The Finding Aid of the Lynn Schenk papers
0240
Finding aid prepared by Katie Richardson
The processing of this collection and the creation of this finding aid was funded by the generous support of the Council on
Library and Information Resources.
First Edition
USC Libraries Special Collections
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California, 90089-0189
213-740-5900
specol@usc.edu
September 2010
Title: Lynn Schenk papers
Collection number: 0240
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
12.38 linear ft.
12 boxes
Date: 1975-1985
Abstract: Lynn Schenk was a representative from California. She served as Deputy Attorney General in the California State Attorney General's
Office, Criminal Division for about a year before taking a position with San Diego Gas and Electric as an in-house lawyer.
In 1976, she left San Diego Gas and Electric when she was offered a position to be special assistant to Vice Presidents Nelson
A. Rockefeller and Walter F. Mondale. From 1977 to 1980, she served as Secretary of California's State Department of Business,
Transportation and Housing. In 1992, Schenk ran for Congress from California's 49th congressional district, which covers most
of San Diego. Schenk won becoming the first woman elected to the United States House of Representatives to represent the San
Diego area and the first Democrat to represent the area in 40 years. After serving in Congress, Schenk held various positions
in the California state government during the tenure of California Governor Gray Davis. One of those positions included serving
as Chief of Staff from 1998 until Davis was recalled in 2003. The materials in this collection date from 1975-1985. Included
in the collection are speeches given by Schenk, press releases, pamphlets, meeting minutes, notes, schedules, briefings, correspondence,
reports, financial records, budgets, conference handouts, memos, and copies of assembly bills. Topics covered in the documents
pertain primarily to business, transportation, foreign relations, the economy, and housing issues in California.
creator:
Schenk, Lynn, 1945-
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder# or item name], Lynn Schenk papers, Collection no. 0240, Regional History Collections, Special Collections, USC
Libraries, University of Southern California
Conditions Governing Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. Advance notice required for access.
Biographical note
Lynn Alice Schenk was born on January 5, 1945 in New York City, New York. She moved with her family to California at the age
of 14 where she attended Hamilton High School in Los Angeles, California. Upon graduation, Schenk attended Santa Monica College
before transferring to the University of Los Angeles. Schenk graduated in 1967 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and entered
Law School at the University of San Diego. She graduated in 1970 with her Juris Doctor degree. Schenk went on to study international
law at the London School of Economics in London, England from 1970-1971.
In July 1971, Schenk took a job with the State Attorney General Office working as a Deputy Attorney General in the criminal
division. In May of 1972 she was offered a position with San Diego Gas and Electric as an in-house lawyer and remained until
1976 when she was appointed a White House Fellow by President Ford. She served as a special assistant to both Vice Presidents
Nelson Rockefeller and Walter Mondale. Around the same time that she was appointed to the position of in-house lawyer for
San Diego Gas and Electric, she married University of San Diego law professor, C. Hugh Friedman, and subsequently, became
step-mother to his three children.
From 1977 to 1983, Schenk served as California's Secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing as part of Governor Jerry
Brown's cabinet. She was the first women to hold this position and oversaw 14 departments that included 30,000 plus employees
and a budget of nearly $2 billion. In addition she also played a large role in California's international trade relations
between Mexico, Canada, Japan, Korea, and China.
In 1984, Schenk ran for San Diego County Supervisor against Republican Susan Golding. Schenk lost the election 45% to 55%.
Late in the election, Golding's campaign mailed out literature accusing Schenk of financial irregularities and Schenk later
sued Golding for slander. The two settled out of court.
In 1992, Schenk ran for Congress from California's 49th congressional district, which covers most of San Diego. Schenk won
and became the first woman elected to the United States House of Representatives to represent the San Diego area and the first
Democrat to represent the area in 40 years. Schenk sat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and its subcommittees on
Telecommunications, Finance, Transportation, and Hazardous Materials. She also sat on the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee.
Schenk was recognized as the congressional leader on matters relating to biotechnology and high-speed rail. She was defeated
for re-election in 1994 by Brian Bilbray, the Republican mayor of Imperial Beach.
After serving in Congress, Schenk held various positions in the California state government during the tenure of California
Governor Gray Davis. One of those positions included serving as Chief- of- Staff from 1998 until Davis was recalled in 2003.
