Finding Aid to the Edwin M. (Mah) Lee Papers, 2011-2019,
SFH 695
Finding aid written by Tami J. Suzuki.
San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
sfhistory@sfpl.org
June 15, 2024
Contributing Institution:
San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
Title: Edwin M. (Mah) Lee papers,
Date (inclusive): 2011-2019,
Collection Identifier: SFH
695
Creator:
Lee, Edwin M., 1952-2017.
Physical Description:
18 boxes
(16.62 cubic feet)
Abstract: Correspondence from government
officials, photographs with dignitaries, and speech for 2012 inauguration. Preservation
copies of press conference videos.
Physical Location: The collection is stored off
site.
Language of Material:
English.
Access
The collection (Series 1) is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours. A
minimum of two working days' notice is required for use. Please call the San Francisco
History Center for hours and information at (415) 557-4567. The videos in Series II are
available at sfgovtv.org; see
https://sanfrancisco.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=197.
Publication Rights
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.
Provenance
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.
Biographical Statement
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.
Scope and Contents
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.
Arrangement
Organized into two series: Series 1. Office Of Protocol; and Series 2. Press Conference
Videos.
Processing Information
Processed by Tami J. Suzuki in 2022.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Mayors -- California -- San Francisco.
San Francisco (Calif.) -- Politics and government -- 21st
century.
Urban policy--California--San Francisco.
Lee, Edwin M., 1952-2017 -- Archives
Series 1
Office of Protocol,
2011-2015
Physical Description:
.62 cubic feet
Scope and Contents
Contains thank you letters from constituents, some publications with Mayor Lee
pictured, a restrospective booklet published by the City Administrator's office, and
photographs with dignitaries including then-President Barack Obama and former President
William Clinton. Also includes inauguration speech of Jan. 8, 2012.
Arrangement
Organized alphabetically.
Box 1, folder 1-10
Correspondence from Constituents,
2011-2015
Box 1, folder 11
Housing Authority Recommendations (from City Administrator),
[2014?]
Box 1, folder 12
Inauguration Speech,
[Jan. 8, 2012]
box 2, Folder 1
Mayor Lee & the City He Loved, A Summary of
Accomplishments, 2011-2017,
2019
Box 2, folders 4-5
Photographs with Dignitaries
Series 2
Press Conference Videos,
2011-2017
Edwin M. Lee Mayoral Press Conferences
Physical Description:
16 cubic feet
Scope and Contents
Contains DVDs of the mayor's press conferences, also known as Press Availabilities. The
press conference videos are available online at the San Francisco Government TV website:
https://sanfrancisco.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=197.
Access
These videos are master copies for preservation purposes only, not for public use.
Instead, patrons should use the videos available through sfgovtv.org.