Dennis E. Carpenter papers, 1970-1978

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Summary

Creators:
Carpenter, Dennis E.
Abstract:
This collection comprises the administrative and legislative files of the office of California State Senator Dennis E. Carpenter. Administrative files primarily consist of official press releases, printed material, newsletters issued by Carpenter's offices in Sacramento and Irvine, California, and ephemera from his first campaign in 1970. The bulk of this collection consists of legislative files documenting Carpenter's work as a California State Senator representing most of Orange County. These files contain correspondence, drafts of bills, some maps, and research notes for each bill introduced by Carpenter during his eight-year term.
Extent:
10.4 Linear Feet (25 boxes and 1 oversize folder)
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

Dennis E. Carpenter Papers. MS-R04. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California. Date accessed.

For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection comprises the administrative and legislative files of the office of California State Senator Dennis E. Carpenter. Administrative files primarily consist of official press releases, printed material, newsletters issued by Carpenter's offices in Sacramento and Irvine, California, and ephemera from his first campaign in 1970. The bulk of this collection consists of legislative files documenting Carpenter's work as a California State Senator representing most of Orange County. These files contain correspondence, drafts of bills, some maps, and research notes for each bill introduced by Carpenter during his eight-year term.

This collection is organized into two series.

  • Series 1. Administrative files, 1970-1978. 0.6 linear ft.
  • Series 2. Legislative files, 1971-1978. 9.8 linear ft.

Biographical / historical:

Dennis E. Carpenter served as a Republican California State Senator from 1970 through 1978 through two consecutive terms. He represented Orange County's 34th District from 1970 to 1974 and the 36th District from 1974 to 1978. During his eight-year tenure, comprising four legislative sessions, he introduced a large number of bills into the Senate.

Carpenter was born on September 3, 1928 in Minnesota. After enlisting in the army, he moved to California in 1948. He received his B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1952. He studied law at UCLA from 1954 to 1958. He took a leave of absence during his studies at UCLA to serve as a special agent in the Federal Bureau of Investigation, working in various U.S. states and in Mexico. Shortly after he passed the California Bar Association examination, he established the law firm Duryea, Carpenter, & Barnes, based in Newport Beach, California. From 1961 to 1970, he was active in the Republican Party as a volunteer. This included appointments as Chairman of the Orange County Republican Central Committee and Chairman of the Republican State Central Committee. He married Madine Waltrip during this time. He was also appointed by the Orange County Board of Supervisors to be a member of the Orange County Airport Commission, addressing public concerns surrounding airport construction and air traffic.

In 1970 he was elected California State Senator for the 34th District, representing most of Orange County. In 1974 he declared his intent to run for reelection to the State Senate representing the 36th District. The newly reapportioned 36th District was composed of much of the 34th District plus Camp Pendleton and Oceanside in San Diego County. He was reelected for a second term in November of that year. Throughout 1975 he tried unsuccessfully to obtain the Republican Party U.S. Senate nomination. In 1977 he announced he would not seek reelection to a third term in office.

After leaving office, he returned to the private sector. As of 2001 he is still active as a lobbyist and is managing partner of the lobbying firm Carpenter, Snodgrass & Associates, based in Sacramento, California.

Missing Title
Date Event
1928
Born in Minnesota.
1952
B.A., Political Science, University of California, Los Angeles.
1954-1958
Special agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation.
1958
LL.B., University of California, Los Angeles. Admitted into California Bar Association and establishes law firm, Duryea, Carpenter & Barnes, in Newport Beach, California.
1961-1966
Chairman of the Orange County Republican Central Committee.
1966-1969
Chairman of the Orange County Airport Commission.
1968
Marries Madine Waltrip.
1969-1970
Chairman of the Republican State Central Committee of California.
1970-1974
California State Senator, 34th District.
1974
Republican party Caucus Chairman.
1974-1978
California State Senator, 36th District.
Acquisition information:
Gift of Dennis E. Carpenter, 1979.
Processing information:

Processed by Adrian Turner, 2001.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights 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.

Preferred citation:

Dennis E. Carpenter Papers. MS-R04. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California. Date accessed.

For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

Location of this collection:
P.O. Box 19557
Irvine, CA , US
Contact:
(949) 824-3947
spcoll@uci.libanswers.com
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