INVENTORY OF THE WARREN FURUTANI COLLECTION, 2008-2012
Finding aid prepared by Oscar Sanchez
California State University, Dominguez Hills
Archives & Special Collections
University Library, Room 5039
1000 E. Victoria Street
Carson, California 90747
Phone: (310) 243-3895
URL: http://www4.csudh.edu/libarchives/index
©2013
Descriptive Summary
Title: Furutani (Warren) Collection
Dates: 2008-2012
Collection Number: Consult repository
Creator:
Extent:
9 boxes
8 linear ft.
Repository: California State University, Dominguez Hills
Archives and Special Collections
Archives & Special Collection
University Library, Room 5039
1000 E. Victoria Street
Carson, California 90747
Phone: (310) 243-3895
URL: http://www4.csudh.edu/libarchives/index
Abstract:
The Warren Furutani Collection documents the breadth and duration of Warren Furutani’s four year service as a member of the
California State Assembly for the 55th District. Furutani was elected to the California State Assembly on a special primary
Election in 2007, replacing fellow Democrat Laura Richardson. He served the 55th District from February 7, 2008 until November
30, 2012. He was the last representative of the 55th district to represent the South Bay, Gardena, Carson, Lakewood, and Long
Beach before the redistricting in 2011 by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission. During his tenure in the California
Assembly, Furutani introduced several legislative bills related to career technical education, community colleges, clean air
quality, and support for small businesses such as: AB 2142, AB 1294, AB 1448 and AJR 8. He is renowned for introducing Assembly
Bill (AB37) which granted honorary college degrees to Japanese Americans whose education was disrupted due to their wrongful
incarceration during World War II. The collection contains primarily legislative bills, constituent correspondence, awards,
articles, plaques, videos, and photographs detailing Furutani’s service as a member of the California Assembly for the 55th
District.
Language: Collection material is in English.
Administration Information
Access
There are no access restrictions on this collection.
Publication Rights
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives
and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical
materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Preferred Citation
[Title of item], WARREN FURUTANI COLLECTION, Courtesy of the Department of Archives and Special Collections. University Library.
California State University, Dominguez Hills
Acquisition Information
This collection was donated by Warren Furutani to the Archives and Special Collections at California State University, Dominguez
Hills on December 12, 2012.
Processing Information
Materials were processed and arranged Oscar Sanchez in 2013.
Biography
Warren Furutani is a fourth generation Japanese American born in San Pedro, California on October 16, 1947. He was the grandson
of a boat mechanic on Terminal Island in San Pedro, whose family became victims of the Japanese American incarceration during
WWII. Warren's grandparents and father were forced to leave their home with only 48-hours’ notice and were sent to an incarceration
camp in Rohror, Arkansas. Warren's father was in high school at the time and while at camp he met Warren's mother who was
from Elk Grove, California. After the war, his parents returned to San Pedro, where Furutani would be born. His family moved
to Gardena where Warren was raised. He graduated from Gardena High School in 1965 and earned a liberal arts degree from Antioch
University. During the 60’s Furutani was a civil rights activist who worked tirelessly to establish admissions programs for
students of color at colleges and universities throughout the United States. He helped many campuses institute ethnic studies
programs and was instrumental in UCLA and Long Beach State University adopting an Asian American Studies program. In 1969,
Warren was one of the founders of the Manzanar Pilgrimage, an annual event to honor the 110,000 Japanese American men, women
and children who were forced to leave their homes and were incarcerated during World War II. Warren also helped to create
the Manzanar Committee that worked to get Manzanar designated as a national historical site. Today, thousands of people participate
in the Manzanar Pilgrimage every year on the last Saturday of April. In the mid-1970s, Warren worked as a counselor at the
Central Continuation High School in Downtown Los Angeles. He later joined the Asian American Student Services Center at UCLA
where he worked as an administrator and developed programs to recruit, mentor and tutor students as well as encourage them
to be active in community projects.
