Finding Aid to the David Pesonen papers, 1921, 1947-1987 (bulk 1961-1984)
Josh Roselle; Lara Michels
The Bancroft Library
© 2010, © 2019
The Bancroft Library
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-6000
bancref@library.berkeley.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
The Bancroft Library
Title: David Pesonen papers
creator:
Pesonen, David E., 1934-
Identifier/Call Number: BANC MSS 98/133 c
Physical Description:
21 linear feet
(16 cartons, 1 box, 1 oversize folder)
Physical Description:
5 audiotape reels
(cataloged as Phonotape 4062 A and 4062 B);
analog; 1/4 in; 5 in. and 7 in.
Date (inclusive): 1921,
Date (inclusive): 1947-1987
Date (bulk): 1961-1984
Abstract: The David Pesonen Papers include materials produced and acquired by Pesonen relating to his professional activities as an
environmental activist, lawyer, and judge in the San Francisco Bay Area.
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.
Access
Collection is open for research.
Accruals
No additions are expected.
Acquisition Information
The David Pesonen papers were given to The Bancroft Library by David Pesonen on March 18, 1998.
Alternate Forms Available
There are no alternate forms of this collection.
Biographical Information
David Pesonen was an environmental activist, lawyer, and judge in the San Francisco Bay Area. After graduating from Boalt
Law School, at the University of California, in 1968, he began work at a San Francisco law firm and became involved in the
anti-nuclear movement. He was elected chairman of Californians for Nuclear Safeguards, and was one of the authors of Proposition
15—an unsuccessful 1976 ballot initiative to restrict nuclear power production in California. He was also involved in the
successful opposition to proposed nuclear power plants near Bodega Bay, in Sonoma County, and Point Arena, in Mendocino County.
In 1979 Pesonen was appointed by Governor Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown, Jr. to the office of Director of Forestry. In the final
days of Governor Brown's term in office, he appointed Pesonen to the Superior Court in Contra Costa County. He ran unsuccessfully
for reelection to the post in 1984.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], David Pesonen papers, BANC MSS 98/133 c, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley
Processing Information
Processed by Josh Roselle in 2010. Additions processed by Lara Michels in 2019.
Related Collections
Oral history interview with David E. Pesonen, 1992 : transcript (BANC MSS 95/166 c).
Attorney and activist for the environment, 1962-1992 : opposing nuclear power at Bodega Bay and Point Arena, managing California
forests and East Bay regional parks : oral history transcript (BANC MSS 97/132 c).
Scope and Content of Collection
The David Pesonen Papers, 1947-1987 (bulk 1961-1984), include materials produced and acquired by Pesonen relating to his professional
activities as an environmental activist, lawyer, and judge in the San Francisco Bay Area. The collection consists primarily
of environmental reports, court proceedings, newspaper clippings, and correspondence. The collection is divided into seven
series: Subject Files; Proposition 15; Bodega Bay Power Plant; California Department of Forestry; Superior Court Judge; Mendocino
Power Plant; and Additions received in 2017-2018.
Additions received in 2017 and 2018 include materials on the Widener vs. Pacific Gas and Electric case; materials on the Bodega
Bay Atomic Park; some personal papers, a few folders of materials relating to Pesonen's father, Everett Pesonen, and 5 audiotape
reels.
Separated Material
Photographs have been transferred to the Pictorial Collections of The Bancroft Library.
Publication Rights
Some materials in these collections 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 the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be
commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
For additional information about the University of California, Berkeley Library's permissions policy please see: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/about/permissions-policies
Processing Information
Processed by Josh Roselle in 2010. Additions processed by Lara Michels in 2019.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Pesonen, David E., 1934-
Pesonen, David E., 1934- -- Archives.
California. Dept. of Forestry.
California. Superior Court (Contra Costa County)
Pacific Gas and Electric Company.
Antinuclear movement
Environmental lawyers -- California -- San Francisco Bay Area.
Environmentalism -- California.
Environmentalists--California
Forests and forestry -- California.
Judges -- California -- San Francisco Bay Area.
Lawyers -- California -- San Francisco Bay Area.
