Lee, Edwin M., 2011-2019,

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Summary

Title:
Edwin M. (Mah) Lee papers,
Dates:
2011-2019,
Creators:
Lee, Edwin M., 1952-2017.
Abstract:
Correspondence from government officials, photographs with dignitaries, and speech for 2012 inauguration. Preservation copies of press conference videos.
Extent:
18 boxes (16.62 cubic feet)
Language:
English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Edwin M. (Mah) Lee papers (SFH 695), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Background

Scope and content:

Correspondence from government officials, photographs with dignitaries, and speech for 2012 inauguration. Preservation copies of press conference videos. Press conferences are vailable online at https://sanfrancisco.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=197.

Biographical / historical:

Edwin Mah Lee was born to Chinese immigrant parents on May 5, 1952, in Seattle, Washington. His father died when Lee was 15. His mother was a seamstress and waitress who raised six children. Lee graduated from Bowdoin College and the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, and went on to work as managing attorney for the Asian Law Caucus, a civil rights organization, in San Francisco.

Lee's service to the City and County of San Francisco began in 1989 as the first investigator for the city's whistleblower ordinance. Beginning in 1991, he was executive director of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission. He then became director of city purchasing, then director of the Department of Public Works in 2000. In 2005 he became the City Administrator. Upon then-Mayor Gavin Newsom's election as the state Lieutenant Governor, Lee was confirmed by the Board of Supervisors to fill Newsom's vacancy in January of 2011, becoming the city's 43rd mayor. He was elected to the office later that year, and re-elected in 2015.

Lee served as the city's first Asian American mayor. Notably, his administration gave tax breaks to major firms to stay in the city. He opposed President Donald Trump's executive order to identify and deport undocumented immigrants; the sanctuary city prevailed when a US district court blocked the order. Lee piloted the city's Navigation Centers beginning in 2015, allowing homeless people an alternative to the traditional shelter model. He created the largest affordable housing fund in San Francisco history, with thousands of new units under construction during his helm.

Lee died of a heart attack while in office on Dec. 12, 2022. He was survived by his wife and two daughters. He is remembered for the serious focus he brought to his work, the lighthearted nature he brought to the room, and the open-mindedness to tackle problems with new approaches.

Acquisition information:
Papers received from San Francisco Mayor's Office of Protocol in 2018. Booklet of summary of accomplishments received in 2019. Videos received from San Francisco Government TV in 2018.
Processing information:

Processed by Tami J. Suzuki in 2022.

Arrangement:

Organized into two series: Series 1. Office Of Protocol; and Series 2. Press Conference Videos.

Physical location:
Open for research. The collection is offsite and advance notice is required for retrieval. Material must be requested at least 4 business days in advance of visit.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid written by Tami J. Suzuki.
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2022-04-17 00:26:12 +0000 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research and available for use during San Francisco History Center hours. Photographs are available during Photo Desk hours. This collection must be requested at least 4 business days in advance of visit.

The videos in Series II are available at sfgovtv.org.

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Any use beyond scholarly research will be forwarded to Martha Campbell for review. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Edwin M. (Mah) Lee papers (SFH 695), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Location of this collection:
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102, US
Contact:
(415) 557-4567
sfhistory@sfpl.org
Website