In 1987, Warren was the first Asian Pacific Islander American to ever be elected to the Los Angeles Unified School District
(LAUSD) Board of Education. While a Board Member at LAUSD, Warren led the effort to grant honorary high school diplomas to
Japanese Americans who were unable to finish high school because they were forced into internment camps during World War II.
In 1999 Warren was elected to the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) Board of Trustees, the largest community
college district in the country. During his 15 year service in both educational boards he was an early and strong advocate
for the LAUSD and LACCD construction bonds, which directed billions of dollars into repairing and building new schools and
remodeling and constructing new facilities on our community college campuses.
Furutani was elected to replace fellow Democrat Laura Richardson in a special election in 2008. He served the 55th District
for four years and 9 months in the California State Assembly. In the California State Legislature, Warren was appointed Chair
of the Public Employees Retirement and Social Security committee, where he introduced pension reform measures, including Assembly
Bill 340 to end the abusive practices of pension spiking and double dipping. He was also Chair of the Select Committee on
Career Technical Education and Workforce Development where he focused on preparing students with the training they need for
21st Century jobs. He also founded the Community College Caucus and is a member of the Higher Education Master Plan Review
Committee. Warren's work in the Capitol includes legislation related to career technical education, community colleges, clean
air quality, and support for small businesses. He successfully advocated for State resources to help rebuild the Gerald Desmond
Bridge in the Port of Long Beach. In 2008, he authored Assembly Bill 37 which granted honorary college degrees to Japanese
Americans whose education was disrupted due to their wrongful incarceration during World War II. Since the bill was signed,
thousands of Japanese Americans have received honorary degrees from college campuses throughout California. Furutani retired
and left office on November 30, 2012 and was replaced by Republican Kurt Hagman. He currently lives in the Harbor Gateway
with his wife Lisa Abe Furutani and their two sons.
Scope and Content
The Warren Furutani Collection documents the breadth and duration of Warren Furutani’s four year service as a member of the
California State Assembly for the 55th District. The collection is comprised of 8 linear feet containing; legislative bills,
awards, photographs, videos, campaign mail, newspaper articles, and constituent correspondence providing an in depth look
at Furutani’s legislative activities during his tenure in the California State Senate. The collection contains bill files
from 2008- 2012 that document evidence of Furutani’s interest in improving education, transportation, response to substance
abuse, health care, support of small businesses, environment, and educational recognition and restitution for Japanese Americans
whose education was disrupted through incarceration during WW2. Documented in the collection is Furutani’s legislative legacy
displayed in bill AJR8 which details Furutani’s effort and commitment to bringing the WW2 historic battleship USS Iowa to
San Pedro.
The collection is also comprised of awards and constituent correspondence that document Furutani’s attention to issues and
concerns that affected his constituents, his district, the state, and his political party. The collections PSA videos on topics
like “Sober Driving” for High School students and “Earth Day” are examples of Furutani’s social and environmental commitment.
The collection includes receipts and planning outlines for the Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month Events that Furutani
oversaw which displays Furutani’s ongoing commitment to his Asian Heritage.
The collection can help a researcher understand the dynamics of the California State Assembly from 2008-2012 as well as the
role of the 55th District while it still encompassed the South Bay. Furatani was the last representative of the 55th district
to represent the South Bay, Gardena, Carson, Lakewood, and Long Beach before the redistricting in 2011 by the California Citizens
Redistricting Commission. Finally, it also gives insight on Furutani’s social and civil activism that has characterized him
throughout his life.
Indexing Terms
Subjects
Legislative bills.
Japanese Americans.
World War II.
California. Legislature. Assembly.
California. Legislature. Senate.
Japanese Americans--California
Geographic Areas
Gardena (Calif.)
Carson (Calif.)
Lakewood (Calif.)
Long Beach (Calif.)
Personal Names
Furutani, Warren, 1947-
Box 1, Folder 1
Legislative Bills, AB 2179.
February 20, 2008
Box 1, Folder 2
Legislative Bills, AB 2227.
