Contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, speeches, articles, clippings, scrapbooks and printed material relating to: his work as chairman of the California State Board of Control during Hiram Johnson's administration; as publisher of the San Francisco Call; Neylan's work on the Board of Regents for the University of California, including the Loyalty Oath Controversy, the Committee on Atomic Energy Commission Projects, and the Committee on Finance; his association and handling of the business affairs of William Randolph Hearst; his involvement in the Charlotte Anita Whitney case; his involvement in the Baugh and Abbott vs. Examiner Printing Co. cases; his interest in political matters and economic problems; his support of patriotic organizations and encouragement of the study of American history; his views on major domestic and international issues; his speaking engagements; and his important friendships.

John Francis Neylan, lawyer, journalist, political and educational figure, was born in New York City on November 6, 1885. After graduation from Seton Hall College in New Jersey in 1903, he came West. California was his destination, but he stopped off in Arizona and worked there for several years as a teamster, bank teller and reporter. The desire for a newspaper career brought him to San Francisco and, eventually, a job with the Bulletin. One of his first assignments was to cover Hiram Johnson's first gubernatorial campaign. Johnson was impressed with the young reporter, and after he was elected, appointed Neylan Chairman of the newly created State Board of Control. The Board installed an accounting system and drew up the state's first budget, and was so successful in regulating the state's finances, that the $2,000,000 deficit, which was Johnson's inheritance, was converted into an $8,000,000 surplus at the end of six years.

Number of containers: 202 boxes, 2 volumes, 12 cartons and 4 oversize folders Linear feet: 96.4

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