Guide to the Adrien Joseph Falk Papers, [ca. 1973-1971]

Processed by The Bancroft Library staff

The Bancroft Library.

University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, California, 94720-6000

Phone: (510) 642-6481

Fax: (510) 642-7589

Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu

URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu

Note

History --History, California --History, Bay Area Geographical (By Place) --California --Bay Area Engineering and Technology --Transportation Engineering

Guide to the Adrien Joseph Falk Papers, [ca. 1973-1971]

Collection number: BANC MSS 72/39 c

The Bancroft Library

University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, California

Contact Information:

The Bancroft Library.
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California, 94720-6000
Phone: (510) 642-6481
Fax: (510) 642-7589
Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu
URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu

Processed by:: The Bancroft Library staff
Encoded by:: Gabriela A. Montoya

Collection Summary

Collection Title: Adrien Joseph Falk Papers,

Date (inclusive): [ca. 1973-1971]

Collection Number: BANC MSS 72/39 c

Creator: Falk, Adrien Joseph, 1884-1971

Extent: Number of containers: 10 boxes, 1 carton, 2 v. and 1 oversize folder

Repository: The Bancroft Library

Berkeley, California 94720-6000

Physical Location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.

Abstract: Materials relating primarily to Falk's civic activities. Includes letters written to him, many of them from prominent men in San Francisco and in the State; copies of some letters written by him; biographical sketches; personalia; awards and citations; photographs; clippings; speeches; and subject files, including material on Bay Area Rapid Transit District.

Languages Represented: English

Information for Researchers

Access

Collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

Copyright has not been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Adrien Joseph Falk papers, BANC MSS 72/39 c, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

The Adrien J. Falk papers were given to The Bancroft Library in August 1971 by his widow, Mrs. Belle Falk. The collection is not an extensive one since Mr. Falk obviously did not systematically save his papers. What was saved reflects what he regarded as the highlights of his career and the activities of which he was justifiably proud. The papers, housed in ten boxes, one carton, two volumes and one oversize portfolio, consist of letters written to him, many of them from prominent men in the city and state; copies of some letters written by him; biographical sketches; personalia; awards and citations; photographs; clippings; speeches; and subject files relating to various causes and to organizations with which he was associated, particularly BART. In general the papers relate to his civic activities rather than to his business career. They are described in greater detail in the Key to Arrangement.

Biography

Adrien J. Falk was born December 9, 1884 in San Francisco. After attending John Swett Grammar School and completing one year at Lowell High School, he left school to take a job as errand boy for a liquor wholesaler. In 1905 he found employment with the wholesale grocery firm of Sussman, Wormser and Company, as S & W was then known, as a billing clerk. He became, in turn, assistant bookkeeper, cashier, credit manager, officer manager, secretary, sales manager, general manager, director, vice-president (in 1930) and president (in 1946). During this period he saw the transition of S & W from a small wholesale grocery business to a leading packer and distributor of canned foods. Retiring from the presidency in 1956, he continued to serve the Company as a consultant.

Mr. Falk continued his interrupted education with classes at the University of California Extension Division, specializing in accounting, business law and office management, and public speaking. He received an honorary doctorate of laws from the University of San Francisco in 1953, and served as a Regents Professor of Agricultural Economics at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1958.

Strongly imbued with a sense of civic responsibility, he had an active career in public service also. Even a partial list of activities in this field testifies to his efforts: president of the San Francisco and the California State Chambers of Commerce; president and member of the San Francisco Board of Education; president of the San Francisco Community Chest; president of the San Francisco Board of Trade; chairman of the Conference for the Problems of the Aging (1951); member of the Board of Governors, Bay Area Council; member of the Advisory Council on Social Security for the U. S. Senate Finance Committee; and president of the Mount Zion Hospital. His long and distinguished career was climaxed by his service as director and president of the Bay Area Rapid Transit District, a public service he embarked upon in 1957 at the age of 73.

He received many honors, among them a distinguished service award from the Bay Area Council; the Robert C. Kirkwood Award for significant contribution to the community life of Northern California; and the Urban Transportation Award, presented by the Second International Conference on Urban Transportation. For his many contributions to community welfare, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors proclaimed January 17, 1970, "Adrien J. Falk Day."

Mr. Falk died in San Francisco, April 14, 1971.

Boxes 1-2

Letters written to Mr. Falk

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically with a miscellany of single letters at the beginning of the file. Major correspondents are listed, following the Key to Arrangement.