As Chief of Staff, she oversaw the day-to-day operations of the states' government. She was the Governor's chief executive
and top policy advisor.
As of late, Schenk has been practicing corporate law. She sits on the boards of various organizations including the Scripps
Research Institute Board of Trustees. She is a member of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, on the Board of the San
Diego Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, a director of Sempra Energy, and a member of the University of San Diego School
of Law, Board of Visitors. In 2006, she completed her term as a commissioner of the California Medical Assistance Commission.
Scope and Content
Included in the subject files are speeches given by Schenk, press releases, pamphlets, meeting minutes, notes, schedules,
briefings, correspondence, reports, financial records, budgets, conference handouts, memos, and copies of assembly bills.
Topics covered in the documents pertain primarily to business, transportation, the economy, foreign relations, and housing
issues in California. In regards to transportation, topics discussed include the prospects of building a high speed rail,
the transportation budget, the San Diego Trolley system, Caltrans, Union Station, Century freeway, California Highway Patrol,
Department of Motor Vehicles, and the Sacramento light rail. Also discussed are foreign relations with Mexico, Japan, China,
and Korea, California’s economy, real estate ventures, savings and loans, business mergers, and technology developments for
the future. The materials in this collection date from 1975-1985.
Acquisition
The collection was given to the University of Southern California by Lynn A. Schenk in 1988.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Brown, Jerry, 1938- -- Archives
California Association of Realtors. -- Archives
California Bankers Association. -- Archives
California Chamber of Commerce. -- Archives
California. Dept. of Transportation. -- Archives
Davis, Gray, 1942- -- Archives
Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. -- Archives
Madrid Romandia, Roberto de la -- Archives
Pasadena Chamber of Commerce. -- Archives
Reagan, Ronald -- Archives
San Francisco Chamber of Commerce. -- Archives
Schenk, Lynn, 1945- -- Archives
Southwest Border Regional Commission. California Office. -- Archives
Alcohol--Law and legislation--California--Archival resources
Banks and banking, Foreign--Archival resources
California Century Freeway (Calif.)--Archival resources
California--Economic conditions--20th century--Archival resources
California--Housing--20th century--Archival resources
California--Politics and government--20th century--Archival resources
China--Foreign relations--20th century--Archival resources
Correspondence
Financial records
Interstate banking--Archival resources
Japan--Foreign relations--20th century--Archival resources
Korea--Foreign relations--20th century--Archival resources
Memorandums
Mexico--Foreign relations--20th century--Archival resources
Minutes
Notes
Pamphlets
Press releases
Reports
Savings and loan associations--California--Archival resources
Speeches
Technology and state--California--20th century--Archival resources
Transportation--California--20th century--Archival resources
United States--Politics and government--20th century--Archival resources
Subject Files
1975-1985
Arrangement
The collection has been kept in original order and original folder titles were used to describe the contents of the Schenk
Papers.
Box 1, Folder 1
Speeches/Talking Points Given By Lynn A. Schenk, Volume I
1979-1981
Box 1, Folder 2
Speeches/Talking Points Given By Lynn A. Schenk, Volume II
1981
Box 1, Folder 3
Speech Material Lynn A. Schenk Presented to California Highway Patrol Graduates
1982 August 5
Box 1, Folder 4-5
