Mayor Tom Bradley Administrative papers, 1920-1993, bulk 1973-1993

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Summary

Creators:
Los Angeles (Calif.). Office of the Mayor
Abstract:
The collection contains the records of the administration of Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, whose tenure in office covered an unprecedented five terms. Although the bulk of the collection spans Bradley's years as mayor (1973-1993), the collection also contains some material from Bradley's service in the Los Angeles Police Department, as an LA City Councilman (1963-1973) as well as materials related to his candidacy for Governor of CA in 1983 and 1986. The collection covers a variety of subjects pertinent to Los Angeles, including transportation, water conservation, offshore oil drilling, education, the 1984 Olympic Games, the Los Angeles Convention Center LA Produce and Flower Markets, and the riots in 1992. The records are in a variety of formats, including correspondence, photographs, reports, publications, architectural drawings, cassette recordings, video tapes, and memorabilia.
Extent:
2252 linear feet (4503 boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Mayor Tom Bradley Administration papers (Collection 293). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, UCLA.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection contains the records of the activities of Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley's administration over the course of his five terms in office. Although the bulk of the collection is from Bradley's years as mayor (1973-1993), there are also some materials from Bradley's service as a LA City Councilman (1963-1973) and some related to his candidacy for Governor of CA in 1983 and 1986. Topics represented include transportation, water and power, offshore oil drilling, education, the 1984 Olympic Games, the Los Angeles Convention Center LA Produce and Flower Markets, and the 1992 riots. The collection contains a variety of formats, including correspondence, photographs, reports, publications, architectural drawings, cassette recordings, video tapes, and memorabilia.

Biographical / historical:

Thomas Bradley was born in Calvert, TX, in 1917. His family moved to Los Angeles, CA, when he was seven years old. He attended UCLA on a track scholarship from 1937 to 1940, majoring in education, but left before graduating to join the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).

Bradley became the first African American lieutenant in the LAPD, and attended law school at Southwestern University, receiving his law degree in 1956. He retired from the LAPD in 1961. After working as an attorney in Los Angeles, he decided to run for office and was elected to the Los Angeles City Council representing the 10th District in 1963.

In 1969 he ran unsuccessfully against Sam Yorty for mayor. He ran again in 1973 and was elected the first African American mayor of Los Angeles. He was re-elected to a subsequent four terms, and served as mayor until 1993. He retired from political life when his fifth term ended.

While in office, Bradley initiated low income housing projects through the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), sparked the downtown skyline with the construction of the first skyscrapers, helped reform the LAPD, strengthened downtown's economic prosperity with the introduction of the LA Produce and Flower Markets, fought offshore oil drilling, expanded the Los Angeles workforce to include women and minorities, and oversaw the introduction of a mass transit system in the Los Angeles area. He also brought the 1984 Summer Olympic Games to Los Angeles. One focus of his last year in office was rebuilding parts of the city damaged in the riots after the 1992 acquittal of police officers accused of using excessive force against Rodney King.

In 1982 and again in 1986 Bradley ran for Governor of California losing both times to George Deukmejian. He co-chaired the Democratic National Convention in New York City in July 1976.

Bradley married Ethel Mae Arnold in 1941, and had three daughters (one of whom died at birth). He died on September 29, 1998.

For more information see the entry on Bradley at American National Biography Online: http://www.anb.org/articles/07/07-00819.html

Acquisition information:
City of Los Angeles; deposit; 1993.
Processing information:

Processed by Caroline Cubé, James Garner, Laurie Gemmill, Jean Griffing, Chip Hixson, Hongwei Huang, Barrett Jones, Andrea Leigh, Jennifer Martinez, Maggie Michaelson, Jennifer Montague, Valerie Redon-Gabel, Raquel Rivero, Katie Roudier, Farzad Saadat, Adam Sessler, Sal Sotelo, Nathalie Valdez, Chuck Wilson and Claude Zachary, 1998. Additional processing by Megan A. Hibbitts, Minh Le, Kelly Minta, Danielle Bass, Julia Tomassetti and Megan Hahn Fraser, 2011-2012; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé.

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.

We are committed to providing ethical, inclusive, and anti-racist description of the materials we steward, and to remediating existing description of our materials that contains language that may be offensive or cause harm. We invite you to submit feedback about how our collections are described, and how they could be described more accurately, by filling out the form located on our website: Report Potentially Offensive Description in Library Special Collections.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged by staff member/originating office. Records generated by a particular person or office are not necessarily in consecutively numbered boxes.

