Garry South campaign papers, 1982-2004

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Summary

Creators:
South, Garry.
Abstract:
Collection of management files for the political campaigns of California Governor Gray Davis, compiled by Garry South, campaign manager.
Extent:
54 Linear Feet (55 boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Garry South campaign papers (Collection Number 1892). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, UCLA.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection contains administrative files, research, correspondence, campaign materials, poll data, clippings, and recordings of commercials, news coverage and debates related to the political campaigns of Gray Davis from 1982 to 2003, compiled by Garry South.

The Gray Davis Record series (Series 1) is a gathering of statements, speeches, clippings and other materials that illustrate Davis's positions and opinions on a wide range of topics pertaining to the government of California, such as immigration, the environment, economics, health and subgroups of the population. Material on controversies during Davis's career is also included in this series.

Series 2 through 7 contain research materials, news clippings, schedules, publications, correspondence and recordings of commercials, debates and news coverage related to Davis's campaigns from 1982 through 2003. Records from the 1982 and 1984 Assembly campaigns, 1986 and 1990 Controller's campaigns and 1992 Senate primary campaign were not created by South, but became part of his files after he began working for Davis. These series also contain extensive research on Davis's opponents, either in primaries or general elections, such as Al Checchi, Jane Harman, and Dan Lungren in 1998, and Bill Simon and Richard Riordan in 2002.

Garry South's professional correspondence, including letters from friends and colleagues mostly regarding his work for Davis, and additional office files are found in Series 10.

Biographical / historical:

Garry South is a political consultant who managed Gray Davis's campaigns for Lt. Governor of California in 1994, and Governor in 1998 and 2002. He served as Davis's Chief of Staff during his term as Lt. Governor. He also advised or consulted on campaigns for Al Gore and Joe Lieberman, and has had an extensive career in Democratic Party politics. His firm, the Garry South Group, operates in Los Angeles.

Joseph Graham "Gray" Davis served as Chief of Staff for Governor Jerry Brown (1975-1981), a member of the State Assembly (1983-1987), state controller (1987-1995), Lt. Governor (1995-1999) and Governor (1999-2003). Davis's administration focused on education, the environment, healthcare issues and improving relations with Mexico. Davis left office in November 2003, after a special recall election was held ten months into his second term.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Garry South, 2011.
Processing information:

Collections are processed to a variety of levels depending on the work necessary to make them usable, their perceived user interest and research value, availability of staff and resources, and competing priorities. Library Special Collections provides a standard level of preservation and access for all collections and, when time and resources permit, conducts more intensive processing. These materials have been arranged and described according to national and local standards and best practices.

Processed by Megan Hahn Fraser, with assistance from Brian Kovalesky and Daniella Perry, 2011.

Arrangement:

Arranged in the following series:

  1. Gray Davis Record
  2. Gray Davis 1994 Governor's Race: Management Files
  3. Gray Davis 1998 Governor's Race: Management Files and Opposition Research
  4. Gray Davis 2002 Governor's Race Management Files
  5. Gray Davis 2002 Governor's Race Opposition Research
  6. Gray Davis 2003 Recall Election
  7. Gray Davis 1982 and 1984 Assembly Races; 1986 and 1990 Controller's Races, 1992 Senate Primary Race Files
  8. Videotapes
  9. Polling data
  10. Garry South Correspondence and office files

Physical / technical requirements:

CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: This collection contains both processed and unprocessed audiovisual materials. Audiovisual materials are not currently available for access, unless otherwise noted in a Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements note at the series and file levels. All requests to access processed materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.

Physical location:
Stored off-site. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Names:
South, Garry--Archives.
Davis, Gray

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.

Terms of access:

Property rights to the physical objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Garry South campaign papers (Collection Number 1892). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, UCLA.

Location of this collection:
A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
Contact:
(310) 825-4988
AskLSC@library.ucla.edu
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