Guide to the Louis Caldera Papers
California State Archives
© 2014
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Sacramento, California 95814
Phone: (916) 653-2246
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Email: ArchivesWeb@sos.ca.gov
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California Secretary of State. All rights reserved.
Guide to the Louis Caldera Papers
Collection number: LP451
California State ArchivesOffice of the Secretary of State
Sacramento, California
- Processed by:
- Kim Mitchell
- Date Completed:
- January 2013
- Encoded by:
- Ignacio Sanchez-Alonso
© 2014 California Secretary of State. All rights reserved.
Title: Guide to the Louis Caldera Papers
Dates: 1993-1997
Collection number: LP451
Creator:
Calder, Louis
Collection Size:
10 cubic feet
Repository:
California State Archives
Sacramento, California
Abstract: Louis Caldera, Democrat, was a State Assembly Member from 1992 to 1997. His 46th District included central Los Angeles, bordered
in the north by the Hollywood Freeway. The Louis Caldera Papers contain six record series dating over a 5-year time period
(1993-1997) and include 10 cubic feet of textual records. The six record series include: Bill Files, Correspondence, Democratic
Leadership Council (DLC) Files, Gun Violence Files, Press Clippings, and Subject Files.
Physical location: California State Archives
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions are noted in the record series descriptions.
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.
[Identification of item], Louis Caldera Papers, LP451:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary
of State, Sacramento, California.
Louis Caldera, Democrat, was a State Assembly Member from 1992 to 1997. His 46th District included central Los Angeles, bordered
in the north by the Hollywood Freeway.
Caldera was born in 1956, in El Paso, Texas. In 1960, his family moved to the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles County.
He graduated from Monte Vista High School in nearby Whittier in 1974, whereupon he attended West Point. After receiving his
bachelor's degree, he served five years on active military duty, leaving the Army with the rank of Captain. By 1987, he graduated
from Harvard University with both a law degree and a master's degree in business administration. Moving back to Los Angeles,
Caldera practiced public finance law for private firms and was appointed as a Los Angeles County deputy counsel in 1991 where
he represented the interests of the County in both state and federal litigation. His wife is named Eva Orlebeke, a fellow
attorney, with whom he has three daughters. Caldera currently runs his own education consulting firm in Washington, D.C.
In his first bid for elective office, Caldera received 71% of the vote against Republican David Osborne in 1992. He would
successfully hold the 56th District for the next two elections. Due to term limits, Caldera's tenure would have expired in
1998. However, Caldera accepted an appointment by President Clinton to serve as managing director of the Corporation for
National and Community Service, leaving his legislative office in September 1997. Caldera has been a trustee of the Mexican
American Bar Association of Los Angeles County, was a co-founder of the Latino Lawyers Committee, and committee chair of the
Government Affairs Council of the United Way of Greater Los Angeles.
During his tenure in the Legislature, Louis Caldera was a member of the following committees.
Leadership
Assembly Democratic Economic Prosperity Team, 1993-1994
Assistant Democratic Floor Leader, 1994
Assembly Standing Committees
Banking and Finance, 1995-1998
*Vice-Chair, 1996
Budget, 1995
Consumer Protection, Governmental Efficiency and Economic Development, 1993-1994
Education, 1997
Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials, 1996
Finance, Insurance and Public Investment, 1993-1994
*Vice-Chair, 1993-1994
Higher Education, 1995-1997
Judiciary, 1993-1994, 1997
Revenue and Taxation, 1993-1997
*Chair, 1997
Assembly Select Committees
Gun Violence, 1994-1997
*Chair, 1994-1997
Statewide Immigration Impact, 1993-1994
Assembly Subcommittees
Budget #3: Resources, Transportation, Agriculture and the Environment, 1995
*Chair, 1995
Budget #4: State Administration, 1995
The Louis Caldera Papers contain six record series dating over a 5-year time period (1993-1997) and include 10 cubic feet
of textual records. The six record series include: Bill Files, Correspondence, Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) Files,
Gun Violence Files, Press Clippings, and Subject Files.
The Correspondence (1995-1997) and Press Clippings (1993-1997) series provide insight into the daily workings of Caldera's
offices. The Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) Files, 1993-1997, documents Caldera's unflagging efforts to promote progressive
Democratic Party platforms in California.
The Bill Files (1993-1998), Gun Violence Files (1993-1998), and the Subject Files (1992-1996) document his advocacy of gun
control, child safety, reduction of teen pregnancy, and corporate responsibility. Together, with the DLC Files, the records
paint a picture of Caldera's attempts to apply progressive Democratic Party objectives to the issues facing his constituents
during his three terms as a member of the California State Legislature.
