abuse Council of Orange County. | |
| Receives honorary Doctorate of Laws from Pepperdine University. | |
| 1995-1996 | Serves as Orange County supervisor, 5th District. |
| 1994 | Named top Republican senator by the California Journal. |
| Receives Women of Distinction Award from the Girl Scout Council of Orange County. | |
| 1995 | Receives BYU Distinguished Service to the Community Award. |
| 1996 | Governor Wilson appoints her secretary of Child Development and Education. |
| 1997 | Named Woman of the Year by the state assembly. |
| Receives Lifetime Achievement Award from the state senate | |
| 1998 | Appointed to State Board of Education. |
| Receives Women in Excellence Award in Education from the Boy Scouts of America. | |
| 1999 | Receives Shining Light Award for Children from the Child Abuse Prevention Council. |
| 1999-2001 | Serves as commissioner for the Commission on Local Governance for the 21st Century. |
| 2000 | Named National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) Humanitarian of the Year. |
| 2002 | Receives Celebration of Hope Award for the study of Huntington Disease. |
| 2003 | Receives UCI Medal, UCI's highest honor. |
| 2004 | Governor Schwarzenegger appoints her to the California Transportation Commission. |
| 2006 | Chairs the California Transportation Commission. |
Collection Scope and Content Summary
This collection comprises the administrative and legislative files of California state legislator Marian Bergeson. For the
most part these materials document her service in the assembly (1978-1984) and the senate (1984-1994). The administrative
records were primarily generated by Bergeson's senatorial offices. The biographical materials contain scrapbooks about her
years in the assembly and various materials about her years as senator. The campaign materials contain information about
her pursuit of the offices of lieutenant governor, senator, assemblywoman, Orange County supervisor, and Newport-Mesa School
Board representative. Most of the speeches in the collection were prepared and delivered during her service as senator.
The audiovisual materials document various radio and television appearances she made during her political career. Files on
bills and resolutions primarily reflect her legislative efforts in the senate. The subject files and publications reflect
her responsibilities and concerns as assemblywoman and senator.
This collection is arranged in eight series.
- Series 1. Administrative records, 1984-1994. 0.5 linear feet
- Series 2. Biographical materials, circa 1915-2001. 4.6 linear feet
- Series 3. Campaign and election records, 1967-1992. 3.4 linear feet
- Series 4. Senate and assembly bills and resolutions, 1982-1994. 9.2 feet
- Series 5. Speeches, 1985-1994. 1.5 linear feet
- Series 6. Subject files, 1976-1999. 4.5 linear feet
- Series 7. Publications, 1979-2000. 1.8 linear feet
- Series 8. Audiovisual materials, 1980-1998. 2.1 linear feet
Several government publications were removed from this collection and cataloged separately in UCI's online library catalog,
ANTPAC.
0.6 linear feet of campaign statements from 1985-1988 were discarded due to mold and extensive water damage.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Bergeson, Marian -- Archives.
California. Legislature. Senate.
Legislation -- California -- Orange County.
Bills, legislative -- California.
Bill drafting -- California.
Orange County (Calif.) -- Politics and government.
Genres and Formats of Materials
Scrapbooks -- 20th century.
Audio recordings -- 20th century.
Video recordings -- 20th century.
Photographic prints -- 20th century.
Legislators -- California.