Los Angeles County Medical Association's Coroner's Committee campaign records, 1950-1956

Printable guide [HTML]
Request items

Summary

Creators:
Los Angeles County Medical Association. Coroner’s Committee
Abstract:
Records from the Los Angeles County Medical Association's campaign to find a new coroner for Los Angeles County.
Extent:
152 items in two boxes.
Language:
The records are in English .

Background

Scope and content:

The collection contains the material the committee used in running the campaign to get County Charter "D" passed in Los Angeles County. The collection includes campaign reports, correspondence (chiefly by committee chairman Lewis T. Bullock), committee minutes, printed materials, publicity information, applications, and memoranda. There is also material used in the search for the first coroner which includes correspondence between the committee and Theodore J. Curphey, who was eventually hired and became the first Coroner of Los Angeles County in March 1957. There are also manuscripts by Los Angeles County Deputy Coroner Ben H. Brown and Dr. R. B. H. Gradwhol regarding the professional role of a coroner.

Biographical / historical:

In 1956, the Coroner's Committee of the Los Angeles County Medical Association ran a campaign to hire a new coroner for Los Angeles County and bring in a medical doctor to fill the position (medical examiner). In order to do this, the Coroner's Committee had to get a Los Angeles County Charter Amendment passed that stated that the Coroner shall be a physician who is a certified pathologist (LA County Charter Amendment "D"). The amendment also separated the office of the Coroner from the Public Administrator. The committee also wanted to change some policies regarding the Coroner's role and responsibilities in autopsies.

Acquisition information:
On long-term loan from the Los Angeles County Medical Association, 1992.
Arrangement:

The collection is in the original arrangement done by LACMA.

Rules or conventions:
Finding Aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Website