Guide to the Samuel L. Williams papers CEMA 59
Finding aid prepared by Mari Khasmanyan, 2016.
UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara 93106-9010
special@library.ucsb.edu
2016 February 3
Title: Samuel L. Williams papers
Identifier/Call Number: CEMA 59
Contributing Institution:
UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
14.39 linear feet
(26 document boxes, 1 half size document box, 2 oversize flat boxes)
Creator:
Williams, Samuel L.
Date (inclusive): 1974-1995
Abstract: The Samuel L. Williams papers, valuable to scholars studying Los Angeles and urban life in general, includes material that
represents the Southern California attorney's civic work, speeches, photographs, and correspondence from 1974-1995. The former
California Deputy Attorney General was on the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners when Chief Darryl F. Gates was suspended
in the aftermath of the Rodney G. King beating, and was a staff attorney for the McCone Commission which investigated the
1965 Watts Riots.
His papers are a collection of work during his time as senior partner of law firm Hufstedler and Kaus, as president of the
Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners, and as president of the State Bar of California. Also included are materials from
when Williams' was on the board of the Bank of California and the University of Southern California.
Physical Location: A portion of the collection is located at the Southern Regional Library Facility (SRLF).
Language of Material: The collection is in English.
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research. A portion of the collection is stored offsite. Advance notice is required for retrieval.
Use Restrictions
Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Research Collections, UCSB. All requests for permission to publish
or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Research Collections. Permission for publication
is given on behalf of the Department of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include
or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained.
Acquisition Information
Donated by Beverly Williams, December 1994.
Processing Information
Processed by Mari Khasmanyan, Husna Sayedi, Sylvia Baldwin, Leonardo Vargas, and Kristen Villamor, 2016.
Biographical Note
Samuel L. Williams was a prominent attorney who distinguished himself as a leader in the legal community. He was prominent
in Los Angeles civic affairs, and was an individual who was committed to social justice and civil rights. He was the first
African American to serve as president of the California State Bar. He was a member of the boards of several prominent corporations,
was president of the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners and had served as president of the Los Angeles County Bar Association.
Williams was staff attorney for the McCone Commission, the Governor's body that investigated the 1965 Watts riots in Los Angeles.
Several decades later, Williams was on the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners in April, 1991 at the time of the inquest
involving the Rodney King beating in Los Angeles. Williams is credited with helping change the face of the judiciary in California
through his role as chair and as member of nominating commissions for judicial selections in the federal bench in this state.
His civic contributions included serving on the boards of the Walt Disney Co., the Bank of California, the Los Angeles Music
Center, USC, and several other organizations.
Williams was a star athlete while attending U.C. Berkeley, where he played a quarterback on the football team and played baseball
while also being named an Academic All- American. After graduating with a B.A. in criminology in 1955, Williams performed
military service in the U.S. Army (1955-57) and held the rank of First Lieutenant in the Military Police Corps. He later earned
the LL.B. from the University of Southern California School of Law in 1961. From 1962 to 1965 Williams served as Deputy Attorney
General in the State of California Department of Justice. He entered private practice with the law firm of Hufstedler and
Kaus in 1965 where he was a senior partner before retiring in 1990. Williams died in July 1994.
Williams had a long commitment to the principle of equal justice. His honors included the Maynard Toll Award for lifetime
service to the Los Angeles Legal Aid Foundation, and the Los Angeles county Bar Association's highest tribute, the Shattuck
Price Award. The State legislature honored him with a memorial resolution "for his illustrious record of professional, personal,
public and civic achievement."
Scope and Content
The contents of Samuel L. Williams' papers are comprised of personal, professional materials, and collected research materials
generated by the attorney during the period 1974-1995.
The bulk of the collection consists of business files from Williams' work on the board of the Bank of California, the Los
Angeles Music Center, and the University of Southern California. Other significant files include information on his work with
the
California Commission on Campaign Financing,
California Afro-American Museum foundation, National Bar Association, and Brown Act Investigation.
