Finding aid to the Jerry Roberts Collection on Dianne Feinstein
(circa 1965-1994)
SFH 699
Finding aid compiled by Katherine Ets-Hokin.
San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
2022
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
sfhistory@sfpl.org
Title: Jerry Roberts Collection on Dianne Feinstein
Date (inclusive): circa 1965-1994
Identifier/Call Number: SFH 699
Creator:
Roberts, Jerry
Physical Description:
(6 Cubic Feet)
6 cartons + 1 folder
Contributing Institution:
San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 557-4567
info@sfpl.org
Abstract: The Jerry Roberts Collection on Dianne Feinstein contains materials used by Roberts to write his book
Dianne Feinstein: Never Let Them See You Cry.
The collection contains newspaper clippings, interviews, chapter drafts, photographs, and two video tapes. Notable items include
a transcript of Roberts' interview with Feinstein, and collective clippings from various sources. It is mostly lacking in
original material.
Physical Location: The collection is stored off-site.
Language of Materials: Collection materials are in
English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours, with photographs available during Photo Desk
hours. Collections that are stored offsite should be requested 48 hours in advance.
Publication Rights
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. 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], Jerry Roberts Collection on Dianne Feinstein (SFH 699), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco
Public Library.
Provenance
Donated by Jerry Roberts in 1997 (1997-23).
Related materials
A copy of the book
Dianne Feinstein: Never Let Them See You Cry
is available with the San Francisco History Center's catalogued materials.
Conservation Note
During processing, most of the collection was re-foldered and re-housed in acid-free folders and boxes. Paper clips were removed,
and some metal staples remain.
Separated Materials
Two books were cataloged and are available through the San Francisco History Center book collection.
- Heavenly Deceptor: The True Story Behind the Jonestown Massacre, Including Connections to the Kennedy and King Assassinations
/ by Nathan Landau
- Strangers in the Senate: Politics and the New Revolution of Women in America / by Barbara Boxer
Biography
JERRY ROBERTS
Jerry Roberts is a journalist and editorial consultant with nearly 50 years of experience working in the news business, including
a quarter-century at the
San Francisco Chronicle. He is the author of the biography
Dianne Feinstein: Never Let Them See You Cry
(1994). The collection comprises his research materials for the book.
DIANNE FEINSTEIN
Dianne Feinstein (1933- ) is a Democratic senator from California. She was born and raised in San Francisco where she attended
Convent of the Sacred Heart High School followed by Stanford University. Serving as a San Francisco Supervisor (1969-1978),
she was appointed mayor (1978) in the wake of the assassinations of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk while
the city was still reeling from the mass suicide of Jim Jones' followers in Guyana. Her steady leadership during this tumultuous
time gained her public support. She went on to fulfill two more terms as mayor (1978-1988) and was elected to the United States
Senate in 1992 where she still serves.
Feinstein has had a long-distinguished career, focusing on criminal justice, gun control and the environment. Touting many
firsts, she was the first woman president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the first female mayor of San Francisco,
the first woman elected Senator of California, and the first Jewish woman in the Senate.
DIANNE FEINSTEIN: NEVER LET THEM SEE YOU CRY
Jerry Roberts' biography of Dianne Feinstein portrays the senator from childhood to her successful campaign for the U.S. Senate
in 1992. The book documents failed campaigns and setbacks she experienced early in her political career, and her rise to power
as mayor of San Francisco after the assassinations of Harvey Milk and George Moscone during the turbulent 1970s. He briefly
describes Feinstein's failed campaign for governor and her successful campaign for U.S. Senator. Roberts, a former political
editor for the
San Francisco Chronicle, quotes extensively from interviews with Feinstein's friends and family members.
Scope and Contents
The collection contains materials used by Jerry Roberts to write his book
Dianne Feinstein: Never Let Them See You Cry.
The collection contains newspaper clippings, reports, interviews, chapter drafts, photographs which also appear in the book,
and two video tapes. Notable items include a transcript of Roberts' interview with Feinstein, and collective clippings from
various sources about Feinstein. The collection's weakness is its lack of original material.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in 3 series: Series 1: Research files arranged by subject, Series 2: Research files arranged by
book chapter, then subject, Series 3: Audio Visual Materials. Series 3 is further divided by Sub-series. Sub-series 3.1: Photographs,
Sub-series 3.2: Video.