Speeches/Talking Points Given By Lynn A. Schenk, Volume III
1981-1982
Box 1, Folder 6
Speeches/Talking Points Given by Lynn A. Schenk, Volume IV
1982
Box 1, Folder 7
Brown Pamphlets
1980-1982
Box 1, Folder 9
Suggested Talking Points/Speeches For Governor Brown
1981
Box 1, Folder 10
Materials For Op-Ed Pieces/Speeches
1979-1982
Box 1, Folder 11
Jewish Materials
1975-1982
Box 1, Folder 12
Dinner With Governor and California Chamber of Commerce
1980 September 11
Box 1, Folder 13
Governor Brown Meeting With Ambassador of Japan
1980
Box 1, Folder 14
Governor's Trip to Mexicali
1980 September-October
Box 1, Folder 15
Governor Host Breakfast With California Chamber of Commerce
1980
Box 1, Folder 16-17
Briefing Papers; Meetings of Governor and Industries
1980-1981
Box 1, Folder 18
California Chamber of Commerce
1980
Box 1, Folder 19
Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce
undated
Box 1, Folder 20
Meeting With California Council For International Trade and Bay Area Council
1980 June 11
Box 1, Folder 21
California Association of Realtors
1980 April 21
Box 1, Folder 22
Electronic Industry
1980 April 18
Box 1, Folder 23
Home Building and Development Industry
1980 April 16
Box 1, Folder 24
Industrial Loan, Property Brokers, Escrow, Check Sellers and Cashiers
1980 April 17
Box 1, Folder 25
Clothing Manufacturers
1980 April 20
Box 1, Folder 26
Southern California Bankers
1980 April 14
Box 1, Folder 27
Mortgage Brokers and Bankers
1980 April 28
Box 1, Folder 28
Northern California Bankers
1980 April 18
Box 1, Folder 29
Savings and Loan
1980 April 11
Box 2, Folder 1-2, Box 1, Folder 30
California Strategy For Economic Growth
1980-1982
Box 2, Folder 3-5
Governor's Monthly Schedule
1981
Box 2, Folder 6
California Association of Minority American Contractors
1981
Box 2, Folder 8
Sage Associates Incorporated
1979-1982
Box 2, Folder 9
Los Angeles and State Chamber of Commerce
1980-1982
Box 2, Folder 10
Meeting With San Francisco Chamber of Commerce
1982 May 4
Box 2, Folder 11
Pasadena Chamber of Commerce
1981 March 6
Box 2, Folder 12
Alcoholic Beverage Control
undated
Box 2, Folder 15
Export-Import Banking
1981
Box 2, Folder 16
Financial Institutions in the 1980's
1978-1981
Box 2, Folder 17
Interstate Banking
1981-1982
Box 2, Folder 18
Foreign Banking
1980-1981
Box 2, Folder 19
Miscellaneous File Notes
1980-1981
Box 2, Folder 20-21
Alternative Mortgage Instruments
1978-1981
Box 2, Folder 22-23
Department of Real Estate Budget
1980-1982
Box 2, Folder 25
Second Trust Deed
1981-1982
Box 3, Folder 1, Box 2, Folder 26-27
Savings and Loan - General
1978-1982
Box 3, Folder 2-3
Transition Documents
undated
Box 3, Folder 4
Transition Documents: Business Regulatory Departments
1982
Box 3, Folder 5
Housing Transition Issues
1981-1984
Box 3, Folder 6
Transition Documents Re General Council
undated
Box 3, Folder 7
Century Freeway Housing Plan
1981-1982
Box 3, Folder 8
Transition Book; Personal/Employment Practices Coordinator
1982
Box 3, Folder 9
Transition Documents Re Boards and Commissions
1981-1982
Box 3, Folder 10
Report on High Speed Railway Between Los Angeles and San Diego
1982
Box 3, Folder 11
Agency Transportation Issues, Volumes I and II
1982-1984
Box 3, Folder 15-16
Government's Small Business Advisory Committee
1981
Box 3, Folder 17
Small Business Advisory Council
1979-1981
Box 3, Folder 18
Small Business Conference
1982
Box 4, Folder 1-2
Government's Small Business Advisory Council
1981-1982
Box 4, Folder 3
Small Business Advisory
1978-1981
Box 4, Folder 4
Southwest Border Regional Conference
1981-1982
Box 4, Folder 5
Southwest Border Regional Commission
1981
Box 4, Folder 6
Twin Plants and Industrial Development Committee
1981-9182
Box 4, Folder 7
Reagan's "New Federalism" Program
1981-1982
Box 4, Folder 8
Mexico Peso Devaluation
1982
