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Inventory of the George N. Zenovich Papers
LP171; LP172
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Table of contents
Title: George N. Zenovich papers
Dates: 1963-1980
Collection number: LP171; LP172
Creator:
George N. Zenovich, California Legislator
Collection Size:
6.5 cubic feet
Repository:
California State Archives
Sacramento, California
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.
Physical location: California State Archives
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions are noted in the record series descriptions.
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.
[Identification of item], George N. Zenovich papers, LP[number]:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the
Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.
Acquisition and Custodial History
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.
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:
California State Assembly, 1963-1970
- 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.
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.
No further accruals are expected.
Related Material at the California State Archives
Senate Industrial Relations Committee Records.
Zenovich, George N., Secretary of State Records, Senate Historical Collection, F3706:22.
George Zenovich, “Senate Democrat in the Reagan Government,” an oral history conducted in 1982 by Steven D. Edington, in
Legislative-Governor Relations in Reagan Years: Five Views, The Oral History Program, California State University, Fullerton, 1983.
The majority of the records are available on microfilm. Researchers are asked to use the microfilm copies when available.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Zenovich, George, 1922-2013
Insurance, Unemployment-California
Insurance, Disability-California
Schools-California
Taxation-California