Descriptive Summary
Biography
California State Assembly, 1973-1992
Scope and Content
Arrangement
Indexing Terms
Descriptive Summary
Title: William H. Lancaster papers
Dates: 1973-1992
Collection number: See series description
Creator:
Lancaster, William H.
Collection Size:
6 cubic feet.
Repository:
California State Archives
Abstract: Assembly Member William H. Lancaster, Republican, was elected to the Legislature in a special election in June 1972. The William
L. Lancaster Papers consist of 6 cubic feet of records reflecting Lancaster's activities during his time as an Assembly Member
from 1972 to 1992. The bill files document his legislative activity during his term as a member of the California State Legislature.
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], William H. Lancaster papers, LP[number]:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the
Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.
Acquisition Information
California State Archives acquired the William H. Lancaster Papers following his final term in the California State Legislature.
Biography
Assembly Member William H. Lancaster, Republican, was elected to the Legislature in a special election in June 1972, called
to fill a vacancy created when Pete Schabarum resigned to accept an appointment to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
For twenty years, Lancaster represented Assembly District 62, which includes Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties and is
comprised of the cities of Claremont, Covina, Charter Oak, Glendora, La Verne, San Dimas, Upland, and portions of Pomona and
West Covina.
Lancaster was born in Bakersfield on April 29, 1931 and attended public schools in Sacramento and Southern California, graduating
from Palm Springs High School. He worked as a retail clerk for Alpha Beta markets, as a driver and salesperson for Pepsi,
and as a salesperson for Sunshine Bakery. Lancaster was elected to the Duarte City Council in 1958, and served three terms
as Mayor during his seven-year tenure. He served as president of the Duarte Citizens' Association, as a member of the Board
of Directors of the Los Angeles County Sanitation District, and as Vice President of the League of California Contract Cities.
In 1965 Lancaster resigned from the Duarte City Council to serve as field representative for the California Taxpayers' Association,
a private non-profit organization located in Sacramento. In 1967, U.S. Congressman Charles E. Wiggins appointed Lancaster
as his district representative, where he gained experience in resolving problems between local government and constituents
and agencies and jurisdictions of the federal government. He held that position until his election to the Legislature in 1972.
In 1991, the California League of Cities named him Legislator of the Year in recognition of his efforts to protect city finances.
Lancaster retired from the Assembly in 1992 and died at the age of sixty-eight on January 2, 2000.In 2002, Assemblyman Dennis
Mountjoy (R-Monrovia) introduced Assembly Concurrent Resolution 2, which named the Foothill Freeway (210) from Duarte to the
Interstate 15 Freeway as the "William H. Lancaster Memorial Highway."
According to the California Legislature at Sacramento (Handbooks), William L. Lancaster served on the following committees:
California State Assembly, 1973-1992
-
Standing Committees
- Banking, Finance, and Bond Indebtedness, 1991-1992
- Commerce and Public Utilities, 1973-1974
- Vice-Chair 1973-1974
- Education, 1975
- Finance and Insurance, 1983-1989
- Finance, Insurance, and Commerce, 1975-1982
- Governmental Efficiency and Cost Control, 1985
- Governmental Organization, 1979-1982
- Housing and Community Development, 1989
- Intergovernmental Relations, 1973-1974
- Judiciary, 1983-1984
- Local Government, 1973-1978; 1985-1992
- Vice Chair 1985
- Policy Research Management, 1979-1982
- Public Employees and Retirement, 1985
- Public Employees, Retirement, and Social Security, 1987
- Rules, 1976-1982
- Vice-Chair 1979-1982
- Transportation, 1983-1992
- Water, 1973-1974
-
Subcommittees
- Health and Workers' Insurance, 1989
- Mobilehomes, 1989
Scope and Content
The William H. Lancaster Papers consist of 6 cubic feet of records reflecting Lancaster's activities during his time as an
Assembly Member from 1972 to 1992. The bill files document his legislative activity during his term as a member of the California
State Legislature. The bills introduced by William H. Lancaster include a wide array of subjects. He authored bills concerning
freeway construction in his district, banking institutions, insurance liability, real estate agents and appraisers, and student
loan funding.
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.
Lancaster, William H.
California. Legislature. Assembly