Zenovich (George N.) Papers, 1963-1980

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Summary

Title:
George N. Zenovich papers
Dates:
1963-1980
Creators:
George N. Zenovich, California Legislator
Abstract:
George N. Zenovich, Democrat, was a State Assembly Member for the 32nd Assembly District from 1963 to 1970, and a State Senator for the 16th Senate District (which later became the 14th Senate District after redistricting) from 1971-1979. The George N. Zenovich papers consist of 6.5 cubic feet of textual records and are arranged in one series of Bill Files (1963-1980) that document Zenovich's legislative activity during his term as a member of the California State Legislature.
Extent:
6.5 cubic feet
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], George N. Zenovich papers, LP[number]:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The George N. Zenovich papers consist of Bill Files, 1963-1980. The bill files document his legislative activity during his term as a member of the California State Legislature. Senator Zenovich authored bills concerning unemployment insurance, disability insurance, workman’s compensation, state employees, the sale of alcoholic beverages, schools, courts, the mentally handicapped, taxation, and other subjects.

Biographical / historical:

George N. Zenovich, Democrat, was a State Assembly Member from 1963 to 1970. His 32nd Assembly District included cities within Fresno County. In 1970, he left the Assembly when he was elected to the State Senate. As a senator, he represented the 16th Senate District, which became the 14th Senate District after redistricting, and included areas from the counties of Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, and Stanislaus. He served in the Senate from 1971 to 1979.

A native of California, Zenovich was born in Fresno on April 29, 1922. He attended Fresno Public Schools, and California State University, Fresno where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then went on to earn a Degree in Law from Southwestern College of Law. During World War II he served in the United States Army Air Corp. In 1955, he was married in Belgrade, Yugoslavia to Vera Sarenac, a Graduate of Law from Sarajevo University. They have two daughters, Ninon and Marina.

Senator Zenovich served as a member and as Treasurer of the Fresno County Democratic Central Committee. He was also a member of the California, Fresno County and American Bar Associations, and the International Academy of Law, The Hague, Holland. During his career he held memberships in several civic and professional organizations such as, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), American Legion, Eagles, the Boys Club, Fresno State Alumni Association, Community Services Organization, National Conference of State Legislative Leaders, and the Automobile Accident Study Commission. He belonged to the Musicians Union, Local 47, Los Angeles; and Local 210, Fresno.

During his term in the California State Legislature, Senator Zenovich served as Chairman of the Democratic Caucus and Majority Floor Leader of the Assembly from 1966 to 1969. According to the Legislative Handbooks, he served on the following committees:

  • Standing Committees
  • Constitutional Amendments, 1965
  • Criminal Procedure, 1963-1965
  • Finance and Insurance, 1967-1970
  • *Chair, 1965
  • *Vice Chair, 1963
  • Government Administration, 1969-1970
  • Legislative Representation, 1963
  • Municipal and County Government, 1963-1965
  • Natural Resources, Planning, and Public Works, 1963
  • Revenue and Taxation, 1967
  • Ways and Means, 1967-1970
  • Select Committees
  • Mentally Ill and Handicapped Children, 1969
California State Senate, 1971-1979
  • Standing Committees
  • Agriculture and Water Resources, 1975-1976
  • *Vice Chair, 1972-1974
  • Children and Youth, 1976
  • *Chair, 1976
  • Elections and Reapportionment, 1971-1973, 1979
  • Governmental Organizations, 1973-1979
  • Industrial Relations, 1975-1977
  • *Chair, 1975-1977
  • Insurance and Financial Institutions, 1971-1979
  • Judiciary, 1971-1972, 1977-1978
  • *Chair, 1979
  • Rules, 1973-1974
  • Joint Committees
  • Community Development and Housing Needs, 1976

Zenovich passed away in Fresno on September 25, 2013, at the age of ninety-one.

Acquisition information:
The California State Archives acquired the George N. Zenovich papers in a series of two transfers following his final term in the California State Legislature.
Accruals:

No further accruals are expected.

Physical location:
California State Archives
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Processed by Archives Staff
Date Prepared:
© 2015
Date Encoded:
Machine-readable finding aid created by Kathryn E. Conley and Annelise Golden and revised by Kira Dres. Machine-readable finding aid derived from MS Word. Date of source: 01 January 2015.

Access and use

Restrictions:

While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions are noted in the record series descriptions.

Terms of access:

For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives collections.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], George N. Zenovich papers, LP[number]:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.

Location of this collection:
1020 "O" Street
Sacramento, CA 95814, US
Contact:
(916) 653-2246
reference@sos.ca.gov
Website