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Inventory of the Records of the Human Relations Agency
R401, F3885:1-77
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Title: Human Relations Agency Records
Dates: 1963-1973
Collection number: R401, F3885:1-77
Creator:
Human Relations Agency
Collection Size:
20 cubic feet of textual records
Repository:
California State Archives
Sacramento, California
Abstract: The records of the Human Relations Agency (HRA), 1963-1973, consist of 20 cubic feet of textual records separated into twenty-one
record series. The records reflect the administration of California's many and varied direct service and correctional programs.
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], Human Relations Agency Records, [ID number] [series number], [box and folder number], California
State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.
Acquisition and Custodial History
The California State Archives acquired the Human Relations Agency Records in a series of transfers according to state law.
In 1966, California voters approved a constitutional amendment authorizing the Legislature to delegate to the Governor the
power to reorganize the structure of state government (California Constitution, Art. V, Sec. 6), enabling legislation in 1967
(ch. 1540). By order of Governor Reagan's Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1968 (Statutes of 1968), the Health and Welfare Agency
(H and W) was combined with the Youth and Adult Correctional Agency (YACA) and renamed the Human Relations Agency (HRA). The
new HRA included the following bodies:
Board of Corrections
Coordinating Council on Programs for Handicapped Children
Coordinating Council on State Programs for the Blind
Department of Corrections
Department of Employment
Department of Human Resources Development
Department of Industrial Relations
Department of Mental Hygiene
Department of Public Health
Department of Rehabilitation
Department of Social Welfare
Department of the Youth Authority
Department of Veterans Affairs
Division of Industrial Accidents
Mental Retardation Programs
Motor Vehicle Pollution Control Board
Narcotic Addict Evaluation Authority
Narcotics Rehabilitation Advisory Council
Office of Atomic Energy Development
Office of Economic Opportunity
Office of Health Care Services
The Department of Human Resources Development included The Service Center Program, The California Commission on Aging, and
The State Advisory Commission on Indian Affairs.
In 1973, Governor Reagan returned H and W and YACA to their previous structures of 1967.
Secretary of the Human Relations Agency:
Spencer Williams, 1967-1970
Lucian Vandergrift, 1970-1971
James M. Hall, 1971-1973
The records of the Human Relations Agency (HRA) consist of 20 cubic feet of textual records reflecting the administration
of California's many and varied direct service and correctional programs. The records are dated from 1963 to 1973, and are
separated into twenty-one record series. Because all of the agencies under the purview of HRA pre-dated the creation of HRA,
many series include records that are from the Health and Welfare Agency (H and W) and Youth and Adult Correctional Agency
(YACA) time period as well as the HRA period.
The Bill Files document the legislation of interest to the various departments, such as Department of Corrections, and the
proposals made to the head of the Agency. All of the other series are arranged as subject files, revealing the diversity
of the records kept at the executive level of the HRA. Fourteen of the subject series document topics associated with specific
departments, offices, or programs of the HRA. For example, the "Department of Employment Subject Files" series.
The remaining six subject series document the entire agency broadly in terms of administration and subject matter. Rather
than combining them into one record series of general subject files, it was decided to keep these as separate series. Researchers
seeking information solely about the executive office of the HRA would do well to focus their efforts on the following series:
All Agency Components Files, Associations and Agencies Files, Commissions and Councils Files, Meetings and Conferences Files,
General Subject Files, and the Human Relations Agency Subject Files.
Because HRA was comprised of so many bureaucratic components which focused on very different social matters, it is difficult
to comprehensively describe the common topical threads to be found within the collection. The service-oriented departments
dealt with issues such as health care systems, physical health, mental health, community outreach, the elderly, children,
the disabled, farm labor, collective bargaining, continuing education, unemployment, employment discrimination, and the broad
umbrella concept commonly known as "social welfare." Meanwhile, the corrections-oriented departments dealt with topics like
public safety, internal facility safety, rehabilitation, poverty, crime prevention, and parole reforms. However, all HRA
components required an attentive executive office in order to administer the contracts, guide the policy-making, interpret
the legislative changes, investigate the external and internal allegations of misconduct, and communicate with the Governor.
No further accruals are expected.
Related Collections at the California State Archives
Department of Social Welfare Records
Health and Welfare Agency Records Relating to Corrections
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
California. Mental Health
California Corrections
California. Social Welfare