The major series in the collection are:

  1. Administration
    During processing files were designated as "administration" when the creating staff member or office was unidentifiable.
    This series includes correspondence, speeches, notes, press releases, memoranda, reports and publications pertaining to a wide variety of subjects such as transportation, budget and finance, cultural affairs, the environment, ethnic and minority communities, labor, legal and criminal issues, personnel, police and fire services, and education. Also included are photographs and several gift objects.
    Dates: ca. 1905-1993
  2. Campaign Material
    During processing files were designated as "campaign material" if they pertained to campaign activities, particularly the Gubernatorial campaigns of 1982 and 1986. Speeches, reports, donor information and press materials appear in this series.
    Dates: 1963-1989
  3. Yolanda Alaniz, Document Control
    The bulk of this record group contains index cards that document incoming correspondence and to which office it was directed. Other records include address cards and audio material, including reel to reel films, videocassettes, and audiocassettes.
    Dates: 1971-1993
  4. Richard Alarcon, Valley Area Coordinator
    This record group consists of materials pertaining to the Mayor's Valley Area Office. Included are reports, correspondence, meeting minutes, petitions, brochures, and photographs.
    Dates: 1976-1992
  5. Bill Bicker, Special Consultant, Transportation
    Bicker served as Bradley's primary advisor on all aspects of public transportation. He was the liaison with the City's Department of Transportation, the County's Transportation Commission, the Rapid Transit District, and the MTA. The record group contains speeches by Bradley, correspondence, notes, memoranda, newsletters, meeting agendas and brochures.
    Dates: 1974-1992
  6. Jane Blumenfeld, Executive Assistant
    Blumenfeld was one of Bradley's advisors regarding city planning. Documents include reports, correspondence, land surveys, maps, architectural plans, and audio-visual material.
    Dates: 1967-1993
  7. Michael Bodaken, Deputy Mayor
    Bodaken advised Bradley on housing issues. He also served as liaison with the City's Housing Authority, Housing Preservation and Production Department, Rent Adjustments Commission. This record group is comprised of press releases, reports, correspondence, community development plans, maps, information packets, notes and meeting agendas.
    Dates: ca 1940-1994
  8. Gary Boze, Mayoral Aide, South Central Region
    Boze was responsible for the management of the South Central Region Office. Included are correspondence, reports, notes, flyers, memoranda, brochures and speeches. Of particular note are the letters from children regarding the Los Angeles Riots in 1992.
    Dates: 1966-1993
  9. Ezunial Burts, Executive Assistant
    Burts assisted Bradley on a wide variety of issues including the City's Police and Fire Departments, public works, cultural affairs, Model Cities, waste management, the Los Angeles Harbor and airports. This record group is comprised of reports, memoranda, meeting agendas, notes and correspondence. Files pertaining to contest for the song of Los Angeles are of particular interest.
    Dates: 1973-1984
  10. Anton Calleia, Chief Administrative Assistant
    Calleia served as the main policy advisor throughout Bradley's administration. He also advised Bradley on most departments and agencies, including the City Council. The collection contains correspondence and subject files on African Americans, airports, the Parks and Recreation Department, the 1984 Olympics, the Police Department, and the status of women. Documents include correspondence, memoranda, reports, meeting agendas and minutes, brochures and photographs.
    Dates: 1973-1993
  11. Bill Chandler, News Secretary
    In addition to being a news secretary, Chandler was responsible for maintaining background files in the Press Office. These files include information regarding transportation, affirmative action, airports, drugs, and gang violence. Press releases, correspondence, memoranda, notes, photographs, and transcripts of radio and television interviews conducted with Bradley are found in this series. Of particular note are the materials regarding the City of Los Angeles Anti-Apartheid Policy.
    Dates: 1983-1992
  12. Connie Chappell, Secretary
    Chappell served primarily as Bradley's appointment secretary. The bulk of the record group contains invitations to events, and correspondence regarding city proclamations, certificates of appreciation, resolutions, and greetings.
    Dates: 1977-1993
  13. Bradford Crowe, Director of Economic Development
    Crowe served as Bradley's advisor on business issues. He also worked as a liaison with the City's Office of Economic Development. Documents include reports, correspondence, photographs, maps, meeting minutes, newsletters and memoranda.
    Dates: 1963-1991
  14. Grace Davis, Deputy Mayor
    Prior to serving as Deputy Mayor in the Bradley Administration, Davis was a Manpower Development Specialist with the United States. Files include pamphlets, memoranda, reports, notes, transmittals, and grant applications.
    Dates: 1973-1991
