Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- Dixon (Julian C.) Papers,
- Dates:
- 1973-1978
- Creators:
- Dixon, Julian
- Abstract:
- Julian Carey Dixon, Democrat, was a State Assembly Member representing portions of Los Angeles County from 1973-1978. He was a Representative in the United States Congress from 1979-2000. His papers include Assembly bill files, 1973-1978; committee files, 1973-1977; and subject files, 1973-1976.
- Extent:
- 5.5 cubic feet
- Language:
- English.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Julian Dixon Papers, LP[number]:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The Julian Dixon Papers consist of 5.5 cubic feet of records containing Assembly bill files, 1973-1978; committee files, 1973-1977; and subject files, 1973-1976. During his time as an Assembly Member, Dixon authored and supported bills on anti-discrimination laws, minority issues, juvenile justice, wards of the court, school district regulations and retirement plans for public employees. His bills included anti-discrimination measures such as AB3124, which significantly reformed the Fair Employment Practices Commission and AB1774, which prohibited licensees under the Business and Professions Code from discriminating based on race, color, religion, ancestry or national origin.
Dixon's committee files and his subject files reflect his continuing interest in African American issues, the justice system, and retirement for public employees. His committee files reflect the key issues of the committees he served on, including criminal justice, education, elections and reapportionment, and public employees' retirement. His subject files include correspondence, memos and background information on consumer affairs, environment, health, media, minorities, transportation and women.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Julian Carey Dixon, Democrat, was a State Assembly Member, 1973-1978. His 63rd District included portions of Los Angeles County. Following redistricting in 1974, he represented the 49th District which included portions of Los Angeles County.
Dixon was born in Washington, D.C. on August 8, 1934; his family moved to Los Angeles in 1947. He attended Los Angeles grammar and high schools and he graduated from Los Angeles State College with a B.S. in Political Science in 1962. He attended Southwestern University Law School, graduating in 1967. He served in the United States Army as a Sergeant, 1957-1960. Dixon married Bettye Lee and had a son, Cary Gordon Dixon.
Dixon was a member of the State Sickle Cell Anemia Advisory Committee, the NAACP, the Urban League and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Prior to being elected to the State Assembly, he was Administrative Assistant to State Senator Mervyn M. Dymally. He was a delegate to the California State Democratic conventions, 1972-1978, and to the Democratic National Convention, 1976.
Dixon was first elected to the State Assembly in 1972. He served in the Assembly from 1973-1978. According to the California Legislature at Sacramento (Handbooks), Dixon served on the following committees as a State Assembly Member:
- Standing Committees
- California Arts Commission, 1975-1978
- Criminal Justice, 1973-1978
- Education, 1973-1975
- Employment and Public Employees, 1973-1974
- * Vice Chair, 1973-1974
- Public Employees and Retirement, 1976
- Retirement, 1973-1974
- Ways and Means, 1976-1978
- Select Committees
- Health Sciences Education, 1976
- * Vice Chair, 1976
- Juvenile Violence, 1974
- * Vice Chair, 1974
In 1979, Julian Dixon began his eleven consecutive terms as a Representative in the United States Congress. Dixon was known as an influential conciliator who created bipartisan coalitions, yet held very few press conferences compared to most of his colleagues. He served as senior member of the Congressional Black Caucus, and the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee. In 1989, he was chair of the Committee on the Standards of Official Conduct when it investigated House Speaker Jim Wright, who later resigned. As a Representative, he helped secure emergency funds for damaged businesses after the 1992 civil disturbances in Los Angeles, and for communities after the 1994 Northridge earthquake. He was a leading supporter of Los Angeles' commuter rail system. He also chaired the appropriations panel responsible for Washington, D.C.
Julian Dixon died on December 8, 2000, shortly after winning re-election to his 12th term in the House with 84% of the vote. He is buried in Inglewood Cemetery, Los Angeles.
- Acquisition information:
- The California State Archives acquired the Julian Dixon papers following his assembly term.
- Processing information:
-
This collection was processed by the California State Archives staff.
- Physical location:
- California State Archives
Indexed terms
About this collection guide
- Date Prepared:
- © 2003
- Date Encoded:
- Machine-readable finding aid encoded by Laura Avedisian; derived from MS Word. Date of source: October 2003.
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Collection is open for research.
- Terms of access:
-
For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives staff. Permission for reproduction or publication is given on behalf of the California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, 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], Julian Dixon Papers, LP[number]:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.
- Location of this collection:
-
1020 "O" StreetSacramento, CA 95814, US
- Contact:
- (916) 653-2246