Description
Chester Earl Holifield (1903-1995) -- also known as Chet Holifield -- of Montebello, Los Angeles County, Calif. Born in Mayfield,
Graves County, KY, December 3, 1903. Moved to Montebello in 1920 and engaged in the manufacture and selling of men's apparel
1920-1943; U.S. Representative from California 19th District, 1943-75. Congressional adviser to international conferences
on uses of atomic energy, nuclear weapons testing, water desalinization, and disarmament. Upon his retirement from the House,
he resumed the manufacture and selling of men's apparel; died February 6, 1995.
Background
Holifield, Chester Earl - born in Mayfield, Graves County, Kentucky, December 3, 1903; moved with his family to Springdale, Arkansas in 1912; attended
the public schools; moved to Montebello, California in 1920 and engaged in the manufacture and selling of men's apparel, 1920-1943;
chairman of the Los Angeles County Democratic Central committee of the Fifty-first District 1934-1938; chairman of the California
State Central committee of the Twelfth Congressional District 1938-1940; delegate to each Democratic National Convention from
1940 to 1964; elected as a Democrat to the Seventy-eighth and to the fifteen succeeding Congresses and served from January
3, 1943, until his resignation December 31, 1974; was not a candidate for reelection in 1974 to the Ninety-fourth Congress;
chairman, Committee on Government Operations (Ninety-first through Ninety-third Congresses), Joint Committee on Atomic Energy
(Eighty-seventh, Eighty-ninth, and Ninety-first Congresses); member, President's Special Evaluation Commission on Atomic Bomb
Tests at Bikini Atoll, 1946; congressional adviser to international conferences on uses of atomic energy, nuclear weapons
testing, water desalinization, and disarmament; resumed the manufacture and selling of men's apparel; died February 6, 1995.
Extent
89.0 Linear feet
89 boxes
Restrictions
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts or photographs must be submitted in writing to the Regional
History Curator. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Center as the owner of the physical items and is not
intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Availability
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. Advance notice required for access.