Inventory of the Patrick J. (Pat) Nolan Papers

Processed by Kim Mitchell
California State Archives
1020 "O" Street
Sacramento, California 95814
Phone: (916) 653-2246
Fax: (916) 653-7363
Email: ArchivesWeb@sos.ca.gov
URL: http://www.sos.ca.gov/archives/
© 2011
California Secretary of State. All rights reserved.

Inventory of the Patrick Nolan Papers

Collection number: LP429

California State Archives

Office of the Secretary of State

Sacramento, California
Processed by:
Kim Mitchell
Date Completed:
January 2011
Encoded by:
Cori Schmidtbauer
© 2012 California Secretary of State. All rights reserved.

Descriptive Summary

Title: Patrick Nolan Papers
Dates: 1979-1994
Collection number: LP429
Creator: Patrick Nolan, California Legislator
Collection Size: 13.5 cubic feet
Repository: California State Archives
Sacramento, California
Abstract: Patrick James Nolan, Republican, was a State Assembly Member, 1979-1994. He represented the 41st District until the re-districting in 1993, after which he represented the 43rd District. The Pat Nolan Papers contain three record series covering 1979 to 1994: Bill Files, 1979-1994; Correspondence series, 1979-1993; and Subject Files, 1979-1994.
Physical location: California State Archives
Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English

Administrative Information

Access

While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions are noted in the record series descriptions.

Publication Rights

For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives collections.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Patrick Nolan Papers, LP429:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.

Acquisition and Custodial History

The California State Archives acquired the Patrick Nolan Papers following his final term in the State Legislature.

Biography

Patrick James Nolan, Republican, was a State Assembly Member, 1979-1994. His 41st District included Burbank, Tujunga, Lakeview Terrace, and Glendale in Los Angeles County. After re-districting in 1993, he represented the 43rd District, which was primarily composed of Glendale, Pasadena, and portions of Burbank and Los Angeles.
Nolan was born on June 16, 1950, in Los Angeles, California. He received both a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (1972) and a Doctor of Jurisprudence (1975) from the University of Southern California. Upon election, Nolan was employed as a trial attorney with a Los Angeles law firm. Nolan and his wife, Gail Zajic-MacKenzie, have three children, Courtney, Katie, and James.
Nolan was an active member of his community. Beginning at age 10, Nolan walked precincts, volunteering for groups such as State Steering Committee of Youth for Reagan. While in college, Nolan served on the Trustee Liaison Committee and was elected to the Trojan Knights and Blue Key Honor Society. Nolan was also an accomplished equestrian and served as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff of Los Angeles County.
After narrowly winning the primary election against incumbent Mike D. Antonovich (Rep.), Nolan easily won the General Election in November 1978. Quickly advancing through the party's ranks, he served as Secretary for the Republican Caucus and Delegate to the Republican Convention in 1980. From 1982 to 1983 he chaired that same Caucus; from 1984 to 1987 he served as Republican Leader; and from 1985 to 1986 he was the Minority Floor Leader.
In August 1988, Nolan's office was raided by the FBI, one of several California legislators involved in what was known as the "Shrimp-scam" investigation. Undercover FBI agents posed as lobbyists for the shrimp industry and succeeded in exchanging money for legislative support. In April 1993, Nolan was indicted by a federal grand jury; he pled guilty to one count of racketeering. A special election was held in May 1994 for the 43rd District. James Rogan (Rep.) was the winner of that election as well as the June Primary and the November General in that same year.
After his release from prison, Nolan moved his family to Virginia and became an advocate for prisoner's rights. In addition to frequent speaking engagements, Nolan was appointed to serve on the U.S. Prison Rape Elimination Commission and is President of Justice Fellowship, a division of Prison Fellowship Ministries.
During his term in the Legislature, Patrick J. Nolan was a member of the following committees:

State Assembly, 1979-1994

  • Standing Committees
  • Banking, Finance and Bonded Indebtedness, 1991-1992
  • Elections, Reapportionment and Constitutional Amendments, 1991-1992
  • Finance and Insurance, 1989-1990
  • Finance, Insurance and Commerce, 1981-1982
  • Government Oversight, 1993-1994
  • Health, 1979-1982
  • Higher Education, 1993-1994
  • Human Resources
  • Human Services, 1983-1984
  • Insurance, 1991-1992
  • Judiciary, 1979-1980
  • Revenue and Taxation, 1983-1984
  • Rules, 1981-1982, 1989-1990, 1993-1994
  • Rules, 1989-1990, 1993-1994
  • Utilities and Commerce, 1989-1990 (Vice Chair, 1979-1980)
  • Vice-Chair, 1979-1980
  • Ways and Means, 1983-1984, 1989-1994
  • Select Committees
  • Community Colleges, 1984-1984
  • Policy Research Management, 1981-1986 (Vice Chair, 1984)
  • Vice-Chair, 1984
  • Joint Committees
  • Fire, Police, Emergency, and Disaster Services, 1983-1984
  • Task Forces
  • Financial Institutions, 1983-1984
  • Medi-Cal Reform, 1983-1984