The rest of Williams' collection is separated into personal, biographical files, and subject files. Williams' personal and
biographical files include mainly correspondence, photos, resumé, and various miscellaneous files. The series, subject files,
consists of various documents, newspapers, and crime investigation studies he had collected over the years. Topics range from
gang violence in Los Angeles to the
American Diabetes Association and the Children's Museum.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of Item], Samuel L. Williams papers, CEMA 59. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara
Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged alphabetically by subject.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
African Americans -- Civil rights -- California -- Los Angeles -- History -- 20th century
Lawyers -- California
Legal ethics -- California
California -- Politics and government -- 20th century
East Los Angeles (Calif.) -- Social conditions -- 20th century
Los Angeles (Calif.) -- History -- 20th century
Los Angeles (Calif.) -- Politics and government -- 20th century
Los Angeles (Calif.) -- Trials, litigation, etc. -- 20th century
Correspondence
Files (Document groupings)
Legal documents
Legal files
Photographs
Williams, Samuel L. -- Archives
Personal and Biographical Files
Box 19, Folder 14-16
Appointment Books
1982-1984
Box 19, Folder 5
Certificates from California Association of Black Lawyers
1982
oversize 29
County of Los Angeles - Certificate
1978
oversize 29
District Attorney - Certificate
1988
oversize 29
Framed
Los Angeles Lawyer Cover and Article
1978
Box 27, Folder 3-6
Photographs
May 1995
Acquisition Information
Brought by Pat Phillips
Box 21, Folder 6-9
Personal Correspondence
1987-1992
Box 19, Folder 9, Box 19, Folder 7
Program: State Bar Annual Meeting
1982
Box 22, Folder 11-14, Box 23, Folder 1-2, Box 27, Folder 11
Miscellaneous Correspondence
1989
Box 1, Folder 2-4
Resume and Photographs
undated
Box 24, Folder 2-4
Shattuck - Price Awards: Congratulatory Letters
1988
Box 27, Folder 1-2, 12-15, Box 25, Folder 24-28, Box 26, Folder 1-38
Box 6, Folder 20, Box 7, Folder 3-6, Box 6, Folder 23, Box 18, Folder 11
Box 1, Folder 1
Anti-Apartheid on USC/UC Campuses
1985
Box 16, Folder 1-6, Box 10, Folder 1-8, Box 9, Folder 1-3, Box 10, Folder 11
Bank of California
February 13, 1992
Box 10, Folder 26-28, Box 27, Folder 9
Bancal Tri-State Corporation
1991-1993
Box 6, Folder 21-22
Burke for Supervisor
1991
Box 1, Folder 12, 15-16
California Afro-American Museum Foundation
1984-1993
Box 2, Folder 1-4
California Children's Advocacy Center- University of San Diego
1989-1991
Box 4, Folder 12-25, Box 1, Folder 7
California Commission on Campaign Financing
June 18, 1991
Box 6, Folder 13-18
California Commission on Campaign Financing Memorandum
December 1988
Box 1, Folder 12
California Afro-American Museum Foundation
December 16, 1985
Box 6, Folder 1-12
Campaign financing California Commission on General Correspondence: 1989
1989
Box 7, Folder 7-15
Court Reform Access V. Affordability
April 1989
Box 13, Folder 1-5, Box 12, Folder 1-18, Box 11, Folder 22-34, Box 24, Folder 8
Box 20, Folder 5
France Simledge Resume
1990
Box 13, Folder 16
Hufstedler, Miller, Kaus, and Beadsley Memorandum and Notes on Meetings of First Street Project
1990
Box 27, Folder 10, Box 10, Folder 20-25
Jamaica, Kingston Restoration Co.
undated
Box 13, Folder 17-21, Box 14, Folder 1-5
Box 18, Folder 1-7, Box 17, Folder 19-25
Los Angeles Police Commission Statement
1983-1991
Box 1, Folder 8-11
Materials for twenty-sixth Meeting of California Commission on Campaign Financing
February 26, 1991
Box 3, Folder 9
Memos From Jack Sweeny Re NCBP Meeting Agenda and Executive Council Meeting
July 1991
Box 24, Folder 22-23
Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) Documentation
1993
Box 17, Folder 1-4
The Music Center - Board of Governors
1988-1989
Box 16, Folder 12-18
Music Center of Los Angeles
1986-1993
Box 7, Folder 1-2, Box 6, Folder 24
National Conference of Bar Presidents
1991-1992
Box 9, Folder 17-31
NABE Executive Committee Meeting
1991
Box 1, Folder 5-6
National Bar Association
1979-1992
Box 3, Folder 10
NCBP and ABA Registration Materials - Atlanta
1991
Box 15, Folder 1-13
Police Commission - Brown Act Investigation
1991
Box 15, Folder 4
Police Commission - Brown Act Investigation - Memoranda
June 1991
Box 13, Folder 12
Southcentral Nonprofit Consortium - Client Papers
1992
Box 13, Folder 6-9
