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Bob Beverly Papers
CSLA-7
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Title: Bob Beverly Papers
Dates: 1962-1996
Collection number: CSLA-7
Creator:
Bob Beverly
Collection Size:
120 archival document boxes; one oversize box, eleven flat files
Repository:
Loyola Marymount University. Library. Department of Archives and Special Collections.
Los Angeles, California 90045-2659
Abstract: The Bob Beverly Papers consists of the district office files of this long-serving state legislator from the South Bay (1967-1996)
of Los Angeles County.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Collection is open to research under the terms of use of the Department of Archives and Special Collections, Loyola Marymount
University.
Materials in the Department of Archives and Special Collections may be subject to copyright. Unless explicitly stated otherwise,
Loyola Marymount University does not claim ownership of the copyright of any materials in its collections. The user or publisher
must secure permission to publish from the copyright owner. Loyola Marymount University does not assume any responsibility
for infringement of copyright or of publication rights held by the original author or artists or his/her heirs, assigns, or
executors.
(Identification of item), Series number, Box and Folder number, Bob Beverly Papers, CSLA-7, Department of Archives and Special
Collections, William H. Hannon Library, Loyola Marymount University.
Gift of Bob Beverly. Accession number: 1996.42
Robert G. Beverly, a Massachusetts native, attended high school and began college in Pittsburgh before the outbreak of World
War II. Beginning in 1943, Beverly served a three-year stint in the U.S. Marine Corps. After his discharge, he resumed his
education at U.C.L.A. in 1946 and two years later went on to Loyola University's School of Law, where he received his LL.B
degree in 1952, specializing in municipal and government law. During his time at Loyola, Beverly moved into the senate district
that he would represent many years later.
Beverly began his political career in 1958 when he was elected to the city council of Manhattan Beach, where he served for
nine years, including three terms as mayor. He also served as city attorney and was on the city's planning commission and
zoning board, as well as being active in the League of California Cities.
In the Special Election of May 1967, Beverly won a seat in the State Assembly for the 46th District. In 1969, Beverly was
named chairman of the assembly's Finance, Insurance and Commerce Committee and in the following year was named "Legislator
of the Year" by the California Trial Lawyers Association. In the 1971-72 legislative session, he became Chairman of the Committee
on Criminal Justice and went on to serve as the assembly's minority floor leader.
In 1976, Beverly won the state senate seat for the 27th district that began his 20-year tenure in the state's upper house.
Once elected, he made his mark by actively serving on several committees over the years, including the senate's Local Government,
Transportation, Judiciary, Insurance and Financial Institutions, Education, Government Organization, Rules, Intergovernmental
Relations, Elections and Reapportionment and Veteran's Affairs committees. He also served as Chairman of the Senate Revenue
and Taxation Committee and vice-chair of the Appropriations Committee.
After the 1980 census and subsequent reapportionment, Beverly won election to the newly-formed 29th Senate District in 1984.
The new district had one-third new territory, mostly in Long Beach, Lakewood and Signal Hill, while excluding most of San
Pedro and all of Wilmington. Beverly won reelection to this district in 1988 and 1992 in increasingly close contests. In the
wake of 1990's Proposition 140, which in 1997 was declared unconstitutional by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, term limits
forced Beverly to not seek reelection in 1996.
Beverly's extensive background and interest in local government led him to become deeply concerned in legislation that affected
the authority of cities and counties. Not only did he demonstrate steadfast resistance to the erosion of local control, he
repeatedly supported legislation seeking to strengthen local government and the concept of "home rule."
Authoring approximately 25 bills a year, Beverly saw hundreds of them signed into law. Perhaps best known are the Song-Beverly
Acts, which have served as models in the field of consumer protection. Also noteworthy is his "rob a home, go to prison" measure,
signed into law in 1980, that ensured jail time for those convicted of residential burglary.
Late in 1987, Beverly was strongly considered by Governor George Deukmejian for appointment as State Treasurer, in order to
complete the term of the recently deceased Jesse Unruh. This situation arose after the state Supreme Court rejected Deukmejian's
original appointment of then-Congressman Dan Lungren because he had not been affirmed by both houses of the legislature. However,
even before the court's rejection, Beverly had received bipartisan support for the appointment. Despite Beverly's ability
and willingness to fill the position, Deukmejian decided it wiser not to risk losing Beverly's senate seat to a Democrat.