Nuclear energy -- Environmental aspects -- California.
Nuclear energy -- Law and legislation -- California.
Nuclear power plants -- California -- Bodega Bay.
Nuclear power plants -- California -- Mendocino County.
Nuclear power plants -- California -- Point Arena.
Nuclear power plants -- California -- Sonoma County.
Nuclear power plants -- Environmental aspects -- California.
Bodega Bay (Calif.)
Point Arena (Calif.)
Clippings.
Legal documents -- California.
Transcripts.
Trial proceedings.
Series 1:
Subject Files.
1971-1986
Physical Description:
Carton 1, folders 1-3; Carton 6, folder 18
Arrangement
Arrangement of the series is alphabetical.
Content/Description
This series is small and represents materials that do not correspond to other series.
carton 6, folder 18
American Nuclear Society- speech (cassette tape)
1975
carton 6, folder 18
Chronology of Pesonen blood poisining (cassette tape)
1984
carton 1, folder 1
Designs for Nevada, a Prospectus - Resource Use.
1971
carton 1, folder 2
Negligence Lawsuit Against Kaiser.
1985-1986
carton 1, folder 3
Sierra Club - Lawsuits and Complaints.
Undated
Content/Description
Lawsuit concerning the acquisition of land and housing and displacement of poor and racially oppressed families and individuals
to facilitate construction for the Route 238 highway project in Hayward, CA.
Series 2:
Proposition 15.
1961-1980
Physical Description:
Carton 1, folders 4-15; Carton 2, folders 1-16
Arrangement
Arrangement of the series is alphabetical.
Content/Description
Proposition 15, an unsuccessful 1976 ballot initiative, called for stringent legislative regulation of the nuclear power industry
in California. Pesonen was an author of the proposition and was chairman of Californians for Nuclear Safeguards. The material
consists primarily of background documentation and research, reports, voting literature, speeches, and analysis of the failure
of the proposition.
carton 1, folder 4
Attorney's Fees - Briefs and Memoranda.
1975, undated
carton 1, folder 7-8
Californians for Nuclear Safeguards vs. March Fong Eu -Transcripts and Exhibits.
1976
carton 1, folder 9-11
Californians for Nuclear Safeguards vs. March Fong Eu - Pleadings and Correspondence. Mandate re. Ballot.
1976
carton 1, folder 12
Election Post-mortems.
1976-1977
carton 1, folder 13-15
Energy Research and Development Administration, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and Federal Energy Administration - Reports
and Activity
1976-1978
carton 2, folder 1-2
Humboldt Bay Plant History.
1969-1980
carton 2, folder 3
Pacific Alliance - Correspondence and History.
1977-1978
carton 2, folder 4-5
Pesonen's Speeches and TV Programs.
1975-1976
carton 2, folder 8
Press Releases by Californians for Nuclear Safeguards.
1975-1976
carton 2, folder 9
Press Coverage.
1976-1978
carton 2, folder 10-11
Price Anderson Act.
1969-1977
carton 2, folder 12-14
Public Attitude Surveys.
1976-1978
carton 2, folder 15
Simpatico, Musicians Report - Newsletters.
1978-1979
carton 2, folder 16
Yes on 15 Campaign Literature.
1975-1976
Series 3:
Bodega Bay Power Plant.
1947-1987
Physical Description:
Carton 3; Carton 4
Arrangement
Carton 3: Letter size folders in alphabetical order. Carton 4: Legal size folders in alphabetical order.
Content/Description
This series contains material related to Pesonen's successful opposition to PG&E's attempt to construct a nuclear power plant
at Bodega Head, near Bodega Bay, California. The files consist of clippings (one carton), PG&E literature and applications,
research files, and reports.
carton 3, folder 2
Correspondence.
1960-1962
carton 3, folder 4
Foundation Investigation, Unit 1, for PG
1962
carton 3, folder 5
Government Agencies' Reports - Final WEC, ACRS, USGS, USC GS.
1963-1964
carton 3, folder 6-7
Journal.
1964-1965, undated
Content/Description
Pesonen's journal
carton 3, folder 15
Public Utilities Commission Case.
