Collection Guide
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Inventory of the Department of Consumer Affairs - State Athletic Commission Records
F3920, R121, F2191, F2192, F2195, F2197, F2198-F2200, F2201, F2200, F2202-F2203, F2205, F2206, F2207-F2208, F2214, F2215,
F2219, F2220, F2221, F2222-F2223, F2224, F2225, F2226, F2227-F2228, F2229, F2230, F2231, F2233A
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Title: Department of Consumer Affairs - State Athletic Commission Records
Dates: 1913-1934
Collection number: F3920, R121, F2191, F2192, F2195, F2197, F2198-F2200, F2201, F2200, F2202-F2203, F2205, F2206, F2207-F2208, F2214, F2215,
F2219, F2220, F2221, F2222-F2223, F2224, F2225, F2226, F2227-F2228, F2229, F2230, F2231, F2233A
Creator:
Department of Consumer Affairs - State Athletic Commission;
Department of Professional and Vocational Standards - State Athletic Commission;
Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs - Division of Athletics;
State Athletic Commission
Collection Size:
35 Cubic Feet and 38 bound volumes
Repository:
California State Archives
Sacramento, California
Abstract: The State Athletic Commission was created by an initiative measure submitted to and approved by the people of California on
November 4, 1924. The records of the State Athletic Commission consist of 30.5 cubic feet of textual materials dating from
1925 to 1991 from the Commission's time as part of the Department of Professional and Vocational Standards and the Department
of Consumer Affairs. This record group consists of licenses to wrestle or box in the state of California, reports on the events,
and correspondence between the Commission and others involved with these sports.
Physical location: California State Archives
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
A number of records in this record group are restricted under the Information Practices Act because they contain personal
information, or under the Public Records Act (PRA) as investigative records per Government Code sections 7923.600-7923.625
(formerly section 6254(f)).
However, under California Government Code section 12237, after January 1, 2005, all items 75 years old or older that are on
deposit in the State Archives shall be accessible to the public. This code section applies to items in the custody of the
State Archives and any item deposited in the State Archives after January 1, 2005.
For permission to reproduce or publish, please consult California State Archives staff. Permission for reproduction or publication
is given on behalf of the California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, as the owner of the physical
items. The researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement that may arise from reproduction or publication
of materials from the California State Archives' collections.
[Identification of item], Department of Consumer Affairs - State Athletic Commission Records, [ID number].[box and folder
number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.
Acquisition and Custodial History
The California State Archives acquired the Dept. of Consumer Affairs - State Athletic Commission Records according to state
law.
During the 1850s, California's early legislators passed laws making professional boxing and wrestling illegal. In 1899, boxing
and wrestling were legal under controlled conditions, however, by 1914, legislation made professional combative sports illegal
once again.
The State Athletic Commission was created by an initiative measure submitted to and approved by the people of California on
November 4, 1924. The Commission membership originally consisted of three persons appointed by the Governor for a term of
four years. In 1941, following an election approving a constitutional amendment, the Legislature adopted provisions of the
Business and Professions Code that revised and consolidated the laws relating to boxing and wrestling. At this time, the Commission
was expanded to its present membership of five members whose four-year terms expire on a staggered basis. There are no licensee
members on the Commission.
The 1929 law that created the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs provided for a Division of Athletics to give administrative
support to the Commission (Ch. 264,
Statutes 1929). In 1946, the Commission and the Division were transferred to the Department of Professional and Vocational Standards
(Ch. 114,
Statutes 1946). In 1971 the Department of Professional and Vocational Standards became the Department of Consumer Affairs (Ch. 716,
Statutes 1971).
The Commission has the sole direction, management, and control of professional and amateur boxing matches and wrestling exhibitions
held within the State of California. The regulatory activities of the Commission protect the public, contestants, and State
Government from monetary losses due to fraudulent promotional practices and improper collection and verification of attendance
revenue. Contestants in boxing and full-contact karate are protected from serious injury and death by preventing mismatches
and ensuring proper medical examinations. The Commission also has the sole power to license all clubs conducting boxing and
wrestling shows, and all professionals and amateurs who participate in these sports.
The Commission requires, in addition to a license fee, bonds adequate to cover refunds, payments to contestants, officials
and taxes due to be posted before any club may hold boxing or wrestling shows. Each participant must be licensed before taking
part, including managers, matchmakers, timekeepers, and announcers. Ticket sellers, doormen, ushers, and box office employees
must be likewise licensed, but no fee is required of them.
The records of the State Athletic Commission consist of 30.5 cubic feet of textual materials dating from 1925 to 1991 from
the Commission's time as part of the Department of Professional and Vocational Standards and the Department of Consumer Affairs.
This record group consists of licenses to wrestle or box in the state of California, reports on the events, and correspondence
between the Commission and others involved with these sports.
The earliest records of the State Athletic Commission date from 1925 to 1946. The Club Tax Journals, Account Books, and Fees
Received Journals document the financial activities of the Commission, and consist of bound volumes listing fees and taxes
collected from licensed individuals and athletic clubs. The majority of the records from this time period include bound volumes
and textual material related to licensing boxers, wrestlers, managers, physicians, referees, seconds, timekeepers, and others
involved in organized wrestling and boxing. Also of interest is the Correspondence series, which contains correspondence
between the Commission and various professional organizations.
The records from the period covered by the Commission as part of the Department of Professional and Vocational Standards span
from 1946 to 1963 and include three record series: Investigation Files, Transcripts, and Revenue Reports. Investigative Files
contain the majority of the records for this time period. Licenses were required in order for an individual to wrestle or
box and these reports reveal who took the necessary steps to become licensed in California. Fans of wrestling and boxing of
this era would be able to recognize the names and faces of many famous applicants. The transcripts come from the daily meetings
and business of the Commission. Revenue reports are monthly reports on ticket sales, shows, and financial records.
The records of the Commission as part of the Department of Consumer Affairs span from 1955 to 1991 and are organized similarly
to those under the Department of Professional and Vocational Standards. The majority of the collection consists of License
Files for boxers and wrestlers and the remainder is Correspondence. The applications of 658 wrestlers and over 1,000 boxers
can be found in the License Files series. The Correspondence spans from 1968 to 1977 and includes discussions between the
Commission, the World Boxing Council (WBC), and the North American Boxing Federation (NABF) with regard to establishing uniform
standards nationwide.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Dept. of Consumer Affairs - State Athletic Commission
Boxing
Wrestling
Sport, politics, and culture
Boxing Law and legislation
Wrestling Law and legislation