Box 4, Folder 9
Governor De la Madrid "State of State"
1982
Box 4, Folder 10
Southwest Border Regional Council 3rd International Meeting
1982
Box 4, Folder 11-12
Mexican-Californian Issues
1979-1985
Box 4, Folder 13-14
Mexican-Californian Issues Reports
1980-1981
Box 4, Folder 15-16
California/Baja Joint Cabinet Meeting
1980-1981
Box 4, Folder 17-19
Japan/United States Relation Issues
1981
Box 5, Folder 2
Economic Data
1981 November 20
Box 5, Folder 3
Clippings and Articles Related to Japan
1980-1981
Box 5, Folder 4
Japan Miscellaneous Brochures
1981
Box 5, Folder 5
California/Japan: Unitary Japan
1981
Box 5, Folder 6
Japan Economic Institute Report
1981
Box 5, Folder 7
High Speed Rail, Los Angeles to San Diego
1981
Box 5, Folder 8
Insurance - General
1975-1982
Box 5, Folder 9
Seasoning Requirement
1980
Box 5, Folder 10
Department of Real Estate - General
1978-1982
Box 5, Folder 11-14
Cross Industry Mergers
1980-1982
Box 5, Folder 15
Savings and Loan, Parity Wellenkamp
1982
Box 5, Folder 16
Great Western Merger
1981
Box 5, Folder 17
Point Loma Savings and Loan Regency
1981-1982
Box 5, Folder 19
Savings and Loan - Reports
1980-1982
Box 5, Folder 20
Transportation Budget Information
1981-1982
Box 5, Folder 21
Business and Transportation Budget
1978-1981
Box 5, Folder 22
Prospectus for the Future: Renewable Resources Investment Fund
undated
Box 5, Folder 23
Investment in Economic Strength, Volume I-III
1981
Box 5, Folder 24
"Action Outline" for California
1980
Box 5, Folder 25
Budget and Transportation Related Articles
1982
Box 5, Folder 26
Early Warning: California's Lagging Industries and Threatened Counties - Office of Policy, Planning, and Research
1982 November 30
Box 5, Folder 27
Lynn Schenk Personal Information
undated
Box 5, Folder 28
California State Senate Roster
1982 December
Box 6, Folder 1-5
California Commission on Industrial Innovation
1981-1982
Box 6, Folder 6
California Transportation Commission
1980-1982
Box 6, Folder 7-8
Legislation - General
1980-1982
Box 6, Folder 10
Proposed Legislation
1981
Box 6, Folder 11-12
Summary of Legislation (Copies of Bills)
1982
Box 6, Folder 14
Economic Business Information
1981
Box 6, Folder 16
Business/Finances/Economy - Part II
1980-1981
Box 6, Folder 17-19
Office of Economic Policy, Planning, and Research
1980-1982
Box 7, Folder 3
Technology National Conference on Industrial Innovation
1980-1981
Box 7, Folder 4
Agency Retreat - DEBD
1981
Box 7, Folder 5
Agency Retreat - Financial
1981
Box 7, Folder 6
Agency Retreat - Housing
1981-1982
Box 7, Folder 7
Agency Retreat - Transportation
1981
Box 7, Folder 8
Agency Retreat - Lynn A. Schenk
1981
Box 7, Folder 9
Business and Transportation Documents
1981
Box 7, Folder 11
Gilbert Lindsay Village Green
1980-1982
Box 7, Folder 12
Fred Sands Creative Financing Task Force
1982
Box 7, Folder 14-15
Governor Brown's Appointments
1981-1982 May-December
Box 7, Folder 16
Judicial Appointments
1982
Box 7, Folder 17
National Governor's Association
1981-1982
Box 7, Folder 18
Governor Brown Press Releases
1981-1982
Box 7, Folder 20
State of the State Address
1982
Box 7, Folder 21
Memos to/from B.T. Collins
1981-1982
Box 7, Folder 22
Updates for Governor Brown
1981
Box 7, Folder 23
Memos to Jacques Barzaghi
1981-1982
Box 7, Folder 24
Memos to/from Gray Davis
1980-1981
Box 7, Folder 25
Memos to/from Lu Haas
1981
Box 7, Folder 26
United States-Mexico Border Governor's Conference 3rd International Meeting
1982
Box 7, Folder 27
Investment in People
1981-1982
Box 7, Folder 28
California Technological Future; Economic Opportunities in the 1980's
1982
Box 7, Folder 29
Telecommunications Subcommittee
1982
Box 7, Folder 34
San Diego Trolley
1976-1982
Box 8, Folder 3-4
Route GS/Caltrans
1980-1982
Box 8, Folder 5
Santa Clara/Caltrans
1981-1982
Box 8, Folder 6
