Inventory of the Records of the Human Relations Agency

Processed by Kim Mitchell

California State Archives

1020 "O" Street

Sacramento, California 95814

Phone: (916) 653-2246

Fax: (916) 653-7363

Email: ArchivesWeb@sos.ca.gov

URL: http://www.sos.ca.gov/archives/

Inventory of the Records of the Human Relations Agency

Collection number: R401, F3885:1-77

California State Archives

Office of the Secretary of State

Sacramento, California

Processed by:: Kim Mitchell
Date Completed:: June 2014
Encoded by:: Lisa Prince

Descriptive Summary

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

Administrative Information

Access

While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions are noted in the record series descriptions.

Publication Rights

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.

Preferred Citation

[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.

Administrative History

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

Scope and Content

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.

Accruals

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

Indexing Terms

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

F3885:1-77

Series 1 Bill Files 1969-1972

Physical Description: 77 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by legislative session, then numerically by bill number.

Scope and Content Note

The Bill Files reflect the legislation of interest to the Human Relations Agency. Files include departmental proposals, suggested amendments, cost estimates, correspondence, memoranda, reports, and summaries of legislation effecting operations and programs.

1969: Agency Proposals (1ff), F3885:1

1969: AB225-AB1960 (3ff), F3885: 2-4

1969: SB334-SB1316 (1ff), F3885:5

1970: Agency Proposals (16ff), F3885:6-21

1970: AB1-AB2531, ACAs, ACRs, AJRs (18ff), F3885:22-39

1970: SB1-SB1412, SCRs, SJRs, SRs (8ff), F3885:40-47

1971-1972: Agency Proposals (2ff), F3885:48-49

1971: AB6-AB3098, ACAs, ACRs, AJRs (18ff), F3885:50-67

1971: SB1-SB1628, SCAs, SCRs, SJRs (10ff), F3885: 68-77

R401.001

Series 2 All Agency Components Files 1968-1970

Physical Description: 17 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by subject headings.

Scope and Content Note

These files reflect the overlapping subjects of interest to and the administrative concerns of the entire Human Relations Agency. Files include correspondence, memoranda, statistics, and reports. Significant topics include Budget Review, Conferences, District Boundaries, Advisory Committees, Communications Procedures, Internal Audits, Earth Day, Fiscal Planning, and Interdepartmental Relationships.

R401.002

Series 3 Associations and Agencies Files 1966-1970

Physical Description: 7 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by subject headings.

Scope and Content Note

These files reflect the many and varied organizations, both governmental and non-profit, that partnered with the Human Relations Agency. Files include correspondence, memoranda, statistics, background materials, agendas, and reports. Notable associations include American Public Welfare Associations (APWA), California Association for Health and Welfare, California Hospital Association, California Medical Association, Volunteers of America, and the YMCA Youth and Government State-wide Committee.

R401.003

Series 4 Commissions and Councils Files 1967-1970

Physical Description: 28 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by subject headings.

Scope and Content Note

These files reflect the many and varied bodies that advised and/or reported to the Human Relations Agency. Files include correspondence, memoranda, notes, statistics, articles, background materials, agendas, minutes, proposals, and reports. Organizations include the California Council on Criminal Justice (CCCJ), Council on Inter-Governmental Relations, Governor's Advisory Committee on Children and Youth, Inter-agency Council for Ocean Resources (ICOR), State Board of Public Health, and State Commission on Migrants.

R401.004

Series 5 Meetings and Conferences Files 1967-1970

Physical Description: 18 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by subject headings.

Scope and Content Note

These files document the meetings and conferences that Human Relations Agency Secretaries participated in. Files include correspondence, memoranda, statistics, background materials, agendas, minutes, and reports. Events include the Corrections Convention, National Governor's Conference, Republican Governor's Conference, Special Project Officers Meetings, and White House Conference on Food, Nutrition and Health.

R401.005

Series 6 General Subject Files 1966-1970

Physical Description: 82 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by subject headings.

Scope and Content Note

These files reflect the overlapping subjects of interest to and the administrative concerns of the entire Human Relations Agency. Files include correspondence, memoranda, notes, statistics, news clippings, background materials, agendas, minutes, articles, newsletters, publications, statistics, and reports. Significant topics include Alcoholism, Budget, Civil Unrest, College Work Study Program, Employment, Education, Farm Labor, Family Planning, Model Cities, Poor People's Campaign, Press Releases, Position Papers, San Quentin, Speeches, Training, and Volunteers.

R401.006

Series 7 Aging Subject File 1968-1969

Physical Description: 1 file folder

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by subject headings.

Scope and Content Note

This file provides insight into the Commission on Aging. The file includes correspondence, memoranda, notes, agendas, and reports related to employment discrimination, funding for the commission, health care, and community centers.

R401.007

Series 8 Corrections Subject Files 1966-1971

Physical Description: 27 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by subject headings.

Scope and Content Note

These files reflect the varied topics of interest to the Department of Corrections. Files include correspondence, memoranda, notes, statistics, news clippings, background materials, agendas, minutes, and reports. Significant topics include Adult Authority, Correctional Industries, Narcotic Addict Evaluation Authority, Parole and Community Services, and the Work Furlough Program.

R401.008

Series 9 Economic Opportunity Subject Files 1967-1970

Physical Description: 23 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by subject headings.

Scope and Content Note

These files reflect the varied topics of interest to the Office of Economic Opportunity. Files include correspondence, memoranda, notes, statistics, background materials, agendas, minutes, and reports. Significant topics include Grants, Intergovernmental Board, Community Action Agency, and Legal Services.

