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Guide to the Senator Diane E. Watson Papers,
1987-1996
MSS 98-02
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Table of contents
Title: Senator Diane E. Watson Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1987-1996
Collection number: MSS 98-02
Creator:
Watson, Diane E.
Extent:
1 carton, 2 boxes
2.25 linear ft.
2.25 linear ft.
Repository:
University of California, San Francisco. Library.
Archives and Special Collections.
San Francisco, California 94143-0840
Abstract: This collection documents the activities of the California State Legislature, the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services
and Senator Diane E. Watson during the passage and implementation of Proposition 99, California's landmark anti-tobacco bill,
and associated bills.
Physical location: Archives
Language:
English.
Collection is open for research.
Copyright has not been assigned to the Library and Center for Knowledge Management. All requests for permission to publish
or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Archives and Special Collections. Permission for publication
is given on behalf of the Library and Center for Knowledge Management 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 by the reader.
Senator Diane E. Watson Papers, MSS 98-02, Archives & Special Collections, UCSF Library & CKM.
John D. Miller, Principal Consultant for Diane E. Watson, in her role as chairperson of the California State Senate Committee
on Health and Human Services, donated the Senator Diane E. Watson Papers to the Tobacco Control Archives in January 1998.
Diane E. Watson was born in Los Angeles and has a B.A. in Education from University of California Los Angeles, an M.S. in
School Psychology from California State University Los Angeles, and a Ph.D. in Education Administration from Claremont College,
Claremont, California.
She was first elected to the California State Legislature in 1978, as a Democrat from the 26th District (South Central Los
Angeles), and served until 1998, when term limitations made her ineligible for reelection. From 1981 until 1998, she was the
Chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, which oversees bills relating to public health, welfare, the blind
and disabled, alcohol and drug abuse, mental health, and related institutions. Watson authored several anti-tobacco bills,
including SB 2133 (1988), in anticipation of Proposition 99's passage; and SB 1099 (1989), a Proposition 99 re-authorization
bill.
Watson was the second woman and the first African American woman to serve in the California State Senate. In addition to her
service on the Health and Human Services Committee, she served on the Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, the Education Committee,
the Local Government Committee and the Public Safety Committee. Watson was the chair of the Legislative Black Caucus and was
the founder of the National Organization of Black Elected Legislators/Women (NOBEL/Women).
Watson served as the United States Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia from 1998 until 2001, when she ran for
Congress in a special election after the death of Congressman Julian Dixon. In November 2002, she won reelection to the 108th
Congress.
Scope and Content of Collection
This collection documents the activities of the California State Legislature, the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services
and Senator Diane E. Watson during the passage and implementation of Proposition 99, California's landmark anti-tobacco bill,
and associated bills.
The documents were assembled by John D. Miller, Principal Consultant for Diane E. Watson, in her role as chairperson of the
California State Senate Committee on Health and Human Services.
Materials include legislative files, summaries, correspondence, and clippings as well as legal documents concerning lawsuits
against AB 816 and SB 493. The materials are divided into two series: LEGISLATIVE FILES and SUBJECT FILES.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Smoking--Law and legislation.
Tobacco--Law and legislation.
California--Law and legislation--Proposition 99.
Tobacco habit--Prevention.
Tobacco Use Disorder--Prevention and control.