Marian Bergeson papers, circa 1915-2001, bulk 1982-1994

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Summary

Abstract:

This collection comprises the administrative and legislative files of California state senator Marian Bergeson. Bergeson was the first Republican woman elected to both the California State Assembly and California State Senate. During her years in the California State Legislature, Bergeson was a strong advocate for education and children's issues. She has served Orange County and the state of California as a school board representative, president of the California School Boards Association, California state assemblywoman, California state senator, Orange County supervisor, secretary of Child Development and Education, and member of the California Transportation Commission.

Extent:

27.6 Linear Feet (33 boxes, 1 rolled banner, and 1 oversized folder)

Language:

English .

Preferred citation:

Marian Bergeson Papers. MS-R100. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California. Date accessed.

For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection comprises the administrative and legislative files of California state legislator Marian Bergeson. For the most part these materials document her service in the assembly (1978-1984) and the senate (1984-1994). The administrative records were primarily generated by Bergeson's senatorial offices. The biographical materials contain scrapbooks about her years in the assembly and various materials about her years as senator. The campaign materials contain information about her pursuit of the offices of lieutenant governor, senator, assemblywoman, Orange County supervisor, and Newport-Mesa School Board representative. Most of the speeches in the collection were prepared and delivered during her service as senator. The audiovisual materials document various radio and television appearances she made during her political career. Files on bills and resolutions primarily reflect her legislative efforts in the senate. The subject files and publications reflect her responsibilities and concerns as assemblywoman and senator.

Biographical / historical:

No Subnote Content

Marian Bergeson, the first Republican woman elected to both the California State Assembly and California State Senate, has served Orange County and the state of California as a school board representative, president of the California School Boards Association, California state assemblywoman, California state senator, Orange County supervisor, secretary of Child Development and Education under Governor Pete Wilson, and member of the California Transportation Commission under Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

During her years in the California State Legislature Bergeson was a strong advocate for education and children's issues. She served as vice chairman of both the assembly and senate education committees and also as a member of both the assembly and senate budget sub-committees on education. As a member of the state senate she chaired the Committee on Local Government, the Select Committee on Planning for California's Growth, and the Select Committee for Water Marketing. She also served on committees for appropriations, ethics, health and human services, industrial relations, transportation, and others.

Among her many significant legislative achievements are:

Bills to reform the teacher credentialing process, including the Marian Bergeson Beginning Teacher Assessment Act (BTSA).
Critical Bond Funds for school facilities (SB 22, 1988).
Bill to prevent "bracket creep" by indexing income taxes (AB 276, 1979).
Reform to bring more certainty to the adoption process.
"One strike you're out" for violent sex offenders.
Cal/EPA streamlining bill.
Joint author CAL ID fingerprinting for immediate identification.
Immunity for local agencies from liability for accidents that occurred as a result of natural conditions.
Upper Newport Bay sediment plan and channel basins development leading to maintenance dredging and sediment protections.
Bergeson-Peace Infrastructure Bank, now called California Infrastructure Bank.

At the local level Bergeson served as a member of the Orange County Juvenile Justice Commission, Southern California Association of Governments, CalOPTIMA, Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), Transportation Corridor Agencies, and the Orange County Fire Authority. She also served on the Advisory Board of the Orange County Junior League, Orangewood Foundation for abused and neglected children, Brigham Young University (BYU) Business Management Council, KOCE Foundation, EdVoice Policy Board, University of California, Irvine (UCI) Foundation, UCI Leadership Council Center for the Study of Democracy, and Orange County Technology Foundation.

As of 2008, Bergeson still serves on the California Transportation Commission. She also continues to act as an advocate for children and education in the capacity of advisor or board member for several Orange County community organizations. The Marian Bergeson Elementary School in Laguna Niguel and the Marian Bergeson Aquatic Center in Corona del Mar are named in her honor. In 2007 she celebrated her 83rd birthday by skydiving.

Chronology
Date	Event
1925 August 31	Born Marian Dorlene Crittenden in Salt Lake City, Utah to Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Herbert Crittenden.
1943	Graduates from University High School in Los Angeles.
1945-1947	Attends the University of California at Los Angeles.
1949	Earns BA in Education from Brigham Young University (BYU) in Salt Lake City.
1950	Marries Garth S. Bergeson.
1965-1977	Serves on the Newport-Mesa Board of Education.
1974	The Orange County School Boards Association creates the Marian Bergeson Award.
1975	Serves as president of the California School Boards Association.
1978-1984	Serves as California state assemblywoman, 70th and 74th districts.
1984-1994	Serves as California state senator.
1987	Receives University of California Student Association Senator of the Year Award. Named Woman of the Year by the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith. Receives League of California Cities Legislator of the Year Award.
1988	Named Senator of the Year by the California Business Properties Association.
1989	Receives Liberty Bell Award from the Orange County Bar Association.
1991	Receives Outstanding State Senator of the Year Award from the California School Boards Association.
1992	Receives Outstanding Citizen Award from Orange Coast College.
1993	Governor Wilson appoints her superintendent of Public Instruction. Named Child Advocate of the Year by the Child Abuse Council of Orange County. Receives honorary Doctorate of Laws from Pepperdine University.
1995-1996	Serves as Orange County supervisor, 5th District.
1994	Named top Republican senator by the California Journal. Receives Women of Distinction Award from the Girl Scout Council of Orange County.
1995	Receives BYU Distinguished Service to the Community Award.
1996	Governor Wilson appoints her secretary of Child Development and Education.
1997	Named Woman of the Year by the state assembly. Receives Lifetime Achievement Award from the state senate
1998	Appointed to State Board of Education. Receives Women in Excellence Award in Education from the Boy Scouts of America.
1999	Receives Shining Light Award for Children from the Child Abuse Prevention Council.
1999-2001	Serves as commissioner for the Commission on Local Governance for the 21st Century.
2000	Named National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) Humanitarian of the Year.
2002	Receives Celebration of Hope Award for the study of Huntington Disease.
2003	Receives UCI Medal, UCI's highest honor.
2004	Governor Schwarzenegger appoints her to the California Transportation Commission.
2006	Chairs the California Transportation Commission.

Acquisition information:

Gift of Marian Bergeson, 2002.

Appraisal information:

0.6 linear feet of campaign statements from 1985-1988 were discarded due to mold and extensive water damage.

Processing information:

Processed by Cyndi Shein, 2008.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged in eight series.

Series 1. Administrative records, 1984-1994. 0.5 linear feet
Series 2. Biographical materials, circa 1915-2001. 4.6 linear feet
Series 3. Campaign and election records, 1967-1992. 3.4 linear feet
Series 4. Senate and assembly bills and resolutions, 1982-1994. 9.2 feet
Series 5. Speeches, 1985-1994. 1.5 linear feet
Series 6. Subject files, 1976-1999. 4.5 linear feet
Series 7. Publications, 1979-2000. 1.8 linear feet
Series 8. Audiovisual materials, 1980-1998. 2.1 linear feet

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:: Legislation -- California -- Orange County.
Bills, Legislative -- California.
Women in politics -- California -- History -- Sources
Women politicians -- California -- Orange County -- Archives
Scrapbooks -- 20th century.
Sound recordings -- 20th century
Video recordings -- 20th century.
Photographic prints -- 20th century.

Access and use

Restrictions:: The collection is open for research.
Terms of access:: Property rights reside with the University of California. Copyrights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact the Head of Special Collections and Archives.