Description
The records of California Tomorrow document the
organization's growth and influence from its initial meeting in 1961 through its
dissolution in the spring of 1983. Linking the objectives of conservationists,
planners, regulators and California residents, California Tomorrow called for
comprehensive state planning to address challenges faced by the state such as
sustainable land use, both for agriculture and housing; conservation of water and
energy resources; preservation of California's coastline, deserts, lakes and
forests; transportation planning; and regional government. Their activities included
the publication of reports and the journal
Cry
California
, and the creation of the comprehensive
The California Tomorrow Plan, which was born from Town Hall meetings
throughout the state. Records contain minutes of meetings, correspondence, speeches
and the personal files of founder Alfred Heller and co-founder Samuel Wood, with the
bulk of the material consisting of editorial files for the organization's journal.
Contents of the editorial files include the correspondence of William Bronson, first
editor, and John W. Abbott, who succeeded him, and files for each individual issue,
containing rough drafts, photographs, drawings, correspondence and notes. Also
includes the working files and edited draft versions of
The
California Tomorrow Plan
, beginning with the "A First Sketch" of 1971,
with comments solicited from manuscript reviewers and the public as well as press
notices following publication. Administrative material in the collection includes
reference files, maps, scrapbooks and clippings, membership files, publication sales
and distribution information, and financial records. The records also contain
government reports and studies, as well as notes and correspondence from study
tours, conferences, seminars and regional meetings sponsored by California Tomorrow
and other organizations, with some accompanying audiocassette and audiotape
recordings.
Background
California Tomorrow, a nonprofit educational organization, was founded by Alfred E.
Heller and Samuel E. Wood. The first meeting was held on June 24, 1961, with Alfred
E. Heller named president, William M. Roth, vice-president, and Harold Berliner
secretary; Samuel E. Wood became executive director. The founding members' intent
was to link the objectives of conservationists, planners, and regulators and to urge
the adoption of a widely integrated planning process to meet the needs of both
conservation and growth.
Alfred E. Heller, founder and president of California
Tomorrow from 1961-1974, is a California native and graduate of Stanford University.
He was living in Nevada City and publishing the weekly Nevada
County Nugget when he became involved in a grassroots attempt to reroute
new freeway construction slated to go through the middle of town. Subsequently he
became a member of the California State Highway Commission. His experience with
various state agencies during the freeway campaign convinced him that the lack of
integrated planning in California posed a serious threat to the state's future. In
addition to numerous articles on environmental problems, Heller co-authored California Going, Going... and Phantom Cities of California as well as editing The California Tomorrow Plan.
Restrictions
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from or otherwise use collection
materials must be submitted in writing to the Director of the Library and
Archives, North Baker Research Library, California Historical Society, 678
Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. Consent is given on behalf of the
California Historical Society as the owner of the physical items and is not
intended to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such
permission must be obtained from the copyright owner.