Box 2

Letters written by Mr. Falk, 1945-1968

Additional Note

One folder of carbon copies of outgoing letters; obviously incomplete. Arranged chronologically.

Boxes 3-4

Miscellaneous letters

Additional Note

Letters addressed to Mr. Falk, grouped according to the following categories [Cross references to pertinent letters in Boxes 1 and 2 have been noted on folders]:

Letters commenting on his speeches

Congratulatory letters: election to presidency, San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, 1943 (2 folders)

Congratulatory letters: appointment to San Francisco Board of Education, 1944

Letters of appreciation: retirement from presidency of San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, 1944

Congratulatory letters: American Legion's Americanism award, 1949

Letters of appreciation: retirement from San Francisco Board of Education, 1949

Congratulatory letters: election to presidency of California State Chamber of Commerce, 1950

Congratulatory letters: Adrien J. Falk testimonial luncheon, San Francisco, Feb. 28, 1950

Letters of appreciation: support of Proposition 3, 1952 (tax exemption for private non-profit schools)

Congratulatory letters: honorary Doctor of Laws degree awarded by the University of San Francisco, June 7, 1953

Letters of appreciation: retirement from presidency of S & W Fine Foods, Inc. 1956

Congratulatory letters: Proposition A campaign, 1956. Mr. Falk served as chairman of the Citizens' Committee for the Passage of Proposition A, the San Francisco school bond issue. Congratulatory letters: defeat of Proposition 16, 1958. Mr. Falk served as Northern California Chairman, Citizens United against Taxing Schools.

Congratulatory letters: defeat of Proposition 16, 1958. Mr. Falk served as Northern California Chairman, Citizens United against Taxing Schools.

Congratulatory letters: San Francisco Examiner article, 1964

Congratulatory letters: Robert C. Kirkwood award for significant contribution to community life of northern California, 1965

Congratulatory letters: Urban transportation award, 1967

Letters re Bay Area Rapid Transportation, 1959-1968

Box 5

Biographical sketches

Personalia - passport, affidavit of birth, voter registration certificate, etc. Membership cards, certificates, etc.

Awards, testimonials, etc. (2 folders)

See also carton and oversize portfolio

Material re honorary degree, Doctor of Laws, awarded by the University of San Francisco, June 7, 1953. Included: copy of citation, commencement program, invitation, clippings, photographs.

Material re American Legion Americanism award, 1949: clippings. news releases, etc.

Material re Robert C. Kirkwood award, 1965, for significant contribution to the community life of Northern California; clippings, information re nominations, etc.

Programs for events in which Mr. Falk participated.

Copies of Christmas cards sent by the Falks.

Box 6

Photographs

Additional Note

Many have been removed and cataloged separately: Portraits 15187-15298

Clippings (2 folders)

Obituaries

Boxes 7-8

Speeches

Additional Note

Notes for speeches and/or completed typescript copies with emendations. Occasionally printed or mimeographed copies. Grouped according to Mr. Falk's designations.

Additional Note

Included also is a folder containing some of his printed articles and statements. printed excerpts from talks, etc.

Box 7

Agriculture

Chamber of Commerce

Charitable organizations

Clubs

Conventions

Education

Box 8

Government

Labor

Political

Rapid Transit

Religious groups

Social security

Miscellaneous

Boxes 9-10

Subject files

Box 9

California. Proceedings of the Governor's Conference on Employment. Dec. 5-6, 1949. Mr. Falk's copy.

California. Proceedings of the Governor's Conference on the Problems of the Aging. Oct. 15-16, 1951. Mr. Falk's copy. He served as conference chairman and the proceedings include a foreword written by him.

California. Proposition 3, 1952. It proposed to exempt from taxation, property used exclusively for non-profit school purposes of less than collegiate grade, owned and operated by religious, hospital or charitable foundations or corporations. Included are copies of Mr. Falk's statement supporting the proposition and clippings.

California. University. Outline of Mr. Falk's seminar; notes for his lectures.

S & W Fine Foods, Inc. Achievement "A" award, War Food Administration. 1944; material re Mr. Falk's 50th anniversary with the firm; material re his retirement from the presidency.

St. Mary's College. Publications re symposia by and for business and industrial executives in which Mr. Falk participated.

San Francisco. Board of Education. Primarily clippings.

San Francisco. Chamber of Commerce. Clippings and certificate of appreciation.

San Francisco. Citizens Post-War Planning Committee. Primarily clippings.

San Francisco. Community Chest. Primarily clippings.

San Francisco. Mary's Help Hospital. Material relating primarily to the hospital building fund.

