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Finding Aid to the John T. Knox papers
BANC MSS 81/58 c
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
The Bancroft Library
Title: John T. Knox papers
Identifier/Call Number: BANC MSS 81/58 c
Physical Description:
30 linear feet
(24 cartons; 1 oversize folder)
Date (bulk): 1961-1980 (bulk 1967-1980
Abstract: The John T. Knox papers document Knox's career as a member of the California Assembly representing the 11th district, with
files encompassing 1967-1980.
Language of Material: Collection materials are in English.
Physical Location: Many of the Bancroft Library collections are stored offsite and advance notice may be required for use. For current information
on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.
Collection is open for research.
Materials in this collection may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction
of some materials may be restricted by terms of University of California gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions,
privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond
that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for
any use rests exclusively with the user.
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the
Head of Public Services, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley 94720-6000. See: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/reference/permissions.html.
[Identification of item], John T. Knox papers, BANC MSS 81/58 c, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The John T. Knox papers were donated to The Bancroft Library by John T. Knox in 1980.
Processed by Joanna M. Black in 2015.
John T. Knox, Democrat, was a California Assembly Member who served from 1960 to 1980, representing California’s 11th District,
including cities in Contra Costa County.
Born in Reno, Nevada on September 30, 1924, Knox relocated to California in 1929 and attended public schools in both Sacramento
and Alhambra. He is an attorney by profession, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree from Occidental College in Los Angeles,
and a law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. He married Jean Henderson in 1949 and has
three children.
Knox was elected to the California Assembly during a special election in November of 1960 and served as Assembly Speaker Pro
Tempore, the second highest leadership position in the House, from 1976 until 1980. He also chaired the Assembly Select Committee
on the Revision of the Nonprofit Corporations Code and authored numerous assembly bills, including the Knox-Keene Health Care
Service Plan Act of 1975; the General Corporation Law of 1975; the Nonprofit Corporation Law of 1978; the Corporate Securities
Act of 1968; the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970; the Municipal Organization Act of 1977; the Knox-Nisbet Act
establishing local agency formation commissions; and the “Save the Bay” bill establishing the San Francisco Bay Conservation
and Development Commission. He received the 2nd Annual Bay Area Environment Award of the San Francisco Bay Area Council for
the most significant contribution to the Bay Area environment in 1970.
After retiring from office in 1980, Knox formed the San Francisco office of a Los Angeles based law firm, Nossaman, Krueger
and Marsh. Additionally, a portion of Interstate 580 is called the John T. Knox Freeway in his honor.
The John T. Knox papers document Knox's career as a member of the California Assembly representing the 11th district, with
files encompassing 1967-1980. The first series, Legislative Bill Files, includes bill copies, reports, and analyses, amendments
and resolutions, author's statements, press releases, newspaper clippings, and correspondence. The second series, Subject
Files, includes more general legislative documents, such as campaign and proposition documents, reports and analysis, press
releases, speech material, maps, correspondence, committee material, and some administrative documents. Both series’ cover
topics such as health care, education, environment, water and energy, local government and corporate law. Folder titles for
both series' were assigned by the original record creator.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Knox, John T. (John Theryll), 1924- --Archives
California. Legislature. Assembly
Local government -- California
Legislation--California
Contra Costa County (Calif.)
California -- Politics and government