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Bergeson (Marian) Papers
MS.R.100
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Contributing Institution:
Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine
Libraries
Title: Marian Bergeson papers
Identifier/Call Number: MS.R.100
Physical Description:
27.6 Linear Feet
(33 boxes, 1 rolled banner, and 1 oversized folder)
Date (inclusive): circa 1915-2001
Date (bulk): 1982-1994
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.
Language of Material:
English .
The collection is open for research.
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.
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.
Gift of Marian Bergeson, 2002.
Processed by Cyndi Shein, 2008.
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.
| 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. |
Collection Scope and Content Summary
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.
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
Several government publications were removed from this collection and cataloged separately
in UCI's online library catalog.
0.6 linear feet of campaign statements from 1985-1988 were discarded due to mold and
extensive water damage.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Legislation -- California -- Orange County.
Bills, Legislative -- California.
Women in politics -- California -- History -- Sources
Scrapbooks -- 20th century.
Sound recordings -- 20th century
Video recordings -- 20th century.
Photographic prints -- 20th century.
Women politicians -- California -- Orange County -- Archives