Research files arranged by subject include files created both by Roberts and his assistant and have some overlap with series
2. Series 2, created by Roberts, is arranged by chapter and generally follows a chronological order.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Legislators -- United States
Women legislators -- United States
Mayors -- California -- San Francisco.
Feinstein, Dianne, 1933-
United States. Congress. Senate
Series 1
Research files arranged by subject
Scope and Contents
Contains transcripts of interviews between Roberts and Dianne Feinstein (1993-1994).
carton 1, folder 4
California Poll
1980-1985
carton 1, folder 11
Documents. Tax reports, birth/wedding certificates, court cases
carton 1, folder 19
Governor's general election
1990
carton 1, folder 23
Interviews, out takes, quotes from interviews with various people
carton 1, folder 24-26
Interviews, Dianne Feinstein
1990-1994
carton 1, folder 30
Quintin Kopp articles, drafts
1970s
carton 1, folder 32
San Francisco History. General articles about San Francisco and California
Series 2
Research files arranged by book chapter, then subject
Scope and Contents
Files are sorted by book chapter, and then by subject within each chapter. Chapters are based on Roberts' book
Dianne Feinstein: Never Let Them See You Cry, containing 15 chapters.
carton 2, folder 3
C1: Interviews typed notes
carton 2, folder 7
C2: Sacred heart, Stanford. Feinstein's schools
carton 2, folder 8
C3: Coro, Berman, Morrie, Art and Pols
carton 2, folder 13
C4: Crime clips about murder, abortion
carton 2, folder 16
C4: Materials used for fact checking
carton 2, folder 17
C5: Interviews, clips, notes
carton 2, folder 18
C5: Materials used for fact checking
carton 2, folder 20
C6: Materials used for fact checking
carton 2, folder 21
C6: Interviews, clippings
carton 2, folder 23
C7: Materials used for fact checking
carton 3, folder 7
C8: Materials used for fact checking
1975
carton 3, folder 9
C9: Terror, Prop B, Moscone
carton 3, folder 10
C9: Materials used for fact checking
carton 3, folder 11
C9-10: Dianne Feinstein, chapter draft
carton 3, folder 13
C9-10: Moscone / Milk assassinations
carton 3, folder 14
C9-10: November 1978: Dianne Feinstein and Blum back from Nepal, Milk / Moscone assassinations
carton 3, folder 16
C9-10: San Francisco City Politics
1977-1978
carton 3, folder 19
C10: People's Temple, Jim Jones clippings
1977-1979
carton 3, folder 20
C10: Materials used for fact checking
carton 4, folder 1
C11: Aftermath, taking over
carton 4, folder 2
C11: Dan White trial, White night
carton 4, folder 6
C11: Materials for fact checking
carton 4, folder 7
C12: Democratic National Convention, Vice Presidential consideration
carton 4, folder 8
C12: Inauguration, wedding, Kopp race
carton 4, folder 10
C12: Recall, gun control, gays
1983
carton 4, folder 11
C12: Materials used for fact checking
carton 4, folder 15
C13: Clippings, chapter draft
carton 4, folder 21
C13: Poll record. Dianne Feinstein interviews
carton 4, folder 22
C13: State of the City Address. Carter, misc.
carton 4, folder 24
C13: Materials used for fact checking
carton 5, folder 7
C14: Materials used for fact checking
carton 5, folder 8
C15: Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC)
carton 5, folder 12
C15: Materials used for fact checking
Series 3
Audio Visual Material
Subseries 3.1
Photographs
Photographs
Physical Location: Photographs are located in the Photo Room, range 9A.
Scope and Contents
Contains copy prints of images that appeared in the book
Dianne Feinstein: Never Let Them See You Cry. Images portray Feinstein from childhood through to her time in the Senate. (20 images, color and black and white)
carton 6
Senator Feinstein on C-Span and CNN Crossfire
1993
carton 6
Van De Kamp for Governor :30 spot campaign advertisements
1990
