This collection comprises news clippings, photographs, printed publicity materials and reports, datebooks, correspondence, and other papers related to the political career of Jerry M. Patterson, who served as councilman and mayor of Santa Ana from 1969 to 1974, then as the United States Congressman from California's 38th Congressional District (Santa Ana and Garden Grove) from 1975 to 1984. The collection covers his personal life, his campaigns for political office, and his activities while in office. The majority of the material covers Patterson's terms in the U. S. Congress.

Jerry M. Patterson was born October 25, 1934 in El Paso, Texas. He received a Juris Doctor from UCLA Law School in 1966 and opened a private law practice in 1967 in Santa Ana. He was elected to the Santa Ana City Council in 1969 and served as mayor of Santa Ana from 1973 to 1974. In 1974 Patterson was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives where he represented California's 38th Congressional District. While a Congressman he served on the Select Committee on Committees, the Select Committee on Aging, and the Select Committee on Children, Youth and Families. He introduced the Housing Piracy Prevention Act and the Olympic Coin Act, and championed the creation of the Orange County National Urban Park. Patterson served for five terms, losing his seat to Republican Robert K. Dornan in 1984. In 1996, Patterson was elected a trustee of the Coast Community College District in Orange County, California.

6.5 Linear Feet (13 boxes and 5 oversize folders)

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.

Collection is open for research.