Biographical Information:
Scope and Contents
Arrangement of Materials:
Conditions Governing Access:
Conditions Governing Use:
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Preferred Citation:
Processing Information:
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives
Title: Dorothy Boberg Collection
Creator:
Boberg, Dorothy, 1930-
Identifier/Call Number: URB.DBC
Extent:
14.46 linear feet
Date (inclusive): 1957-1990
Abstract: Dorothy Boberg was a community activist
who, as a member of numerous local civic and activist organizations, worked on myriad
community issues within the San Fernando Valley and greater Los Angeles areas, and beyond.
The
Dorothy Boberg Collection includes research material
pertaining to issues such as atomic energy, nuclear disarmament, energy alternatives, urban
planning and growth, women's issues, and state/federal politics and policies.
Language of Material: English
Biographical Information:
Dorothy Kurth was born on March 17, 1930 in Lincoln, Nebraska. She received a bachelor's
degree in Social Welfare from the University of Nebraska in June, 1951. Kurth married John
Elliot Boberg on September 17, 1951. In 1952 the Bobergs moved to Burbank, CA where John
took a position at the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation. From 1953 to 1957, Dorothy worked as a
social worker for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services. In 1957, the
Boberg family moved to Northridge, California. From 1959 to 1962 Boberg attended California
State University, Northridge (then San Fernando Valley State College) as a graduate student,
majoring in Education, and in the 1970's she studied real estate at the University of
Southern California.
Boberg was a member of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) whose leaders
had stimulated her interest in government and community problems. Boberg went on to become
active in many of AAUW's study groups. It was also at this time that she became co-chair of
a San Fernando Valley Voter Registration Drive and co-chair of the Committee to Secure a
Fifth City Council District in the San Fernando Valley. She served on the Welfare Planning
Council, West Valley Parks Committee, Save Elysian Park Committee, League of Women Voter's
Water Committee, and the World Affairs Council Center for International Visitors. Boberg was
co-chair of the Women's Committee for a Humane Abortion Law, a group started by AAUW
members, from 1964-1966. During the same period was involved in local PTA functions and
co-wrote a study on Valley Secession from the City of Los Angeles.
The next ten years found Boberg involved in many projects and organizations. She chaired
the Overview Committee of "Destination 90" (city planning study) sponsored by CSUN, was on
the Health, Education, and Welfare, Social Concerns, and Townscape committees, and served on
the local Election Board. She also volunteered in numerous political campaigns which
included serving as the issues chair and volunteer coordinator for the "Barbara Klein for
City Council" campaign. For many years, Boberg was on the Board of Directors of the
Northridge Civic Association, and served as president from 1971-1973. She conducted studies
of the Los Angeles General Plan, Granada Hills and Northridge Specific Plans, Lobbyist
Registration Ordinance, Public Funding of Campaigns, Expansion of Northridge Park,
Elimination of White Oak Avenue Freeway Off-Ramp, Requirement for Environmental Impact Study
and Building of Berms for Route 118 Freeway, and worked on many zoning issues.
In 1971, Boberg founded the North Valley Ecology Council and was a member of the CSUN
University-Community Advisory Planning Committee, with an interest in saving space on
campus. Women's issues continued to be of concern to Boberg, and in 1972 she was responsible
for the founding of the Women's Coalition to encourage women to participate in government
commissions and to run for elective office. She also instructed a seminar entitled "Quality
Of Life Tomorrow," at CSUN in 1973. From 1974 to 1977 Boberg served on Mayor Tom Bradley's
Social Concerns Task Force. Boberg also served as chairperson of the Hazardous Facilities
Committee of Mayor Bradley's Task Force on Earthquake Prediction. She was an active member
of the Sierra Club Nuclear Task Force and observed City Council and Department of Water and
Power Commission meetings, frequently testifying on environmental issues and against plans
for construction of nuclear power facilities.
From 1975-1976, Boberg was vice president of the Northridge Community Coordinating
Council. She also worked as a research associate for the group "Another Mother for Peace"
which culminated in the report:
Nuclear Facilities and Radiation
Monitoring in California
. In 1976, Boberg became the research director for GUARD (a
Southern California environmental organization) which intervened in the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission hearings on the construction of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Stations, Units
2 & 3. Boberg also wrote a detailed study of and campaigned for California's Nuclear
Safeguards Initiative (Proposition 15). In the late 1970's Boberg was the executive vice
president of the Southern California Council of the United Nations Association. She helped
to organize the first Sun Day (International Solar Exhibition) at the World Trade Center in
Los Angeles, May 3-5, 1978, coordinated the Great Decisions Program for Southern California,
and was chair of a "UN and the Environment" study.
In 1983, Boberg was invited to present a paper on her concept of "Complementary Dynamics"
at a Universal Peace Conference held in Mount Abu, India. In 1986, she was elected to the
Los Angeles County Democratic Central Committee, and was re-elected to the Committee in
1988. In the capacity of chair for the Environment Committee, Boberg was responsible for
assisting in the writing of numerous resolutions recommending federal and state
legislation.
Scope and Contents
The
Dorothy Boberg Collection primarily contains research
material that pertains to political, environmental, and social issues. In addition,
testimony given by Boberg before various committees, correspondence files and articles,
reports, and speeches can also be found in the collection. The collection consists of three
major series:
Energy and the Environment (1930-1987),
Urban Planning and Government (1957-1985), and
Personal Papers (1960-1990).
Series I,
Energy and the Environment, consists of documents
pertaining to the implementation and effects of atomic/nuclear energy. Boberg's concerns
about air pollution, radioactive waste, alternative energy sources, and land use are well
documented within this series. The series is filed alphabetically.
Series II,
Urban Planning and Government,consists of documents
which reflect Boberg's interest and involvement with political issues, women's issues, and
urban problems, such as tax reform, housing, transportation, earthquake preparedness, social
welfare, and Los Angeles city government. The series is filed alphabetically.
Series III,
Personal Papers,consists of materials that
chronicle Boberg's personal and written efforts in regards to the issues she was involved
with, and is divided into six subseries:
Articles (1972),
Correspondence (1963-1984),
Photographs
(1960-1990),
Reports (1975),
Speeches
(1963-1987), and
Testimony (1972-1978). Each subseries is
filed chronologically.
Arrangement of Materials:
Series I: Energy and the Environment, 1930-1987
Series II: Urban Planning and Government, 1957-1985
Series III: Personal Papers, 1960-1990
Subseries A: Articles, 1972
Subseries B: Correspondence, 1963-1984
Subseries C: Photographs, 1960-1990
Subseries D: Reports, 1975
Subseries E: Speeches, 1963-1987
Subseries F: Testimony, 1972-1978
Related Material
Conditions Governing Access:
The collection is open for research use.
Conditions Governing Use:
Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of
this collection has been transferred to California State University, Northridge. Copyright
status for other materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected
by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the
written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be
commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any
use rests exclusively with the user.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Dorothy Boberg. 08/1989.
Preferred Citation:
For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual,
or see the
Citing Archival Materials
guide.
Processing Information:
Robert Pflug, 1991
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Documents
Photographs