  15. Philip Depoian, Administrative Coordinator
    Depoian advised Bradley on the Department of Airports and the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). He also worked closely with the National League of Cities, Los Angeles Police Department, and the United States Conference of Mayors. The record group also contains information regarding the Los Angeles Public Library System and the Independent Commission on the Los Angeles Police Department (also known as the Christopher Commission). Correspondence, memoranda, reports, notes, meeting agendas and minutes, and press releases are included in this record group.
    Dates: 1965-1993
  16. Bill Elkins, Executive Assistant, Special Assistant to the Mayor
    Elkins was one of Bradley's main advisors throughout the Mayor's political career. He worked closely with Bradley on issues pertaining to African Americans, affirmative action, and Apartheid. Documents include memoranda, meeting agendas and minutes, correspondence, reports, press releases, and speeches.
    Dates: 1963-1993
  17. Jane Ellison, Executive Assistant, Legal Counsel
    Ellison was Bradley's legal advisor. She was responsible for maintaining his legal records and responding to public records requests. She also served as the liaison to the City Attorney's Office, the City's Ethics Commission, and the State Fair Political Practices Commission. This record group contains reports, correspondence, memoranda, notes, rosters and press releases.
    Dates: 1976-1993
  18. Norman Emerson, Executive Assistant
    Emerson advised Bradley on city planning issues. Reports, memoranda, meeting agendas and minutes, maps, and notes are located in this record group.
    Dates: 1966-1981
  19. Cecilia Estolano, Environmental Policy Advisor
    Estolano was one of Bradley's environmental advisors. She worked closely with the Department of Water and Power, South Coast Air Quality Management District, Metropolitan Water District, Coastal Commission, and the Department of Environmental Affairs. Files found in this record group consist of correspondence, meeting minutes, posters, newsletters, reports, notes, memoranda, and press releases.
    Dates: 1976-1993
  20. Mark Fabiani, Deputy Mayor
    Fabiani worked as one of Bradley's policy advisors during his last term as mayor. Topics found in this record group include the Los Angeles International Airport, the 1984 Olympics, Louis Farrakhan, Daryl Gates, the Christopher Commission, AIDS, and Rebuild L.A. Items include press releases, reports, rosters, speeches, correspondence, notes, memoranda, and meeting agendas.
    Dates: 1972-1993
  21. Valerie Fields, Coordinator, Education and Cultural Affairs
    The bulk of this record group contains information regarding education issues, including the desegregation of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Documents include correspondence, pamphlets, press releases, notes, meeting agendas, memoranda, rosters, and publications.
    Dates: 1973-1993
  22. Wendy Greuel, Administrative Coordinator, Human Services
    Greuel was responsible for all issues pertaining to social and human services. She also served as a liaison with the Department of Recreation and Parks and the Human Relations Commission. Key topics represented are homelessness, AIDS, child care, and public housing. Documents include correspondence, grant applications, reports, memoranda, meeting agendas and minutes, and photographs.
    Dates: 1974-1993
  23. Linda Griego, Deputy Mayor
    In addition to being Deputy Mayor, Griego served as the Los Angeles liaison on President George H.W. Bush's Los Angeles Riot Recovery Task Force and the chief executive officer of Rebuild L.A. (RLA), the agency created to restore the City after the riots. She also ran for mayor of Los Angeles in 1993. Documents found in this record group are publications written by City agencies, correspondence, notes, press releases, memoranda, reports, maps and photographs.
    Dates: 1991-1993
  24. Yoon Hee Kim, Korean Community Liaison
    In addition to being Bradley's liaison for the Korean community, Kim also worked extensively with the Library Department and the Commission of the Status of Women. Of particular interest are documents pertaining to the Korean community and the riots. This record group contains correspondence, press releases, reports, memoranda, proclamations, photographs, meeting agendas and minutes, and calendars.
    Dates: 1975-1993
  25. Bee Canterbury Lavery, Chief of Protocol
    Lavery was responsible for, among other things, visits with dignitaries in Los Angeles and abroad. Records include correspondence, visit itineraries, background research on visitors and their country's customs and etiquette, photographs, programs, security information, certificates, some copies of Bradley's remarks at events, invitations and press releases.
    Dates: 1973-1993
  26. Craig Lawson, Legislative Coordinator, Mayor's Research Office
    Most of the records in this series concern the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. Correspondence, programs, speech drafts, press releases, clippings, contracts, environment impact reports, security reports, and records about an exhibit about the 1932 Olympics are found in this series.
    Dates: 1977-1987