San Francisco. Old St. Mary's Centennial, 1954. Programs and commemorative booklet.

San Francisco. St. Anthony Dining Room. Clipping and an article.

Box 10

San Francisco. University of San Francisco. Reports, newsletters, etc.

San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District. Clippings, new releases, reports, informational digests, programs, photographs, etc. (4 folders)

Miscellany

Carton 1

Awards, citations, testimonials, etc. - plaques

volume v. 1

Album containing proceedings of the Adrien J. Falk testimonial luncheon. February 28, 1950, sponsored by the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and the San Francisco Commercial Club.

Additional Note

Included: copy of the invitation, announcements, clippings, copies of post luncheon remarks, etc.

volume v. 2

Scrapbook re Bay Area Rapid Transit District, compiled for Mr. Falk by a friend.

Additional Note

Included: photographs, announcement of election to presidency, clippings, etc.

portfolio Portfolio

Primarily awards, citations, resolutions and testimonials (oversize)

Correspondence Miscellany (single letters)

Bekins, Milo W., 1891-

Letter, Feb. 6, 1950

Biggs, Reginald Harcourt, 1900-

Letter, July 28, 1958

Bissinger, Paul Adolph, 1905-

Telegram, Jan. 13, 1950

Bufano, Beniamino

Letter, Aug. 14, 1944

California. Dept. of Education

Letter, Nov. 30, 1956

From Roy E. Simpson, Superintendent of Public Instruction. Expressing appreciation of Mr. Falk's willingness to serve as a member of the State Citizens Committee in behalf of Proposition Three.

California. University. College of Agriculture, Davis

Letter, Mar. 14, 1958

Re Mr. Falk's lectures for Dept. of Agricultural Economics.

Call, Asa Vickrey, 1892-

Letter, Dec. 14, 1954

Crocker, William Willard, 1893-

Letter, Feb. 20, 1950

Desmond, Earl D.

Letter, Jan. 6, 1955

DiGiorgio, Robert

Letter, Aug. 21, 1950

Dobbs, Harold S.

Letter, Aug. 14, 1957

Ehrlich, Philip S.

Letter, Feb. 6, n.y.

Funsten, Benjamin Reed

Letter, Feb. 8, 1950

Giannini, Amadeo Peter, 1870-1949

Letter, May 17, 1945

Gibson, Phil Sheridan

Letter, Aug. 20, 1964

Hale, Prentis Cobb, 1910-

Letter, Feb. 6, 1950

Hegland, Sheridan N.

Letter, Feb. 14, 1955

Hoover, Paul Edward, 1898-

Letter, Nov. 20, 1959

Hurley, Patrick Jay, 1883-

Letter, Jan. 31, 1945

Johns, George W.

Letter, Feb. 23, 1950

Johnson, Lyndon Baines, 1908-

Letter, July 31, 1964

Thanking Mr. Falk and other BART members for the gift presented him as a reminder of his visit to the Bay Area.

Kaiser, Edgar Fosburgh, 1908-

Letter, Dec. 4, 1962

Kefauver, Estes, 1903-

Letter, June 14, 1952

Expressing pleasure on having appeared with Mr. Falk on a television program.

Knowland, William Fife, 1908-

Letter, Sept. 11, 1951

Enclosure: portion of Congressional Record, Sept. 10, 1951, containing Falk's address, "Inharmonious Harmony."

Koshland, Daniel Edward, 1892-

Letter, Feb. 8, 1950

Lochead, James Kenneth, 1891-

Letter, Feb. 10, 1950

McKinnon, Harold Richert, 1894-

Letter, Jan. 27, 1950

Mailliard, John Ward, 1891-

Letter, Feb. 7, 1950

Mayer, Charles, 1903-

Letter, June 8, 1953

Mercier, Armand Theodore, 1881-

Letter, Feb. 10, 1950

Miller, George Paul, 1891-

Letter, Dec. 15, 1964

Moyers, Bill D., 1934-

Letter, July 10, 1964

Writing as special assistant to President Johnson, expressing appreciation for the work done in connection with the President's visit to BART.

Newhall, Scott, 1914-

Letter, Aug. 17, 1964

Writing as executive editor of the San Francisco Chronicle, re BART.

Reagan, Ronald, 1911-

Letter, Nov. 20, 1968

Writing as governor of California, thanking him for serving on the Task Force on Transportation.

Rolph, Thomas, 1885-

Letter, July 27, 1944

Romney, George, 1907-

Letter, Oct. 23, 1967

Thanking him for the tour of BART facilities.