Southcentral Nonprofit Consortium - Correspondence
1989-1992
Box 13, Folder 13-15
Southcentral Nonprofit Consortium - Legal Notes
1992
Box 13, Folder 10-11
Southcentral Nonprofit Consortium - Miscellaneous Notes
1991
Box 8, Folder 19-22
Speeches and Statements delivered by Samuel L. Williams Vol III
1983
Box 10, Folder 12-19
Standing Committee on Bar Activities and Services Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel
May 1991
Box 7, Folder 16-21, Box 8, Folder 1-3
State Bar Speeches Vol. I
1981-1982
Box 8, Folder 4-18
State Bar Speeches Vol. II
1982
Box 5, Folder 1-22
Telecommunications Commission
1991-1993
Box 10, Folder 9-10
Trust and Investment Management Group and Strategic Plan
1991-1993
Box 22, Folder 11-14
UCSB Trustee Handbook
1991-1992
Box 14, Folder 6-12
Untitled: Containing Court Photocopies
1989
Box 2, Folder 7
USC Academic Affairs (Trustees Committee)
1989-1990
Box 2, Folder 5
USC Alumni Affairs (Trustees Committee)
1984-1989
Box 3, Folder 12
USC - Campus Directory
1990-1991
Box 3, Folder 5-8
USC Divestments
1989-1991
Box 2, Folder 14-16
USC Ebonics Support Group
1990
Box 2, Folder 9-13
USC General Correspondence
1989
Box 3, Folder 2-3
USC South Africa Policy
1985
Box 2, Folder 8
USC Student Affairs (Trustees Committee)
1982-1992
Box 3, Folder 11
USC -Tooley - ATO house
1990
Box 3, Folder 1
USC 1989 Updated Material
1989
Box 9, Folder 4-16
The Village at Vermont
1992
Box 19, Folder 11
All Us We - The Black Student Publication
1983
Box 20, Folder 9
Act Now: Gang Violence Reduction
1989
Box 20, Folder 6
American Diabetes Association
undated
Box 1, Folder 13-14
Bradley Re-election Campaign
1989
Box 20, Folder 4
Broadway/Manchester Revitalization Study
1991
Box 19, Folder 3
Brochure - Tom Bradley
1983
Box 20, Folder 5
Burger King Franchise
undated
Box 19, Folder 1
California Magazine
December 1981
Box 19, Folder 1
California Law Business News Article
December 16, 1991
Box 22, Folder 17, Box 21, Folder 10-16
Casa Colina Foundation
1990
Box 21, Folder 17-18
Children's Advocacy Institute
1989
Box 21, Folder 19-22
Children's Museum
March 30, 1989
Box 25, Folder 15-21
City Club on Bunker Hill - Member Number X9763
1989
Box 19, Folder 6, Box 19, Folder 2
Daily Journal Newspaper
1981-1983
Box 24, Folder 8
Editorials - KHV-TV/Los Angeles
1987
Box 4, Folder 1-11
Facts about USC, Its Quality, Importance and Impact
May 4, 1988
Box 17, Folder 5-18
Investigation of Glendale's Police Department
1987-1988
Box 19, Folder 8
Justice and Public Protection - Criminal Justice: The Continuing Challenge to Leadership
June 1982
Box 20, Folder 1-2
Kim McKenera - Name Change
undated
Box 22, Folder 15
Kingston Restoration Company Limited
Box 14, Folder 13-22
LAPD's Black History
1886-1967
Box 21, Folder 23-27
LDF: NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund
1979-1989
Box 25, Folder 22
Lomax Fundraiser
October 1993
Box 20, Folder 8
Los Angeles - City of Mayor's Committee on Black Commissioners
1988-1989
Box 25, Folder 29-33
Los Angeles Gang Problem
1989
Other Descriptive Information
This document cannot be copied, quoted, or cited.
Box 20, Folder 10-20
National Conference on Christians and Jews
1981-1991
Box 6, Folder 19, Box 24, Folder 12-20
Box 19, Folder 10
An Official Pro! Publication of the NFL Game Day
November 22, 1982
Box 25, Folder 2-14
OPG Selection - Van Nuys
1991
Box 21
Plan for the Los Angeles Children's Plaza- Booklet
February 1990
Box 19, Folder 13
Preparation of Attorney's Response to Audit Letter Inquiries
1976
Box 23, Folder 3-24
The Promised Land: Making it to the Top - Black Partners in Major Law Firms
1985
Box 16, Folder 7
Reference: Black Business Associates of Los Angeles (Directory)
January 1985
Box 27, Folder 7
Reference: Los Angeles City and Council Committees
1983-1986
Box 19, Folder 4
San Jose Mercury Newspaper
October 14, 1982
Box 24, Folder 21
Thomas Riveira Center - Latino Assessment Study
1989
Box 5
To Govern Ourselves: Ballot Initiative in the Los Angeles Area- Booklet
1992
Box 20, Folder 21
University of California - Berkeley: Athletic Program
1986-1989
Box 20, Folder 22-23
University of California - Berkeley: Black Alumni Club Southern California
Box 21, Folder 2-3
University of California - Berkeley
undated
Box 21, Folder 4
University of California - Irvine
July 1985
Box 19, Folder 12
University of Southern California Trojan Family Newspaper
March 1984
Box 18, Folder 12-14
Watts Riots and Inside the McCone Commission
undated
Other Descriptive Information
This document cannot be copied, quoted, or cited.