  27. Lily Lee, Hollywood Area Coordinator/Chinese Community Liaison
    Lee worked as both the Hollywood Area Coordinator and as a liaison for the Chinese community. Reports, pamphlets, correspondence, meeting schedules, agendas and minutes, notes, memoranda and press releases are located in this record group. Of particular interest are the files of constituent correspondence regarding the riots.
    Dates: 1986-1993
  28. Wilfred Marshall, Director, Small Business
    Materials in this record group focus on business and economic development, the Los Angeles Harbor, and the Los Angeles International Trade Corporation. Documents include meeting agendas, memoranda, notes and correspondence. For additional records pertaining to the Office of Small Business, see files under Barbara Williams and Julia Williams.
    Dates: 1971-1992
  29. Rosa Martinez, East and Northeast Coordinator
    In addition to being key advisor regarding issues pertaining to East Los Angeles, Martinez was also the liaison to the Latino community. Information regarding various organizations are found in this record group, including Barrio Action Groups, People in Progress, Hispanic Women's Council, Plaza de la Raza, Mexican American Grocers Association, and Rebuild L.A. The series includes correspondence, notes, newsletters, grant proposals, press releases, maps, and reports.
    Dates: 1973-1993
  30. Jeff Matsui, Executive Assistant
    Matsui advised Bradley regarding the Port of Los Angeles and the Department of Building and Safety. He also served as a liaison to the City's Japanese community. Documents in this record group include correspondence, reports, press releases, memoranda, meeting minutes and maps.
    Dates: 1974-1993
  31. Kathy Mendenhall, Assistant to the Mayor
    Mendenhall advised Bradley on sports and served as a liaison to the Convention Center, City Employees Retirement System, the Department of Animal Regulation, Telecommunications, Fire and Police Pensions, and General Services. The record group also contains campaign material as well as information pertaining to rapid transit and various Olympic events. Documents include correspondence, memoranda, press releases and petitions.
    Dates: 1967-1993
  32. Dodo Meyer, Administrative Coordinator (Mayor's Valley Office)
    Meyer was responsible for the management of the Mayor's San Fernando Valley Office. She also served as an advisor on education issues. Correspondence, speeches, meeting minutes and agendas, press releases, reports, video cassettes, and photographs are found in this series.
    Dates: 1969-1994
  33. Olivia Mitchell, Project Coordinator, Youth Development
    Mitchell worked on youth-related projects such as the Youth Advisory Council, Young Artist Performance Project, Youth Leadership Training and Youth Advocacy and Participation Project. Documents include reports, correspondence, meeting and program records, evaluation forms and news releases.
    Dates: 1974-1993
  34. Wanda Moore, Executive Assistant
    Most notably, this series contains approximately 200 of Bradley's speeches, statements and testimonies on a wide array of topics, including labor, the future of Los Angeles, women's issues, student protests, and the Rodney King beating trial verdict. Also included in this series is constituent correspondence, including requests for certificates of appreciation, proclamations, birthday wishes, etc., campaign material, and files on subjects such as the Los Angeles Police Department, education, public works, and propositions.
    Dates: 1962-1993
  35. Rose Ochi-Matsui, Executive Director, Criminal Justice
    Ochi was involved with Project HEAVY (Human Efforts Aimed at Vitalizing Youth), anti-graffiti operations, Community Youth Gang Services and other juvenile delinquency programs. Statistical reports, memos, correspondence, news releases and contracts are found in this series.
    Dates: 1974-1992
  36. Christine Ung, Administrative Assistant and Director San Pedro Office
    Ung's files consist largely of constituent correspondence on a variety of issues such as the LAPD, utilities, the environment, housing and general requests or complaints. There is a also a significant component of materials relating to her work with the Asian Pacific community, Chinatown, and the planning for the Korean War memorial. Documents are correspondence, reports, notes and programs.
    Dates: 1974-1992
  37. Maurice Weiner, Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Campaign Manager for 1968 and 1973 races
    Weiner was Bradley's chief of staff and an important advisor throughout his career. This series includes press releases, correspondence, statements, reports and proposals regarding energy, public transportation, Model Cities, and water and power. Also included are materials regarding Bradley's mayoral campaigns in 1968 and 1973.
    Dates: 1966-1976
  38. Betty Wilson, Director, Office for the Disabled
    Records in this series concern Wilson's work with Projects With Industry (PWI), the Job Training Partnership Act programs for handicapped job seekers, the LA City Advisory Council on Disability, and other programs to assist the disabled, seniors and veterans. Correspondence, reports, grant applications, press releases, meeting agendas and minutes are located in this series.
    Dates: 1975-1990