1962
carton 3, folder 16
Radiological Health News, California Department of Public Health.
1962-1963
carton 3, folder 17-19
Reactor Accidents, Employee Safeguards.
1947-1986
carton 3, folder 20
Report on Waste Discharge.
1962
carton 3, folder 21
Sonoma County Board of Supervisors Case.
1963-1964
carton 4, folder 1
Battle of Bodega Bay - Clippings Compiled and Published by the Northern California Association to Preserve Bodega Head and
Harbor.
1958-1963
carton 4, folder 2
California Public Utilities Commission - Briefs, Petitions, Replies, Orders.
1961-1964
Series 4:
California Department of Forestry.
1973,
1979-1982
Physical Description:
Carton 5, folders 1-17
Arrangement
Arrangement of the series is alphabetical.
Content/Description
This series contains material relating to Pesonen's term as the Director of the California Department of Forestry (CDF), from
1979-1982. It consists primarily of material relating to his appointment to the position, CDF press releases, reports, and
correspondence.
carton 5, folder 2
Canadair CL-215 Aerial Tanker.
1982
carton 5, folder 3
CDF Employees' Association "No Confidence" Vote in Pesonen.
1982
carton 5, folder 4
Congratulatory Letters on Appointment to Director of Forestry.
1979
carton 5, folder 5-6
Correspondence.
1979-1982
carton 5, folder 7
Correspondence with John B Crowell, Assistant USDA Secretary, and related Correspondence.
1981-1982
carton 5, folder 8
Departure Correspondence and Clippings.
1982
carton 5, folder 9-11
Director's Report to the Board of Forestry.
1980-1982
carton 5, folder 12
Forestry Practice Act.
1973
carton 5, folder 13
Forestry Papers - Peter Green et al.
1981-1982
carton 5, folder 14-17
Press Releases/Communique Articles.
1979-1982
Series 5:
Superior Court Judge.
1974-1985
Physical Description:
Carton 5, folders 18-27; Carton 6, folders 1-9
Arrangement
Arrangement of the series is alphabetical.
Content/Description
Superior Court Judge: This series consists of material relating to Pesonen's one-year term as a California Superior Court Judge in Contra Costa
County. He was appointed by Jerry Brown in 1983 and lost his reelection bid to Richard Flier. Most of the material documents
the campaign, and includes fundraising information, newspaper clippings, and correspondence.
carton 5, folder 18
Appellant Decisions.
1984-1985
carton 5, folder 19
Campaign Appearances and Speech Texts.
1984
carton 5, folder 20
Campaign Correspondence.
1984
carton 5, folder 21
Campaign Disclosure Report, Fund Raising.
1983-1984
carton 5, folder 22-23
Campaign Endorsements.
1983-1984
carton 5, folder 24
Campaign Fund Raising.
1982
carton 5, folder 25
Campaign Fund Raising Lists.
1981-1984
carton 5, folder 26
Campaign Literature.
1984
carton 5, folder 27
Campaign Memos, Consultants.
1984-1985
carton 6, folder 18
American Nuclear Society- speech (cassette tape)
1975
carton 6, folder 3
Drefus, Garry Cases.
1974-1979
carton 6, folder 4
Initial Appointment Correspondence and Press.
1982-1983
carton 6, folder 5
Lemmon, Jack: Biography, Reception, Proceeding.
1984
carton 6, folder 6
Police Organizations Campaign Support.
1984
carton 6, folder 18
Personen/Flier Candidates' Night - Concord Police Academy (cassette tape).
1984 Feb. 16
carton 6, folder 7
Post-election Correspondence.
1984
carton 6, folder 9
Richard Flier's (Pesonen's Opponent) Campaign Literature, FPPC Reports, and Fundraising.
1984
Series 6:
Mendocino Power Plant.
1921,
1963-1975
Physical Description:
Carton 6, folders 10-17; Carton 7; Carton 8; Carton 9
Arrangement
Arrangement of the series is alphabetical.
