Description
The George E. Brown Jr. papers consists of 438 linear feet of the professional and personal papers of Congressman George E.
Brown Jr., who represented congressional districts in Los Angeles from 1963-1971 and the Inland Empire from 1973-1999. The
majority of the collection documents Brown's 34 year tenure in the United States House of Representatives, consisting of legislative,
committee, district, campaign and administrative files. Also included in the collection are personal papers, photographs,
audiovisual and digital materials, and memorabilia.
Collection strengths include materials on federal science and technology policy, water resources and rights in Southern California,
defense economic conversion and military base closures, alternative fuel and energy development, arms control, space policy,
and environmental protection efforts including water and air pollution regulation, hazardous waste site remediation, land
preservation and protection efforts, and climate change prevention. Also notable are materials documenting events and issues
of importance to the Inland Empire, including local economic development, the closure of Norton Air Force Base, the development
of the Ontario International Airport, cleanup of the Stringfellow Acid Pits, and information on local organizations, services
and events.
Background
George Edward Brown, Jr. was born on March 6, 1920 in Holtville, California. Brown attended Holtville High School, where he
graduated in 1935 as class valedictorian at the age of 15. He worked as a blacksmith's apprentice while attending El Centro
Junior College, and then attended the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). While at UCLA, Brown lived at the University
Cooperative Housing Association (UCHA), a student housing cooperative serving the UCLA campus that fought to become the first
desegregated housing on campus and where Brown roomed with Luther Goodwin, the first black student to be able live in Westwood.
Extent
437.48 linear feet
(1008 boxes, 7 flat file folders)
Restrictions
Copyright has not been assigned to the University of California, Riverside Libraries, Special Collections & University Archives.
Distribution or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission
of the copyright owners. To the extent other restrictions apply, permission for distribution or reproduction from the applicable
rights holder is also required. Responsibility for obtaining permissions, and for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Availability
COLLECTION PARTIALLY STORED OFF-SITE: Two weeks advanced notice is required for use of boxes 1-978.