San Francisco. City Planning Commission.

Letter, Aug. 24, 1945

Enclosure; copy of letter, Aug. 24, 1945, from the Commission to Mayor Roger D. Lapham. Re the report of the Post-War Committee, of which Mr. Falk was a member.

San Francisco. Recreation Commission

Letter, Nov. 14, 1947

Thanking Mr. Falk for his aid in the bond campaign.

San Francisco Bay Area Council, Inc.

Letter, July 16, 1953

From Frank E. Marsh, executive vice president and general manager, reviewing projects approved by the Citizens Post War Planning Committee.

San Francisco Employers Council

Letter, July 14, 1947

From George O. Bahra, president,thanking him for work done in connection with passage of legislation outlawing jurisdictional strikes and boycotts.

Sevier, Randolph, 1897-

Letter, Feb. 3, 1955

Shelley, John Francis, 1905-

Letter, Dec. 4, 1962

Crediting him for success of passage of Proposition "A", the transit bond issue.

Spellman, Francis Joseph, 1889-

Letter, Dec. 15, 1954

Sproul, Robert Gordon, 1891-

Letter, Feb. 23, 1950

Stettinius, Edward Reilly, 1900-1949

Letter, Jan. 7, 1949

Thanking him for serving on the Advisory Council on Social Security.

Sullivan, Mark R.

Letter, Feb. 13, 1950

Waste, William Ewing, 1897-

Letter, May 7, 1965

Watson, John S.

Letter, Feb. 6, 1950

Weill, Michel David, 1887-

Letter, Feb. 28, 1950

Worthington, Leslie Berry, 1902-

Letter, Dec. 1, 1959

Younger, Jesse Arthur, 1893-

Letter, Sept. 1, 1953

Zellerbach, James David, 1892-

Letter, Feb. 13, 1950

Alioto, Joseph Lawrence

2 letters, 1949-1968. One written while member of the San Francisco Board of Education; one while mayor of San Francisco.

Bay Area Rapid Transit District

2 letters, 1968, From B. R. Stokes, general manager, and from Stanley D. Forsythe, transit advisor to the general manager.

Bechtel, Stephen Davison, 1900-

5 letters, 1945-1968. Most of them refer to Mr. Falk's work with BART.

Brown, Edmund Gerald, 1905-

8 letters, 1950-1966. Writing as district attorney, San Francisco; attorney general; and governor of California. any thank Mr. Falk for his support.

Browne, Alan K.

2 letters, 1959-1967.

California. State College, San Francisco

6 letters, 1955-1962. Include letters from presidents J. Paul Leonard and Glenn S. Dumke.

California. University

3 letters, 1947-1958. From Monroe E. Deutsch, Vice-President, and Robert G. Sproul. President; and letter notifying him of appointment as Regents Professor of Agricultural Economics.

California. University. Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics

5 letters, 1957-1958. Include letters from George L. Mehren, director. Some refer to Mr. Falk's appointment as Regents Professor of Agricultural Economics.

California. University, Berkeley. Institute of Industrial Relations

2 letters, 1958. Re Mr. Falk's participation in the 10th annual summer management conference.

California. University, Berkeley. School of Business Administration

6 letters, 1957-1958. Include letters from Roy W. Jastram and E. T. Grether, Re Mr. Falk's participation in seminars and conferences.

Calkins, Allard A.

5 letters, 1950-1953

Christopher, George, 1907-

5 letters, 1955-1959. Writing as mayor of San Francisco.

Cutler, Leland Whitman, 1885-

2 letters, 1950-1953

Deutsch, Monroe Emanuel

See California. University.

Doherty, Frank P.

2 letters, 1950-1952

Dumke, Glenn S.

See California. State College, San Francisco.

Ettelson, Lee, 1898-

2 letters, 1951-1960

Goodman, Louis Earl, 1892-

2 letters, 1950

Grether, Ewald T., 1899-

See California. University, Berkeley. School of Business Administration.

Haas, Walter A., 1889-

5 letters, 1944-1958

Harris, George Bernard, 1901-

4 letters, 1964-1967

Heller, Walter S.

2 letters, 1943-1950

Hellman, Isaias Warren, 1899-

2 letters, 1945-1950

Johnston, Eric A., 1896-

2 letters, 1945

Killion, George Leonard, 1901-

2 letters, 1945-1950

Knight, Goodwin Jess, 1896-

6 letters, 1951-1958. Most of them written while governor of California.

