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 8

News Releases 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 7

Don L. Gevirtz 1981-1982

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 13-14

Banking 1979-1982

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 24

Sunny Mac 1981-1982

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 12-14

SAFE-BIDCO 1981

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 1

C. Hugh Friedman 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 18

Fin Fed 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 9

Interim Hearings 1979

Box 6, Folder 10

Proposed Legislation 1981

Box 6, Folder 11-12

Summary of Legislation (Copies of Bills) 1982

Box 6, Folder 13

R&D Task Force 1980-1981

Box 6, Folder 14

Economic Business Information 1981

Box 6, Folder 15

High Tech 1981-1982

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 6, Folder 20-22

Housing Issues 1980-1981

Box 7, Folder 1

Transportation 1980

Box 7, Folder 2

Monetary Free Zone 1978

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 10

Mobile Homes 1981-1982

Box 7, Folder 11

Gilbert Lindsay Village Green 1980-1982

Box 7, Folder 12

Fred Sands Creative Financing Task Force 1982

Box 7, Folder 13

Rent Control 1978-1980

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 19

Rita Saenz 1980-1981

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 30-33

High Tech 1981-1982

Box 7, Folder 34

San Diego Trolley 1976-1982

Box 7, Folder 35

Union Station 1979-1982

Box 8, Folder 1-2

Rail/Caltrans 1979-1982

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 13-14

Memos to Brown 1980-1982

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 21

Budget 1981-1982

Box 8, Folder 22

State Budget 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 3

Anaheim File 1982

Box 9, Folder 4

Miscellaneous Issues 1982

Box 9, Folder 5

Initiatives 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 13

Reaganomics 1981-1982

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 23

Tourism 1979-1982

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 8-9

Meetings 1980

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 2

Air/Caltrans 1979-1981

Box 11, Folder 3

Caltrans/Chatauqua Bypass 1981-1982

Box 11, Folder 4

Cloverdale Bypass 1981

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 9

Legislation 1978-1982

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 11, Folder 20

China Trip 1979-1982

Box 11, Folder 21

Korea Trip 1981

Box 12

Hearings, Reports, and Public Laws: 94th Congress 1975-1976, 5 of 20, House Committee on Banking Currency and Housing undated