Scope and Content

The Pat Nolan Papers contain three record series covering 1979 to 1994. The Bill Files, 1979-1994, document Nolan's interest in victim's rights, crime prevention, Medi-Cal, insurance and loan regulations, and economic revitalization during his tenure as a member of the California State Legislature. The Correspondence series, 1979-1993, illustrates Nolan's communication with lobbyists, legislators, and constituents. Notable names and topics include Tom Hayden, Dan Lundgren, Board of Equalization, and worker's compensation.
The Subject Files, 1979-1994, contain information on a variety of topics of interest to Nolan. Found throughout the Subject Files are topics related to Nolan's legislative concerns, such as illegal immigration and taxation. Additional topics found in the Subject Files relate to Nolan's leadership role in the California Republican Party as well as the various commissions he served on, including the Commission on the Californias, Debt Advisory Commission, Task Force on Financial Institutions, and Gaming Commission.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
California. Legislature. Assembly.
California. Legislature. Assembly. Committee on Human Services
United States. National Prison Rape Elimination Commission


LP429:1-127

Series 1 Bill Files 1979-1994

Physical Description: 127 file folders, 1 audiocassette

Access Information

Access to audiovisual material requires the production of use copies.

Arrangement

Bill files are arranged chronologically by legislative session and numerically by bill number.

Scope and Content Note

Bill Files may include bill analyses, amendments and resolutions, author's statements, testimony, press releases, editorials and newspaper clippings, correspondence, committee statements, and other information. Nolan authored and sponsored numerous bills on a variety of topics such as Grand Jury audits (AB2445, 1979-1980); SMOG checks for emergency vehicles (AB124, 1981-1982); litter (AB2020, 1985-1986); industrial loan regulation (SB20, 1985-1986); homebuyer's assistance (AB4236, 1989-1990); and enterprise zones (AB1015, 1993-1994). However, his primary interest was crime. Examples of this include: AB177, AB436, and AB1954 (1979-1980) Drunk Driving; AB419 (1981-1982) Juvenile Court Law; AB332 (1989-1990) Vehicle Theft; and AB363 (1991-1992) Domestic Violence. Also included are bill files for Senate Bills from the 1985-1986 session that were of interest to but not authored by Nolan.
Audiotapes from the bill files have been removed to cold storage and separation sheets are included within the file folders to indicate this.
1979-1980: AB177-AB3380; ACA63; AJR84 (LP429:1-41)
1981-1982: AB88-AB2079; HR67 (LP429:42-82)
1985-1986: AB2020-AB4000; ACA2-ACA32 (LP429:83-88)
1985-1986: SB7-SB1211 (LP429:89-95)
1989-1990: AB242-AB4237 (LP429:96-120)
1991-1992: AB363 (LP429:121)
1993-1994: AB475-AB1121; HR9 (LP429:122-127)
LP429:128-162

Series 2 Correspondence 1979-1993

Physical Description: 35 file folders

Arrangement

Correspondence files are arranged alphabetically by subject heading.

Scope and Content Note

Correspondence files contain memoranda, background materials, constituent letters and petitions, press releases, event invitations, caucus and committee letters, and Nolan's recommendations for appointments. Significant persons and subjects include Tom Hayden, the Board of Equalization, Dan Lundgren, Bill Lyon, Worker's Compensation, and the San Francisco (1989) Earthquake.
For a list subject headings see Appendix A at the California State Archives.
LP429:163-334

Series 3 Subject Files 1979-1994

Physical Description: 172 file folders

Arrangement

Subject Files are arranged alphabetically by subject heading.

Scope and Content Note

Subject Files contain information on a variety of topics of interest to Nolan. The files may include testimony, reports, travel invoices, appointment recommendations, correspondence, notes, memoranda, background material, news clippings, speeches, and press releases. Persons of note include Governor Deukmejian, Carol Hallett, Jesse Unruh, Bruce Stevenson, and Karin Watson. Nolan was a member of many organizations including the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the Commission on the Californias, the Council for National Policy, the Debt Advisory Commission, the Fund for the Improvement and Reform of Schools and Teaching (FIRST), the Gaming Commission, the Pacific Legal Foundation, and the Task Force on Financial Institutions. Other significant topics include Capscam, the death penalty, foreign trade zones, education, illegal immigrants, Medi-Cal, military base closures, reapportionment, senior citizens, South Africa, veterans, and victim's rights.
For a list subject headings see Appendix B at the California State Archives.