Koster, Frederick Jacob, 1868-

2 letters, 1950-1954

Kuchel, Thomas Henry, 1910-

6 letters, 1950-1962

Lapham, Roger Dearborn, 1883-1966

6 letters, 1945-1965. Some written while mayor of San Francisco.

Leonard, John Paul, 1901-

See California. State College, San Francisco.

Levit, Bert W.

4 letters, 1947-1951

Lurie, Louis R.

10 letters, 1948-1970. Some are Copies of letters~addressed to Rev. Father Alfred Boeddeker. Enclosure to letter, June 22, 1963; photocopy of letter, June 19, 1963, written by Edmund G. Brown.

McAteer, J. Eugene

3 letters, 1958-1966

McCaffrey, Stanley E.

2 letters, 1967-1968

McGucken, Joseph Thomas, 1902-

7 letters, 1952-1966. Four of them written while archbishop of San Francisco.

McIntyre, James Francis Aloysius, 1886-

4 letters, 1952-1954. Writing as archbishop of Los Angeles.

Magnin, Cyril

2 letters, 1945-1968

Mailliard, William Somers, 1917-

2 letters, 1954-1959. Writing as a member of U. S. House of Representatives.

Maloney, Thomas A.

3 letters, 1950-1954. Writing as a member of the California Legislature.

Marks, Milton

2 letters, 1952-1967

Marsh, Frank Edward, 1901-

2 letters, 1945-1953

Mehren, George L.

See California. University. Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics.

Millikin, Eugene Donald, 1891-

2 letters, 1949-1950. Writing as a member of the U. S. Senate.

Mitty, John Joseph, 1884-

3 letters, 1952-1958. Writing as archbishop of San Francisco.

Petersen, Theodore Scarborough

2 letters, 1950-1951

Reilly, George R.

5 letters, 1948-1954

Robinson, Elmer Eugene, 1887-

4 letters, 1947-1955. Writing as mayor of San Francisco.

Rossi, Angelo Joseph, 1878-1948

2 letters, 1942-1943, Writing as mayor of San Francisco, re Mr. Falk's appointment as Deputy Chief of the Air Raid Warden Service, San Francisco Civilian Defense Council.

Roth, AImon E.

2 letters, 1947-1948, Letter, Dec. 14, 1948, refers to waterfront strike.

Salvation Army

10 letters, 1949-1959. Written from Territorial and Divisional Headquarters offices, San Francisco.

San Francisco. Board of Supervisors

2 letters, 1970-1971. Letter, Jan. 13, 1970, from Robert H. Mendelsohn, forwards copy of a resolution proclaiming Jan. 17"Adrien J. Falk Day." Letter, Apr. 26, 1971, addressed to Mrs. Falk is a letter of condolence from the clerk of the Board.

San Francisco. Mary's Help Hospital

13 letters, 1956-1968. Re Mr. Falk's help in fund raising activities for construction of a clinic and new hospital.

San Francisco. St. Anthony Dining Room

20 letters, 1955-1969. Re Mr. Falk's help and financial support.

San Francisco. University of San Francisco

9 letters, 1951-1968. Re Mr. Falk's speaking engagements, participation in institutes, etc., and the award of an honorary degree.

Sproul, Robert Gordon

See California. University.

Stanford University

5 letters, 1947-1962. Include letters from presidents Donald B. Tresidder and J. E. Wallace Sterling.

Sterling, John Ewart Wallace, 1906-

See Stanford University.

Sullivan, Jerd F., Jr.

4 letters, 1947-1963

Sweigert, William Thomas

2 letters, 1950-1959

Swig, Benjamin Harrison

7 letters, 1950-1967

Towne, Arthur W.

2 letters, 1950-1956

Tresidder, Don Bertrand, 1894-1948

See Stanford University.

U. S. Social Security Administration. Region IX

2 letters, 1959-1964. Commenting on his talk delivered before a regional conference of social security field representatives, and on his help in securing the 1950 amendments to the Social Security Act. Included; comprehensive analysis of 1950 amendments prepared by SSA, with covering letter from Mr. Falk, Aug. 28, 1950, addressed to members of the California State Chamber of Commerce.

Warren, Earl, 1891-

13 letters, 1944-1955. Most of them written while he was governor of California. Two of the letters relate to Mr. Falk's appointment to the State Advisory Council, Employment Stabilization Commission.

Wente, Carl Frederick, 1889-

4 letters, 1947-1956

Wilbur, Brayton, 1896-

3 letters, 1948-1950

Zellerbach, Harold Lionel, 1894-

3 letters, 1950-1956