Bob Beverly died in 2009.
The Bob Beverly Papers include a variety of materials from his district offices, which operated from 1967-1996. Some of the
materials in the collection did not originate in his district or capitol offices, but were issued by government entities,
the campaigns of other politicians, or private groups, among others. The files within series are organized chronologically,
then alphabetically when appropriate. In cases such as the biography series that don't lend itself to this structure, original
order has been preserved.
Beverly's Senate bill files reflect the legislation he put forth during the latter part of his 20 years in California's upper
house, including bills from the 1983-84 session and from 1989-96. There are no legislative bill files from his tenure as an
assemblyman (1967-1976). Also, his first twelve years as a senator are reflected only once in the bill series (1983-1984).
However, the senate bill files from the 1989-90 session through the end of his legislative career in 1996 are in the collection.
Documents concerning two of the Song-Beverly Acts, which date back to 1970, are included elsewhere in the collection.
The collection includes correspondence from Beverly to constituents regarding his positions on pending legislation, as well
as general subjects of political importance. Materials in this series date back to 1970 and extend to the end of his state
Senate tenure.
A large part of the collection focuses on local, state and national elections and is especially useful for students interested
in the inner workings of political parties and their campaign operations. Though most of the political candidates represented
in this series are Republican, there is a good deal of information on other election issues such as ballot propositions and
initiatives. There is also a great deal of information pertaining to Beverly's own campaigns which help to provide insight
into the evolution of the state's election process and the growing importance of fundraising and endorsements. Records relating
to general elections and Beverly's campaigns span from 1962 to 1996.
The following periodicals were received with the Bob Beverly papers, but have been removed from the collection and placed
with the general reference materials:
- CALIFORNIA JOURNAL: Includes all months between Jan. 1970 and Dec. 1996 EXCEPT for the following: 1970: April, May, July, Nov. Dec. 1972: Oct., Dec. 1974: May 1987: Dec. 1988: Aug.-Dec. 1989: Nov. 1995: Nov. (The issue in the binder is for 1994.) 1996: Dec. (Many years also include an index.)
- EVANS-NOVAK POLITICAL REPORT: A biweekly newsletter covering all of the weeks between Jan. 1987 and Dec. 1996 EXCEPT for the following: 1987: Dec. (all) 1988: All missing EXCEPT 1/5, 1/14, 11/9, 12/6, 12/20 1989: Jul. 19, May 23 1996: Nov. (all), Dec. (all).
- THE POLITICAL ANIMAL: A biweekly newsletter covering all of the weeks between Dec. 1986 and Apr. 1993 EXCEPT for the following: 1988: Sept. (all) 1990: Oct. 29 1991: Mar. 4 1992: Jan. (all), Sept. 28 1993: Mar. 15, May-Dec.
The Bob Beverly Papers have been arranged into the following series and subseries:
- Series One: Biography (1967-96)
- Series Two: Senate Bill Files, (1983-84, 1989-96)
- Series 2: Press Releases
- Series 3: Lobbyist Directories and Issue Reports, (1970, 1980-95)
- Series 3. Subseries A: Senate Office of Research Reports
- Series 4: Legislative Counsel and Attorney General Opinions (1973-96)
- Series 5: Correspondence, (1970-96)
- Series 5. Subseries A: Governor Appointments
- Series 6: Surveys and Reports (1968-94)
- Series 6. Subseries A: Voting Records
- Series Seven: Elections (1962-96)
- Series Eight: Campaigns (1967-92)
- Series Nine: Communications (1976-1985)
- Series Ten: Memorabilia
- Series Eleven: Maps
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Beverly, Robert G. -- Archives
California. Legislature. Assembly -- History -- Sources
California. Legislature. Senate -- History -- Sources
Republican Party (Calif.) -- History -- 20th century -- Sources
Legislators -- California -- Biography -- 20th century -- Sources
Bills, Legislative -- California -- History -- Sources
Political campaigns -- California -- History -- Sources
California -- Politics and government -- 1951- -- Sources