Content/Description
This series contains material related to Pesonen's successful opposition to PG&E's attempt to construct a nuclear power plant
at Point Arena, in Mendocino County, California. The material consists of two cartons of Safety Analysis and Environmental
Reports, as well as briefs, newspaper clippings, and correspondence.
carton 6, folder 10
Atmospheric Physics - Meteorological Investigation.
1971-1973
carton 6, folder 11
Atomic Energy Commission Proceedings.
1965-1973
carton 6, folder 12
Biological Effects.
1971-1972
carton 6, folder 13
Citizens for Clean Energy.
1971-1972
carton 6, folder 14
Correspondence Regarding the Point Arena Plant and Earthquake Hazards.
1971-1973
carton 6, folder 15
Environmental Impact Report.
1972-1973
carton 6, folder 17
Notes, Memoranda, and Point Arena Task Force.
1971-1973
carton 7, folder 5-6
Press Coverage.
1966-1972
carton 7, folder 7
Public Utilities Commission Proceedings.
1971-1972
carton 7, folder 8-10
Resources Agency Agreements.
1963-1975
carton 7, folder 11-12
Seismologic Investigation.
1971-1973
carton 7, folder 13
Seismologic Investigation - Photos.
1921,
1967
carton 7, folder 14
Sierra Club Correspondence.
1971-1973
carton 7, folder 15-16
Sierra Club: General Policy, Fundraising, Meeting Minutes, and Correspondence.
1971-1972
Series 7.
Additions received in 2017-2018
Carton 10, Folder 4-5
Family letters and Pesonen's letter home from Army
1940-1955
Carton 10, Folder 6-15
Correspondence
1962-2014
undated
Carton 10, Folder 16-18
Notes
approximately 1970-1979
Carton 10, Folder 19-22
Writings
approximately 1970-1985
Carton 10, Folder 23-25
Unidentified typescript
undated
Carton 11
Donald Widener vs. PG&E files
1971-1977
Carton 12
Donald Widener vs. PG&E files
1971-1977
Carton 13
Donald Widener vs. PG&E files
1971-1977
Carton 14
Donald Widener vs. PG&E files
1971-1977
Carton 15, Folder 1-8
Donald Widener vs. PG&E files
1971-1977
Carton 15, Folder 9-14
Bodega Bay Atomic Park files
1962-1966
Carton 16, Folder 1-4
Bodega Bay Atomic Park files
1962-1966
Carton 16, Folder 5-7
Bodega Bay Atomic Park photo album/scrapbook
1962-1966
Carton 16, Folder 8
Bodega Bay Atomic scrapbook
1962-1966
Carton 16, Folder 9-13
Bodega Bay Atomic Park clippings
undated
Carton 16, Folder 14-15
California Department of Forestry, Director files
approximately 1970-1977
oversize_folder 1
Poster from the Design Professionals for Nuclear Safeguards (poster text: Nuclear Power: How Safe is "Safe Enough"?
box 1, Folder 1-4
Index cards--research bibliography
1940-1960
box 1, Folder 5-6
Everett Pesonen files
1970-1987
Biographical / Historical
Everett Pesonen was David Pesonen's father.
phonotape 4062 B: no.1
Falmouth Nuclear Park hearing
1960-05-09
Physical Description:
1 audiotape reel
analog; 1/4 in.; 3 3/4 i.p.s.; 1800 feet; copy 3
phonotape 4062 B: no.2
Bodega Bay KPFA program
1962-11-16
Physical Description:
1 audiotape reel
analog; 1/4 in; 1 hr., 15 min.
phonotape 4062 A
Nuclear Park Hearing, Falmouth, Mass (remarks by James B. Muldoon
1960-05-09
Physical Description:
1 audiotape reel
analog; 1/4 in.; 600 ft; 30 min.
phonotape 4062 B: no.3
Bodega track 4
Physical Description:
t audiotape reel
analog; 1/4 in.
Scope and Contents
Box containing reel is unmarked. Tape itself has the following writing on it: Bodega track 4. Possibly another copy of the
Bodega Bay KPFA program?
phonotape 4062 B: no.4
Unmarked audiotape reel
undated
Physical Description:
1 audiotape reel
analog; 1/4 in.