Description
The collection comprises records from
the California Republican Assembly (CRA), a grassroots political organization that promotes
conservative values, policies, and candidates related to the Republican Party. Over the
years CRA has supported several winning candidates in the national political arena and has
helped shape politics in California.
Background
The California Republican Assembly (CRA) is a grassroots, political organization that
promotes conservative values, policies, and candidates within the Republican Party. Dr.
Robert Craig and Edward Shattuck began the CRA in 1932 with the intention of it being free
and open to all Republicans, but for the first ten years, CRA sought the membership solely
of men under the age of forty. Shortly after its incorporation in 1935, the CRA had over
8,000 members in 47 of the 48 counties in California. The CRA had 12,000 members by 1940,
over 11,000 by 1956, and over 14,000 by 1963. Although membership in CRA was free initially,
a bylaw requiring paid memberships was eventually adopted. CRA's founding fathers
maintained an open and liberal philosophy; Dr. Robert Craig felt that paid membership
betrayed the original concept and goals of CRA. By 1955, there were many members whose
philosophy was opposed to that of CRA's founders. The liberals lost control of CRA with the
election of moderate president Fred Hall in 1962, and CRA has been dominated by a
conservative philosophy since 1972.
Restrictions
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.