February 20, 2008
Box 1, Folder 3
Legislative Bills, AB 2537.
February 21, 2008
Box 1, Folder 4
Legislative Bills, AB 2537.
February 21, 2008
Box 1, Folder 5
Legislative Bills, AB 2537.
February 21, 2008
Box 1, Folder 6
Legislative Bills, AB 2550.
February 22, 2008
Box 1, Folder 7
Legislative Bills, AB 2551.
February 22, 2008
Box 1, Folder 8
Legislative Bills, AB 2576.
February 22, 2008
Box 1, Folder 9
Legislative Bills, AB 2648.
February 22, 2008
Box 1, Folder 10
Legislative Bills, AB 2742.
February 22, 2008
Box 1, Folder 11
Legislative Bills, AJR 65.
June 5, 2008
Box 1, Folder 12
Legislative Bills, AJR 65.
June 5, 2008
Box 1, Folder 13
Legislative Bills, AJR 67.
June 10, 2008
Box 1, Folder 14
Legislative Bills, AJR 67.
June 10, 2008
Box 1, Folder 15
Legislative Bills, AB 35.
December 1, 2008
Box 1, Folder 16
Legislative Bills, AB 35.
December 1, 2008
Box 1, Folder 17
Legislative Bills, AB 35.
December 1, 2008
Box 1, Folder 18
Legislative Bills, AB 37.
December 1, 2008
Box 1, Folder 19
Legislative Bills, AB 37.
December 1, 2008
Box 1, Folder 20
Legislative Bills, AB 37.
December 1, 2008
Box 1, Folder 21
Legislative Bills, ACA 2.
December 1, 2008
Box 1, Folder 22
Legislative Bills, ACA 2.
December 1, 2008
Box 1, Folder 23
Legislative Bills, AB 366.
February 23, 2009
Box 1, Folder 24
Legislative Bills, AB 503.
February 23, 2009
Box 1, Folder 25
Legislative Bills, AB 503.
February 24, 2009
Box 1, Folder 26
Legislative Bills, AB 506.
February 24, 2009
Box 2, Folder 1
Legislative Bills, AB 549.
February 25, 2009
Box 2, Folder 2
Legislative Bills, AB 549.
February 25, 2009
Box 2, Folder 3
Legislative Bills, AB 551.
February 25, 2009
Box 2, Folder 4
Legislative Bills, AB 552.
February 25, 2009
Box 2, Folder 5
Legislative Bills, AB 553.
February 25, 2009
Box 2, Folder 6
Legislative Bills, AB 554.
February 25, 2009
Box 2, Folder 7
Legislative Bills, AB 554.
February 25, 2009
Box 2, Folder 8
Legislative Bills, AB 555.
February 25, 2009
Box 2, Folder 9
Legislative Bills, AB 555.
February 25, 2009
Box 2, Folder 10
Legislative Bills, AB 892.
February 26, 2009
Box 2, Folder 11
Legislative Bills, AB 893.
February 26, 2009
Box 2, Folder 12
Legislative Bills, AB 893.
February 26. 2009
Box 2, Folder 13
Legislative Bills, AB 894.
Box 2, Folder 14
Legislative Bills, AB 1038.
February 27, 2009
Box 2, Folder 15
Legislative Bills, AB 1484.
February 27, 2009
Box 2, Folder 16
Legislative Bills, ACR 15.
January 29, 2009
Box 2, Folder 17
Legislative Bills, ACR 34.
February 24, 2009
Box 2, Folder 18
Legislative Bills, AJR 11.
March 25, 2009
Box 2, Folder 19
Legislative Bills, ACR 101.
January 5, 2010
Box 2, Folder 20
Legislative Bills, AB 1712.
February 2, 2010
Box 2, Folder 21
Legislative Bills, AB 1713.
February 2, 2010
Box 2, Folder 22
Legislative Bills, AB 1775.
February 9, 2010
Box 2, Folder 23
Legislative Bills, AB 1775.