R401.009

Series 10 Employment Subject Files 1966-1969

Physical Description: 15 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by subject headings.

Scope and Content Note

These files reflect the varied topics of interest to the Department of Employment. Files include correspondence, memoranda, notes, statistics, background materials, and reports. Significant topics include Barriers to the Employment of Youth, Disability Insurance Fund, and the Work Incentive Program (WIN).

R401.010

Series 11 Health Care Services Subject Files 1966-1970

Physical Description: 39 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by subject headings.

Scope and Content Note

These files reflect the varied topics of interest to the Office of Health Care Services (1966-1969) and the Department of Health Care Services (1969-1973). Files include correspondence, memoranda, notes, statistics, background materials, news clippings, articles, minutes, agendas, and reports. Significant topics include Budget, Drugs, Health Review and Program Council, Medicaid, Medi-Cal Fraud, Nursing Homes, Regulations, and Veteran's Homes.

R401.011

Series 12 Human Relations Subject Files 1963-1970

Physical Description: 4 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by subject headings.

Scope and Content Note

These files reflect the broad agency-wide administration files of the Human Relations Agency. Files include correspondence, memoranda, and reports. Significant topics include budget, personnel, and correspondence.

R401.012

Series 13 Human Resources Development Subject Files 1963-1971

Physical Description: 12 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by subject headings.

Scope and Content Note

These files reflect the varied topics of interest to the Department of Human Resources Development. Files include correspondence, memoranda, notes, statistics, background materials, news clippings, bill analysis, and reports. Significant topics include budget, Manpower Development and Training Act (MDTA), Reorganization, Vietnam, and the Work Incentive Program.

R401.013

Series 14 Industrial Relations Subject Files. 1966-1969

Physical Description: 13 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by subject headings.

Scope and Content Note

These files reflect the varied topics of interest to the Department of Industrial Relations. Files include correspondence, memoranda, notes, statistics, background materials, news clippings, minutes, agendas, and reports. Significant topics include Agricultural Field Sanitation, Apprenticeship, Collective Bargaining, Fair Employment Practices Commission, and the Workmen's Compensation Appeals Board.

R401.014

Series 15 Mental Hygiene Subject Files 1963-1969

Physical Description: 24 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by subject headings.

Scope and Content Note

These files reflect the varied topics of interest to the Department of Mental Hygiene. Files include correspondence, memoranda, notes, statistics, background materials, and reports. Significant topics include Budget, Neuropsychiatric Institute, and Short-Doyle Act (Community Mental Health Services Act). The majority of the files pertain to specific facilities: Agnews, Atascadero, Camarillo, Mendocino, Metropolitan, Modesto, Napa, Patton, and Sonoma.

R401.015

Series 16 Mental Retardation Subject Files 1966-1969

Physical Description: 24 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by subject headings.

Scope and Content Note

These files reflect the varied topics of interest to the statewide Programs for the Mentally Retarded. This agency component was appointed a coordinator who reported directly to the Secretary of Human Relations Agency. Files include correspondence, memoranda, notes, statistics, background materials, minutes, agendas, articles, and reports. Significant topics include California Council for Retarded Children, Mental Retardation Program and Standards Advisory Board, the transfer of functions to the Department of Mental Hygiene, and regional centers for the mentally retarded.

R401.016

Series 17 Public Health Subject Files 1965-1970

Physical Description: 15 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by subject headings.

Scope and Content Note

These files reflect the varied topics of interest to the Department of Public Health. Files include correspondence, memoranda, notes, statistics, background materials, news clippings, and reports. Significant topics include budget, crippled children, dental program, mosquito control, Hill-Harris Funds, Dialysis Center, and waste management.

R401.017

Series 18 Rehabilitation Subject Files 1966-1970

Physical Description: 11 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by subject headings.

Scope and Content Note

These files reflect the varied topics of interest to the Department of Rehabilitation. Files include correspondence, memoranda, notes, background materials, news clippings, and reports. Significant topics include the Blind, Cooperative Rehabilitation Program, and Goodwill Industries.

R401.018

Series 19 Service Center Subject Files 1968-1969

Physical Description: 10 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by subject headings.

Scope and Content Note

These files reflect the varied topics of interest to the State Service Center Program. The Program was first established in 1966 for the purpose of providing access to multiple agency resources in one facility, located regionally throughout the state. Files include correspondence, memoranda, statistics, notes, background materials, press releases, news clippings, and reports. Significant topics include East Los Angeles Service Center, Fresno Service Center, Martin Luther King County Hospital, Mission Area Neighborhood Organization (MANO), and the Venice Service Center.

R401.019

Series 20 Social Welfare Subject Files 1966-1970

Physical Description: 75 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by subject headings.

Scope and Content Note

These files reflect the varied topics of interest to the Department of Social Welfare. Files include correspondence, memoranda, hearings, newsletters, notes, background materials, press releases, news clippings, legislative analysis, minutes, agendas, and reports. Significant topics include Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), the disabled and aged, court cases, Division of Protective Services, eligibility, employment, Food Stamps, University of Southern California, regulations, residency, legislative resolutions, County Welfare Departments, welfare reform, and welfare fraud.

R401.020

Series 21 Youth Authority Subject Files 1967-1970

Physical Description: 16 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by subject headings.

Scope and Content Note

These files reflect the varied topics of interest to the Department of the Youth Authority. Files include correspondence, memoranda, background materials, press releases, news clippings, legislative analysis, minutes, agendas, and reports. Significant topics include Delinquency Prevention, Conservation Camps, Nelles School for Boys, and Probation Subsidy Program.