The Beverly Hodghead papers consist primarily of about forty speeches. The majority of these are devoted to explaining the Berkeley city charter. Other speeches consider the roles of citizens in support of municipal government, the annexation of Berkeley by Oakland and the creation of a dam in the Hetch Hetchy Valley to provide a water source for San Francisco.

Mr. Beverly Lacy Hodghead (1865-1928) was mayor of Berkeley (California) from 1909 to 1911. An attorney and politically active Progressive Democrat, Hodghead was instrumental in the development a new charter for the city of Berkeley (1909). Berkeley's city charter, based on that of Galveston, Texas, promoted government as a sound business operation with knowledgeable commissioners, rather than one of partisan politics where city positions are given out as favors. Changes included: a primary election in which all nominations were made by non-partisan petition; a small council with each councilman elected at-large and serving as a commissioner of a department; and, ultimate veto power to the people through the initiative, referendum or recall.

Collection is open for research.