No further accruals are expected.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Education, Higher - California
California. Legislature. Assembly. Committee on Revenue and Taxation
Consumer protection - California
LP451:1-149
Series 1 Bill Files 1993-1998
Physical Description: 149 file folders, 2 audiocassette tapes, 3 videocassette tapes
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by legislative session, then numerically by bill number.
Access Information
Access to audiovisual material requires the production of use copies.
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. Caldera authored numerous bills on a
variety of topics such as alcohol (AB2897, 1993-1994),unlawful sexual intercourse (AB1490, 1995-1996), humane officers (AB
1571, 1995-1996), neighborhood parks (AB3014, 1995-1996), and home ownership (AB784, 1997-1998). However, his primary interests
centered around guns, children, and minorities. Examples of this include: reducing gun violence (AB629, 1995-1996; AB 488,
1997-1998), child safety (AB2268, 1993-1994; AB198 and AB2679, 1995-1996), regulation of financial institutions (AB856 and
AB942, 1995-1996; AB1295, 1997-1998), child support enforcement (AB1334, 1997-1998), and recognition for Asian-Americans (AB3335,
1993-1994; AB2911, 1995-1996).
Audio/videotapes have been removed to cold storage and separation sheets are included within the file folders to indicate
this.
1993-1994: AB1157-AB3789 (55ff) LP451:1-55
1995-1996: AB198-AB3014, AJR18-AJR73, AB1XX-AB26XX (76ff) LP451:56-131
1997-1998: AB329-AB1334, ACA14 (18ff) LP451:132-149
LP451:150-153
Series 2 Correspondence 1995-1997
Physical Description: 4 file folders
Arrangement
Correspondence is Arranged chronologically by year.
Scope and Content Note
Correspondence are primarily outgoing letters such as replies to letters received or requests being made. Files may also
include news clippings, notes, memoranda, reports, and resolutions. Notable topics include gun violence, banking reform,
welfare, healthcare, higher education, and domestic violence. Letters may be personal or professional in nature. Correspondents
include constituents, other legislators, media representatives, and community as well as local government leaders.
LP451:154-170
Series 3 Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) Files 1993-1997
Physical Description: 17 file folders
Arrangement
Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) Files are arranged alphabetically by subject heading.
Scope and Content Note
This series documents Caldera's involvement with the DLC, a national non-profit organization with a think tank named the Progressive
Policy Institute; its publication is titled The New Democrat. As a member of the California DLC, Caldera encouraged participation
by other Democratic legislative members, appeared at local Democratic events, and attended national conventions and conferences.
Files include news clippings, correspondence, memoranda, press releases, reports, notes, policy briefs, conference materials,
and newsletters. Topics include environmental protection, gun control, the Democratic National Convention, the Progressive
Policy Institute, welfare reform, gender/race equity, young voters, and Affirmative Action.
LP451:171-190
Series 4 Gun Violence Files 1993-1998
Physical Description: 20 file folders
Arrangement
Gun Violence Files are arranged alphabetically by subject heading.
Scope and Content Note
This series documents Caldera's main legislative interest of gun regulation and includes background and legislative materials
from his time as Chair of the Select Committee on Gun Violence. Files include news clippings, correspondence, memoranda,
amendments, press releases, reports, testimony, agendas, minutes, notes, and pamphlets. Subjects include the 2nd Amendment,
AB488 (1997), Assault Weapons, Concealed Weapons, Gun Studies, Polling Data, Saturday Night Special handgun, and Staff Meetings.
Note: See Subject Files for hearings held by the Select Committee on Gun Violence.
LP451:191-203
Series 5 Press Clippings 1993-1997
Physical Description: 13 file folders
Arrangement
Press Clippings are arranged chronologically by date of release.
Scope and Content Note
This series documents the press coverage of Caldera, his proposed legislation, and the legislative topics of interest to him.
Files include news clippings, articles, correspondence, and press releases. Topics include education, statutory rape, sexual
harassment, Hispanics, political appointments, income taxes, gun violence, welfare reform, adult entertainment, regulation,
teen pregnancy, reasonable doubt, term limits, and liens.
LP451:204-233
Series 6 Subject Files 1993-1996
Physical Description: 30 file folders, 1 videocassette and 10 audio cassettes
Arrangement
Subject Files are arranged alphabetically by subject heading.
Access Information
Access to audiovisual material requires the production of use copies.
Scope and Content Note
Subject Files contain information on a variety of topics of interest to Caldera. The files include correspondence, reports,
amendments, articles, bill analysis, testimony, notes, memoranda, statistics, promotional materials, background material,
news clippings, and press releases. Subjects include: alcohol, environmental audits, hearings held by the Select Committee
on Gun Violence, the Orange County Bankruptcy, and Propositions 200, 201, 202, and 211 (1996).
Audio/videotapes have been removed to cold storage and separation sheets are included within the file folders to indicate
this.