Town Creek Bridge Replacement and Widening in Mendocino County
1981
Box 8, Folder 7-9
Century Freeway Project
1979-1982
Box 8, Folder 10
California Highway Patrol
1979-1982
Box 8, Folder 11
Advisory Council on Economic Development
1981-1982
Box 8, Folder 12
Department of Economic and Business Development - General
1981-1982
Box 8, Folder 15
Business, Transportation, and Housing Agency
1981-1982
Box 8, Folder 16
Transportation Accomplishments - Bay Area
1981
Box 8, Folder 17
Transportation Accomplishments - Los Angeles
1981
Box 8, Folder 18
KATZ Bill AB 3331 Agency Reorganization
1982
Box 8, Folder 19
Development Cabinets
1980
Box 8, Folder 20
Freeze Advisory Committee
1982
Box 8, Folder 23-24
Project Status Reports
1980-1981
Box 8, Folder 25
Computer Science Budget and Time
1982
Box 8, Folder 26
General Telephone Company of California
1982
Box 9, Folder 1-2
Government's Executive Fellows Programs
1980-1982
Box 9, Folder 4
Miscellaneous Issues
1982
Box 9, Folder 6
Miscellaneous - Agency
1982
Box 9, Folder 7
Questionnaire from Wayne State University - Comparative State Management Project
1982
Box 9, Folder 8-9
Department of Economic and Business Development - Business Week/Fortune
1979
Box 9, Folder 10-11
Business Climate Study
1981
Box 9, Folder 12
Consumer Price Index
1978-1981
Box 9, Folder 14
Western Governor's Roundtable on International Trade
1981-1982
Box 9, Folder 15
Labor Force Information
1978-1981
Box 9, Folder 16
Office of International Trade
1979-1982
Box 9, Folder 17
Office of Economic Policy, Planning, and Research - General Issues
1978-1982
Box 9, Folder 18
Office of Economic Policy, Planning, and Research
1978-1982
Box 9, Folder 19-20
Economic Forecast
1978-1982
Box 9, Folder 21
North American Community Law Review
1980 June 5
Box 9, Folder 22
Department of Economic and Business Development - Technical Training
1981 September-November
Box 9, Folder 24
Unitary Taxation
1980-1982
Box 9, Folder 25
Department of Motor Vehicles - General
1978-1982
Box 9, Folder 26-27, Box 10, Folder 1-2
Department of Housing and Community Development - General
1978-1982
Box 10, Folder 3-6
Governor's Office Correspondence
1978-1980
Box 10, Folder 7
Governor Appointments
1982
Box 10, Folder 10
Voyager 1 Dinner Attendees
1980 November 11
Box 10, Folder 11
News Summary
1982 December 27
Box 10, Folder 12
California Business; A Future Built on Today's Success 1975-1981
1982 March
Box 10, Folder 13
California Coastal Commission
1979-1981
Box 10, Folder 14
California Energy Commission
1980-1982
Box 10, Folder 15
California Roundtable Meeting
1981
Box 10, Folder 16-17
Pat Brown Institute of Government Affairs
1982
Box 10, Folder 18
Briefing Notes for the Governor for the Carpenter Hearing
1982 February
Box 10, Folder 19
California Housing Finance Agency
1978-1982
Box 10, Folder 20
Ullman Act - HR 5741
1979-1981
Box 10, Folder 21
AB 333 and SB 229 Increase Housing
1979
Box 10, Folder 22
Urban Strategy for California
1978
Box 10, Folder 23
Christmas Tree Recycling Program
1982
Box 10, Folder 24-25, Box 11, Folder 1
California Transportation Issues
1979-1982
Box 11, Folder 3
Caltrans/Chatauqua Bypass
1981-1982
Box 11, Folder 5
Funding/Caltrans
1980-1982
Box 11, Folder 6
Adriana Gianturco
1979-1982
Box 11, Folder 7
Los Angeles Media Coverage of Caltrain
1982
Box 11, Folder 8
Sacramento Light Rail Project
1982
Box 11, Folder 10
NORCO Reach/Caltrans
1981
Box 11, Folder 11
Orange County/Caltrans
1981-1982
Box 11, Folder 12-13
Otay Mesa Second Border Crossing
1979-1982
Box 11, Folder 14
Governor Brown Lists for Advisory Committee
1981
Box 11, Folder 15-16
Governor Brown Correspondence
1982
Box 11, Folder 17-19
Japan Reading Materials
1981-1982
Box 12
Hearings, Reports, and Public Laws: 94th Congress 1975-1976, 5 of 20, House Committee on Banking Currency and Housing
undated