Mori (Floyd) Papers, 1970s-2018

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Summary

Title:
Floyd Mori papers
Dates:
1970s-2018
Creators:
Mori, Floyd
Abstract:
This collection contains materials primarily from Floyd Mori’s time as a California State Assemblyman and his involvement with the JACL and APAICS. The bulk of the collection is from the late 1970s, and approximately 2000 through 2018. Items are mostly subject files, correspondence, and legislation (proposed and passed). A number of scrapbooks with photos and newspaper clippings, as well as ephemera are included.
Extent:
17.5 linear feet (17 boxes)
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Floyd Mori Papers. 2006.17 [or 2018.20], Japanese American National Museum. Los Angeles, CA.

Background

Scope and content:

Items from the first accession (2006.17) contains materials primarily from Floyd Mori’s time as a California State Assemblyman. Items are mostly subject files, correspondence, and legislation. Many files relate to proposed legislation, passed legislation, and correspondence and notes about legislation. Other binders contain campaign information. A number of scrapbooks with photos and newspaper clippings are also included. A number of the disbound photo binders document JACL activities and events extensively in the early 2000s. Other binders include Floyd Mori’s personal photos from the 1970s. A few pieces of ephemera include a name plate, pins, and proclamations; clothing includes three jackets and two shirts.

Items from the second accession (2018.20) are materials from Floyd Mori’s time in Washington DC, where he was the National President and Executive Director for the JACL, and former President/CEO of APAICS. Materials include correspondence, event invitations, programs, and other documents and memorabilia.

  • Office files and legislation (5 boxes)
  • Photo binders (3 boxes)
  • Scrapbooks – photos and newspaper clippings (2 boxes)
  • Memorabilia (2 boxes)
  • Chronological files (5 boxes)
Biographical / historical:

Biographical information is taken from collection materials, the Who’s Who in Asian American Communities (http://wwaac.com/floyd-mori/), and the staff page on the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies website (http://apaics.org/our-staff/floyd-mori/):

Shiro Floyd Mori was born in Murray, Utah, outside of Salt Lake City on May 30, 1939. His parents were immigrants to the United States from Kagoshima, Japan. He is the seventh of eight children. When he was a small child, the family bought a farm in Sandy, Utah, where Floyd attended school. Active in sports, he became an All State High School Baseball Player. After graduation from Jordan High School, he served for six months on active duty at Fort Ord, California, with the United States Army Reserves.

Floyd entered college at the University of Southern California (USC). He interrupted his college studies to serve a two year mission to Hawaii for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon). He attended Brigham Young University (BYU) from which he received a bachelor’s degree with a dual major in Economics and Asian Studies. He received a master’s degree in Economics and Political Science from BYU. He has attended fellowship programs at Stanford University and UCLA.

Upon completion of college, Floyd taught economics at Chabot College in Hayward, California, for ten years, which led to his introduction into politics. He ran for Pleasanton, California City Council and won a seat there, based on his outreach work and position on planned growth for the city. In 1974, he was elected Mayor of Pleasanton, and later won a seat in the California State Assembly in 1975. He stayed in the Assembly for six years, writing legislation in support of agriculture, decriminalizing marijuana use, tax reform, and was instrumental in helping pass the Spousal Rape Act (creating laws to fight spousal abuse).

Mori is the former President and CEO of the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS). Previously, Mori served as the National Executive Director/CEO of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL). He was chair of the National Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) and has been on the Executive Council of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights (LCCR). He served four years as National President and four years as a National Vice President of the JACL.

He was the Director of the Office of International Trade in California and worked extensively with Asian American groups and organizations. He has been an International business consultant and president of Mori-Silva International for many years. Mori has been a consultant in government relations and served as the Utah Trade Representative to Japan.

Acquisition information:
The collection was acquired in 2006 and 2018 as a gift of Floyd Mori.
Processing information:

Items from the first accession (2006.17) were processed initially by museum staff. Further organization and a first finding aid was created in 2017 by Jamie Henricks. Items from the second accession (2018.20) were initially organized by Mrs. Irene Mori, and rehoused by museum staff and volunteers. The finding aid was updated in 2019 to include information about the second accession.

Arrangement:

Original arrangement was preserved.

Physical location:
Japanese American National Museum. 100 North Central Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012.
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid created by Jamie Henricks.
Date Prepared:
© 2019
Date Encoded:
Machine-readable finding aid created by Jamie Henricks. Date of source: December 16, 2019 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

By appointment only. Please contact the Collections Management and Access Unit (collections@janm.org). Advanced notice is required.

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from materials in this collection must be submitted to the Collections Management and Access Unit at the Japanese American National Museum (collections@janm.org).

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Floyd Mori Papers. 2006.17 [or 2018.20], Japanese American National Museum. Los Angeles, CA.

Location of this collection:
Collections Management & Access Unit
100 North Central Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90012, US
Contact:
213-625-0414
collections@janm.org
Website