Other staff members or offices represented include:

  1. Manuel Aragon, Deputy Mayor
  2. George Beaubien, Director, Office of Small Business
  3. Board of Police Commissioners
  4. Mark Braly, Energy Coordinator
  5. Roxanne Burgess, American Indian Liaison
  6. City Admin Officer
  7. Raye Cunningham, Administrative Coordinator
  8. Linda Distenfield, Scheduling Director
  9. Louis Dominguez, Director of Computer Operations
  10. Adrian Dove, Director, Office of Small Business
  11. Carolyn Einung
  12. Art Gastelum, Administration Coordinator; Director, Office of Economic Development
  13. Wendy Greuel
  14. Wendy Harmon, [environmental policy advisor]
  15. Dexter Henderson, Deputy Mayor, Office of Human Relations
  16. Tom Houston, Deputy Mayor
  17. Marcela Howell
  18. Glen Hughes
  19. Alberto Juarez, Mayoral Aide
  20. Bob Kholos, News Secretary
  21. Jun M. Kim
  22. Maureen Kindel
  23. Masamori Kojima, Executive Assistant
  24. Joanne Kumamoto, [member, Mayor's Advisory Council on Volunteerism]
  25. Effrin Mamaril, [Filipino community liaison]
  26. Emma McFarlin, Special Assistant
  27. Maria Morales-Kent, [environmental policy advisor]
  28. Doug Morrison
  29. Gene Moscovitch
  30. Dee Dee Myers
  31. Ethel Narvid, Administrative Coordinator
  32. Jill Nishi
  33. Paula Petrotta
  34. Berna Deane Plummer, News Secretary
  35. Ray Remy, Deputy Mayor
  36. Frances Savitch, Administrative Coordinator
  37. Frederick Schnell, Chief, Economic Development
  38. Julie Sgarzi, Director of Research
  39. Lydia Shayne, Assistant News Secretary; Westside Area Coordinator
  40. Thomas Sisson
  41. Barry Smedberg, Project Coordinator, City Volunteer Corps
  42. Graham Smith, Research Associate
  43. Wendy Stern
  44. John Stodder, Principal Administrative Coordinator, Mayor's Research Office
  45. Tom Sullivan, Administrative Coordinator
  46. Sandy Thomas, Assistant to the Deputy Mayor
  47. Linda Tibi
  48. Julie Tugend
  49. Kitty Uyeshima, Secretary; Mayoral Aide
  50. Aileen Webb, News Secretary
  51. Walter White
  52. Barbara Williams, Mayoral Aide, Office of Small Business
  53. Julia Williams, Mayoral Aide, Office of Small Business
  54. Aimee A. Wilson
  55. William Winston, Administrative Coordinator
  56. Mayor Sam Yorty
  57. John Zinner, Energy Coordinator
Physical / technical requirements:

CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: This collection contains both processed and unprocessed audiovisual materials. For information about the access status of the material that you are looking for, refer to the Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements note at the series and file levels. All requests to access processed audiovisual 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.
Physical facet:
NB: The following box numbers were not used: 628-629, 634, 749, 751, 930, 1142-1143, 1226, 1250, 1400-1402, 1430, 1569-1571, 1713, 1758, 2035, 2383, 2445, 2508, 2915, 3201-3599, 3626-3630, 3699, 3720, 3861, 3932-3979, 4009-4011, 4107, 4215, 4282-4283, 4286, 4445, 4495-4496, 4499-4500, 4504-4514, 4520, 4548, 4568, 4570, 4706-4707, 4711-4712, 4719, 4721-4726, 4734, 4736-4737, 4756-4759, 4761-4762, 4868-4872, 4957-4966, 4969, 4971-4978, 4980-5007, 5010-5014, 5079, 5082
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

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.

Boxes 2892-2914 and 2916-2920 are restricted due to condition. Please contact UCLA Library Special Collections for further information.

Boxes 6000, 6001, 6017, 6018, 6021, 6025, 6029, 6034, 6037, 6040, 6054, 6055, 6056, 6058, 6059, 6060, 6062, 6088, 6089, 6090, 6091, 6092, 6095, 6101, 6102, 6105, 6109, 6110, 6118, 6123, 6127, 6128 are restricted due to privacy issues. Please contact UCLA Library Special Collections for further information.

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], Mayor Tom Bradley Administration papers (Collection 293). 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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