Henry J. Mello Political papers, 1975-1996

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Summary

Creators:
Mello, Henry J.
Abstract:
This collection includes Sacramento Capital Office Legislative records (1977-1996), Gilroy District Office files (1977-1996), Monterey District Office files (1977-1996), Salinas District Office files (1977-1996), and Santa Cruz District Office files (1975-1996) documenting the career of California State Assemblyman and Senator Henry J. Mello.
Extent:
215 Linear Feet 172.5 cartons, 1 flat
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Henry J. Mello Political Papers, MS 41, Special Collections, University Library, University of California, Santa Cruz.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection includes Sacramento Capital Office Legislative records (1977-1996), Gilroy District Office files (1977-1996), Monterey District Office files (1977-1996), Salinas District Office files (1977-1996), and Santa Cruz District Office files (1975-1996), scrapbooks, photographs, plaques, and some audiovisual materials documenting the public life and career of California State Assemblyman and Senator Henry J. Mello.

Biographical / historical:

A Watsonville native, Henry John Mello was born in Watsonville, California, on March 27th, 1924, the child of an immigrant Portuguese family from the Azores. He attended Watsonville High School and Hartnell College in Salinas. With his father, he worked in the apple business, establishing a family farming business in 1940. Together they founded the Mello Packing Company in 1948, and the Central Industrial Sales Company in 1965. From the mid-1950's on Mello was involved in many local charitable and non-profit organizations. His initial foray into politics began in 1950 when he was a Democratic volunteer during the senate campaign between Richard M. Nixon and Helen Gahagan Douglas. Throughout the 1950's he worked on Democratic campaigns, and was elected to the Democratic Central Committee. His local public service career began when he served as a member of the California Agricultural Advisory Board and as a fire commissioner.

His political career began in earnest in 1966 when he was elected to the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, where he served until 1974. In 1976 he was elected to the State Assembly representing the 28th district. As a moderate Democrat he served two terms, until 1980, in what was then a nominally Republican district. In the Assembly he began his long involvement in senior issues as chairman of the standing Committee on Aging, and also became an influential member of the Ways and Means Committee.

He was elected to the State Senate in 1980 in what was then the 17th (after 1993 the 15th) District, and as a freshman senator was appointed to the Senate Rules Committee (1983-1992) and elected Majority Whip (1981-1992), two of that body's most powerful leadership positions. In 1992 he was elected Majority Leader. During his tenure as State Senator, Mello had a singular legislative record, frequently having more bills signed into law than any other senator. His legacy includes a remarkable legislative record in initiating senior citizens programs, an innovative arts and corrections program (arts in the prisons), bilingual education, and statewide economic development. During his tenure, Mello carried 727 bills and resolutions, of which 456 were signed by the governor and the remainder integrated into other bills or vetoed. He authored over 120 bills dealing with seniors, including the establishment of the California Senior Legislature, the first programs focusing on Alzheimers that included respite care, adult day health care, and Multipurpose Senior Services Programs, as well as inititating important changes in laws affecting conservatorship and elder abuse, funding for senior meals programs, and nursing home reform. He is held in high regard by seniors throughout the state for his work in their behalf. Mello was term-limited out of office in December, 1996. He died in Watsonville on September 4th, 2004, at the age of 80.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Henry J. Mello. Additional material given by John Mello in November 2003.
Processing information:

This finding aid was revised in the Reparative Archival Redescription Project in 2021-2022. Previous versions of this finding aid are available upon request.

Arrangement:

The archive has been arranged into seven series by the donor:

  1. Sacramento Capital Office, 1977-1996
  2. Santa Cruz District Office (SCDO), 1975-1996
  3. Salinas District Office, (SDO), 1977-1996
  4. Monterey District Office (MDO), 1977-1996
  5. Gilroy District Office, (GDO), 1977-1996
  6. Handout Indexes, 1977-1996
  7. Scrapbooks and Award Plaques, 1977-1996

The container list has been arranged by subject within each series except Series 7 which is arranged chronologically.

Physical location:
Stored offsite at NRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the papers.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Copyright for the items in this collection is owned by the creators and their heirs. Reproduction or distribution of any work protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the copyright owner. It is the responsibility of the user to determine whether a use is fair use, and to obtain any necessary permissions. For more information see UCSC Special Collections and Archives policy on Reproduction and Use.

Preferred citation:

Henry J. Mello Political Papers, MS 41, Special Collections, University Library, University of California, Santa Cruz.

Location of this collection:
Special Collections and Archives, University Library
1156 High Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95064, US
Contact:
(831) 459-2547
speccoll@library.ucsc.edu
Website