February 9, 2010
Box 2, Folder 24
Legislative Bills, AB 1836.
February 12, 2010
Box 3, Folder 1
Legislative Bills, AB 1836.
February 12, 2010
Box 3, Folder 2
Legislative Bills, AB 1847.
February 12, 2010
Box 3, Folder 3
Legislative Bills, AB 1847.
February 12, 2010
Box 3, Folder 4
Legislative Bills, AB 2149.
February 18, 2010
Box 3, Folder 5
Legislative Bills, AB 2444.
February 19, 2010
Box 3, Folder 6
Legislative Bills, AB 2445.
February 19, 2010
Box 3, Folder 7
Legislative Bills, AB 2446.
February 19, 2010
Box 3, Folder 8
Legislative Bills, AB 2446.
February 19, 2010
Box 3, Folder 9
Legislative Bills, AB 2446.
February 19, 2010
Box 3, Folder 10
Legislative Bills, AB 2446.
February 19, 2010
Box 3, Folder 11
Legislative Bills, AB 2447.
February 19, 2010
Box 3, Folder 12
Legislative Bills, AB 2482.
Box 3, Folder 13
Legislative Bills, AB 305.
February 19, 2010
Box 3, Folder 14
Legislative Bills, AB 2753.
February 19, 2010
Box 3, Folder 15
Legislative Bills, AB 305.
February 9, 2011
Box 3, Folder 16
Legislative Bills, AB 305.
February 9, 2011
Box 3, Folder 17
Legislative Bills, AB 563.
February 16, 2011
Box 3, Folder 18
Legislative Bills, AB 618.
February 16, 2011
Box 3, Folder 19
Legislative Bills, AB 751.
February 17, 2011
Box 3, Folder 20
Legislative Bills, AB 751.
February 17, 2011
Box 3, Folder 21
Legislative Bills, AB 790.
February 17, 2011
Box 3, Folder 22
Legislative Bills, AB 790.
February 17, 2011
Box 4, Folder 1
Legislative Bills, AB 873.
February 17, 2011
Box 4, Folder 2
Legislative Bills, AB 1010.
February 18, 2011
Box 4, Folder 3
Legislative Bills, AB 1010.
February 18, 2011
Box 4, Folder 4
Legislative Bills, AB 1128.
February 18, 2011
Box 4, Folder 5
Legislative Bills, AB 1174.
February 18, 2011
Box 4, Folder 6
Legislative Bills, AB 1174.
February 18, 2011
Box 4, Folder 7
Legislative Bills, AB 1207.
February 18, 2011
Box 4, Folder 8
Legislative Bills, AB 1207.
February 18, 2011
Box 4, Folder 9
Legislative Bills, AB 1207.
February 18, 2011
Box 4, Folder 10
Legislative Bills, AB 1294.
February 18, 2011
Box 4, Folder 11
Legislative Bills, AB 1239.
February 18, 2011
Box 4, Folder 12
Legislative Bills, AB 1239.
February 18, 2011
Box 4, Folder 13
Legislative Bills, AB 1310.
February 18, 2011
Box 4, Folder 14
Legislative Bills, AB 1310.
February 18, 2011
Box 4, Folder 15
Legislative Bills, AB 1330.
February 18, 2011
Box 4, Folder 16
Legislative Bills, AB 1330.
February 18, 2011
Box 4, Folder 17
Legislative Bills, AB 1330.
February 18, 2011
Box 4, Folder
Legislative Bills, AB 1341.
February 18, 2011
Box 4, Folder 19
Legislative Bills, AB 1448.
January 4, 2012
Box 4, Folder 20
Legislative Bills, AB 1448.
January 4, 2012
Box 4, Folder 21
Legislative Bills, AB 2142.
February 23, 2012
Box 4, Folder 22
Legislative Bills, AB 2572.
February 24, 2012
Box 5, Folder 1
Legislative Bills, AB 2573.
February 24, 2012
Box 5, Folder 2
Legislative Bills, AB 2580.
