Joseph L. Wyatt collection of California Democratic Council records, 1953-1967

Printable guide [HTML]
Request items

Summary

Creators:
Wyatt, Joseph L., 1924-
Abstract:
The California Democratic Council (CDC), a federation of local volunteer clubs, was established in 1953. CDC endorsements and campaign support led to the first full statewide slate of Democrats in 40 years (1954) and also figured prominently in the election of Edmund G. “Pat” Brown as California governor in 1958. Joseph Lucian Wyatt, Jr. (b.1924) was the secretary of the California Democratic Council (1953-57), and president (1957-61). He was also the California delegate at the Democratic National Conventions in 1956, 1960, 1964, and 1968. The collection consists of correspondence, clippings, and printed material related to the formation, development, and activities of the California Democratic Council (CDC) between 1953 and 1967, and materials related to another organization, the Dime-A-Day Democracy Group.
Extent:
7.0 linear ft. (14 boxes)
Language:
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Joseph L. Wyatt Collection of California Democratic Council Records (Collection 1082). Department of Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, UCLA.

Background

Scope and content:

Collection consists of correspondence, clippings, and printed material related to the formation, development, and activities of the California Democratic Council (CDC) between 1953 and 1967. Materials relate to Wyatt's involvement in the CDC as its secretary and president. Also contains materials related to another organization, the Dime-A-Day Democracy Group.

Biographical / historical:

Joseph Lucian Wyatt, Jr. was born in Chicago, Illinois, February 21, 1924; attended Northwestern University (AB, 1947) and Harvard Law School (LL.B., 1949); became a lawyer and sole practitioner, Los Angeles, California, in 1949; member California State Personnel Board, 1961-71; Director, Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce, 1956-59; secretary, California Democratic Council (CDC), 1953-57; president, CDC, 1957-61; California delegate, Democratic National Convention, 1956, 1960, 1964, and 1968.

The California Democratic Council (CDC), a federation of local volunteer clubs, was established in 1953; under the direction of founding president Alan Cranston, the CDC was able to balance its electoral and legislative goals; CDC endorsements and campaign support led to the first full statewide slate of Democrats in 40 years (1954) and also figured prominently in the election of Edmund G. “Pat” Brown as California governor in 1958; as the CDC's focus became increasingly ideological, tensions led to a steady decline in its membership and presence in California politics; membership peaked at 75,000 in 1964.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Joseph L. Wyatt, Jr., 1969.
Physical location:
Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Names:
California Democratic Council--Archives.
Democratic Party (Calif.).
Wyatt, Joseph L., 1924- --Archives.
Places:
California--Politics and government, 1951- .
Indexes:

Partial List of Correspondents in Collection

Anderson, Glenn M. lieutenant-governor of California
Bowlest Chester
Brown, Edmund G. (Pat) governor of California
Burns, Hugh California State Senate
Cranston Alan
Doyle, Clyde California congressman
Eagle, Clair California senator
Galbraith, John Kenneth
Gore Albert Tennessee senator
Hanna, Richard T. California state legislator
Johnson, Lyndon Baines Senate majority leader
Kefauver, Estes Senator
Miller, George California congressman
Mosk, Stanley judge and California state attorney-general
Pitchess, Peter J. Los Angeles County sherrif
Rees, Thomas California state legislator
Richards, Richard California state legislator
Roosevelt, James California congressman
Schleisenger, Arthur M. Jr.
Unruh, Jesse California state legislator
Wagner, Robert F. Jr. New York City mayor
Wyman, Rosalind Los Angeles City councilwoman
Yarborough, Ralph Texas senator
Yorty, Samuel Los Angeles Mayor
Ziffren, Paul Democratic national committeeman

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for research. STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact UCLA Library Special Collections for paging information.

Terms of access:

Property rights to the physical object belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. Literary 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], Joseph L. Wyatt Collection of California Democratic Council Records (Collection 1082). Department of 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
Website