February 24, 2012
Box 5, Folder 3
Legislative Bills, AB 2591.
February 24, 2012
Box 5, Folder 4
Legislative Bills, AB 2592.
February 24, 2012
Box 5, Folder 5
Legislative Bills, AJR 8.
March 9, 2011
Box 5, Folder 6
Constituent Correspondence, AB 2728.
2008
Box 5, Folder 7
Constituent Correspondence, Vehicle License Fees (VLF).
February 27, 2011
Box 5, Folder 8
Constituent Correspondence, Support AB 390.
2009
Box 5, Folder 9
Constituent Correspondence, Opposition 2208.
2010
Box 5, Folder 10
Constituent Correspondence, Opposition AB 2446.
2010
Box 5, Folder 11
Constituent Correspondence, Opposition AB 2449.
2010
Box 5, Folder 12
District Office, State Lit.
2009
Box 5, Folder 14
Constituent Correspondence, Thank You Letters.
2009
Box 5, Folder 15
Constituent Correspondence, Opposition SB 399.
2010
Box 5, Folder 16
Constituent Correspondence, Opposition to Death Penalty.
2010
Box 5, Folder 17
Constituent Correspondence, Support AB 357.
2010
Box 5, Folder 18
Constituent Correspondence, Health Care Reform.
2010/2011
Box 5, Folder 19
Constituent Correspondence, Prison Reform.
2010
Box 5, Folder 20
Constituent Correspondence, Prop 13.
2010
Box 5, Folder 21
Constituent Correspondence, Business Taxes.
2010/2011
Box 5, Folder 22
Constituent Correspondence, Public Transportation.
2010
Box 5, Folder 25
Constituents Correspondence, Budget 2009, Non-Profit/Community Concerns.
2009
Box 5, Folder 26
Constituent Correspondence, Budget, Redevelopment.
2011
Box 5, Folder 27
Constituent Correspondence, Budget, Youth.
2009
Box 5, Folder 28
Constituent Correspondence, Budget, Transportation.
2009
Box 5, Folder 29
Constituent Correspondence, Budget, Employee Cuts.
2009
Box 5, Folder 30
Constituent Correspondence, Budget, Local Government Financing.
2009
Box 5, Folder 31
Constituent Correspondence, Budget, Cal Works, Opposing Cuts.
2009
Box 5, Folder 32
Constituent Correspondence, Budget, Taxes.
2009
Box 5, Folder 33
Constituent Correspondence, Budget, Department Elimination.
2009
Box 5, Folder 34
Constituent Correspondence, Budget, State Parks.
2009.
Box 5, Folder 35
Constituent Correspondence, Budget, Disabilities/Home Care Services.
2009
Box 5, Folder 36
Constituent Correspondence, Budget, Rehabilitation.
2009
Box 5, Folder 37
Constituent Correspondence, Budget, K-12, Education.
Box 5, Folder 38
Constituent Correspondence, Budget, Higher Education.
2009-2010
Box 5, Folder 39
Constituent Correspondence, Budget, Health Care.
2009
Box 5, Folder 40
Constituent Correspondence, Budget, Adult Education.
2009
Box 5, Folder 41
Constituent Correspondence, Carson California.
2008-2011
Box 5, Folder 42
Constituent Correspondence, Harbor City/Gateway, California.
2008
Box 5, Folder 43
Constituent Correspondence, Lakewood, California.
2008.
Box 5, Folder 44
Constituent Correspondence, Long Beach, California.
2008
Box 5, Folder 45
Constituent Correspondence, Support E-Verify.
2011
Box 5, Folder 46
District Office, Resources for Constituents.
2009-2010
Box 5, Folder 48
Constituent Correspondence, Carson, California.
2010-2012
Box 5, Folder 49
Hands Across the 55th District RSVP List.
2011
Box 5, Folder 50
Community Organizations.
2008-2011.
Box 5, Folder 51
Carson, Business Commerce.
2008-2009
Box 5, Folder 52
Carson, Education.
2008-2011
Box 5, Folder 53
Carson, Carousel Tract Town Hall, AB 1207.
Box 6, Folder 1
Online Newspaper/Online Articles.
February 2010-May 2010
Box 6, Folder 2
Online Newspaper/Online Articles.
June 2010-November 2010
Box 6, Folder 3
Congratulatory Cards.
2008-2012
Box 6, Folder 4
Congratulatory/Thank You Letters.
June 2008-September 2010
Box 6, Folder 5
Congratulatory/Thank You Letters.
October 14, 1010-November 29, 2010
Box 6, Folder 6
Congratulatory/Thank Your Letters.
December 08, 2010-September 28, 2012
Box 6, Folder 7
Newspaper Articles.
2008-2011
Box 6, Folder 8
Education, Pasadena City College.
June 2010
Box 6, Folder 9
Asian Pacific Islander (API) Heritage Month Event.
2011
Box 6, Folder 10
Campaign Mail/Opposing Bills.
Box 6, Folder 12
Certificates and Awards.
1008-2012
Box 6, Folder 13
Plaque, Carson Black Chamber of Commerce.
December 3, 2009
Box 6, Folder 14
Plaque, Wilmington Chamber of Commerce.
December 13, 2009
Box 6, Folder 15
Plaque, Wilmington Chamber of Commerce.
February 26, 2010
Box 6, Folder 16
Plaque, Pasadena City College.
June 18, 2010
Box 6, Folder 17
Plaque, California Business Education Association.
November 6, 2010
Box 6, Folder 18
Plaque, Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, 23rd Annual Heart of the Harbor.
December 12, 2012
Box 6, Folder 19
Plaque, CITEA Foundation, Legislator of the Year.
March 18, 2011.
Box 6, Folder 20
Plaque, Martin Luther King Jr. Democratic Club.
May 14, 2011
Box 7, Folder 1
Plaque, Regional Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
October 20, 2008
Box 7, Folder 2
Bandana, Workers' Needs Over Corporate Greed, LA/LB Harbor Coalition.
2010
Box 7, Folder 3
PSA "Earth Day" (video).
April 22, 2008
Box 7, Folder 4
PSA "Sober Grad" (video).
April 1, 2008
Box 7, Folder 5
"Character Local Edition" (DVD).
September 30, 2010
Box 7, Folder 6
Award, Philippine American Bar Association. "Distinguished Community Service Award".
March 11, 2009
Box 7, Folder 7
Award, AAA/E 32nd Annual Banquet. "Vision of Change".
2009
Box 7, Folder 8
Award, California Journal for Filipino Americans. "Community Leadership Award".
August 28, 2008
Box 7, Folder 9
Awards, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Special Emphasis Program.
May 30, 2008
Box 7, Folder 10
L.A. AFL CIO Community Service Program.
2009
Box 7, Folder 11
Plaque, South Bay Cities Council of Government.
2010
Box 7, Folder 12
Plaque, City of Carson, Future Unlimited.
June 11, 2010
Box 8, Folder 1
Plaque, Wilmington Chamber of Commerce.
December 14, 2008
Box 8, Folder 2
Plaque, Professional Engineers in California Government, Los Angeles Section.
Box 8, Folder 3
Plaque, City of Hope.
February 4, 2011
Box 8, Folder 4
Warren Furutani at Dodger Stadium (oversize photograph).
Box 8, Folder 5
Education Placard "Oil Dollars for California Colleges".
Box 9, Folder 1
Retirement Recognition Award, County of Los Angeles.
November 29, 2012.
Note
Contains folder located in map drawer
Box 9, Folder 2
Recognition Award, Compton Unified School District.
November 29, 2012
Box 9, Folder 3
Parade Poster, 26th Annual "Kingdome Day Parade".
January 17, 2011
Box 9, Folder 4
Parade Poster, 26th Annual "Kingdome Day Parade".
January 17, 2011
Box 9, Folder 5
Emblem, California State Assembly.