Inventory of the Department of Consumer Affairs - State Athletic Commission Records

Processed by Michael Gabbe-Gross and Archives Staff

California State Archives

1020 "O" Street

Sacramento, California 95814

Phone: (916) 653-2246

Fax: (916) 653-7363

Email: ArchivesWeb@sos.ca.gov

URL: http://www.sos.ca.gov/archives/

Inventory of the Department of Consumer Affairs - State Athletic Commission Records

Collection numbers: 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

California State Archives

Office of the Secretary of State

Sacramento, California

Processed by:: Michael Gabbe-Gross and Archives Staff
Date Completed:: October 2010
Encoded by:: Lisa DeHope

Descriptive Summary

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

Administrative Information

Access

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 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.

Publication Rights

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.

Preferred Citation

[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.

Administrative History

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.

Scope and Content

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.

Indexing Terms

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

State Athletic Commission 1925-1959

Physical Description: 59 file folders, 38 volumes

R121.5(1)

Series 1 Control Ledger 1925-1927

Physical Description: 1 volume

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by year.

Scope and Content

This volume tracks the Commission's income, expenditures, revolving fund, and financial reports for each year.

F2233A:28-30

Series 2 License Journals 1925-1929

Physical Description: 3 volumes

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by year.

Scope and Content

The series consists of listings of licenses issued by the Commission. Includes entry number, name and address of applicant, manager's name, weight, date issued, and license number. Included in the lists are boxers, wrestlers, managers, referees, announcers, timekeepers, physicians, and promoters.

F2190

Series 3 Annual Reports 1925-1932

Physical Description: 1 file folder

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by year.

Scope and Content

Annual reports to the Governor relating to a wide range of Commission activities.

F2233A:1-18

Series 4 Numerical Lists of Boxing and Wrestling Participants 1926-1927

Physical Description: 18 volumes

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by year.

Scope and Content

Numerical lists of boxing and wrestling participants licensed and regulated by the Commission. Includes entry number, name and address of participants, date license issued, and remarks. For boxers, additional data includes manager's name, ring weight, and receipt number. Club information also contains value and date of bonds, lease, certificate of incorporation, and fee paid. Types of participants include boxers, wrestlers, managers, physicians, referees, seconds, timekeepers, trainers, clubs, and promoters.

R121.3(1-3)

Series 5 Club Tax Journals 1926-1935

Physical Description: 3 volumes

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by year.

Scope and Content

A listing of fees collected by the Commission from athletic clubs. Includes club name, address, date of tax, and amount paid. The tax amounted to 5 percent of club event.

F2233A:27; R121.4(1-2)

Series 6 Account Books 1926-1936

Physical Description: 3 volumes

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by name of club and chronologically thereunder.

Scope and Content

Records of financial transactions of the Commission relating to collection of fees from boxing and wrestling matches. Includes name of club, sport involved, date of entry, license number, name of participants, date of event/contest, total receipts, and amount paid.

F2233A:39-40

Series 7 Suspension Books 1929-1930

Physical Description: 2 volumes

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by year.

Scope and Content

Lists of boxers suspended indefinitely. Includes the name, city of residence, and license number of each boxer, as well as the reason for their suspension - usually due to injury. Also included are lists of boxers who were ill or unavailable during this time period.

F2191

Series 8 Minutes and Hearings 1931-1945

Physical Description: 4 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by year.

Scope and Content

Minutes of Commission meetings and hearings relating to contracts and agreements with athletes, settling of conflicts between athletes and managers, setting dates for athletic events, applications for licenses, resolving outcome of fights, protests over issuance of licenses for women wrestlers, penalties imposed on athletes, and suspension periods.

F2193

Series 9 Inspector's Reports 1937-1947

Physical Description: 1 file folder

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by year.

Scope and Content

Reports of Commission inspectors relating to specific events. Includes date, place, date and place of event, names, license numbers and weights of contestants, number of tickets sold, amount of receipts, and number of complementary tickets furnished. Referee and physician reports are attached plus information on athlete's contract, salary, and total purse.

F2220

Series 10 Wrestling License and Renewal Applications 1936

Physical Description: 6 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by year and alphabetically thereunder by wrestler's name.

Scope and Content

License and renewal applications for wrestlers. Includes receipt number and date, approved date, license number, wrestler's name and address, past and present occupation, physical description, age, birth date and place, marital status, citizenship, manager's name and address, nature of contract, date, and length, fingerprints, and photo ID.

F2214, F2222-F2223

Series 11 Boxing License and Renewal Applications 1934-1948

Physical Description: 6 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by year and alphabetically thereunder by boxer's name.

Scope and Content

License and renewal applications for boxers. Includes boxer's name, address, and occupation, physical description, place and date of birth, marital status, citizenship, references, manager's name and address, arrest record, health status, fingerprints, and photo identification.

F2225, F2227-F2231

Series 12 License Renewals and Applications 1937

Physical Description: 8 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged by type of license and alphabetically thereunder by applicant.

Scope and Content

Applications and renewals for licenses for trainers, boxing and wrestling referees, managers, physicians, announcers, and timekeepers. Includes name of applicant, ID photo, dates received and approved, license number (for renewals), address, occupation, physical description, nativity, marital status, experience and qualifications, birth date, fee amount, race, citizenship, and fingerprints.

F2233A:31-38

Series 13 Fees Received Journals 1925-1932

Physical Description: 8 volumes

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by year.

Scope and Content

Monthly listing of fees received by the Commission. Includes date, claimant name, job classification, and amount of fee paid. Fees were received from clubs, referees, athletes, managers, physicians, timekeepers, trainers, promoters, and seconds.

See Appendix B for ID numbers

Series 14 Correspondence 1931-1959

Physical Description: 31 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged by type of correspondence and thereunder chronologically.

Scope and Content

Correspondence of the Commission relating to a wide variety of topics. Includes correspondence with professional organizations like the National Boxing Association, the National Wrestling Association, the Federal Athletic Club, and the Hawaiian Territorial Boxing Commission. Major subjects include regulation of managers and promoters; injuries; boxing rules and regulations; trainer's examinations; medical care; boxing clubs; revocation of licenses; collection of fees; suspensions; criminal records; medical examinations; contract disputes; supervision of inspectors; and legislation.

For a list of Correspondence, please see Appendix B of the Master Finding Aid at the California State Archives.

F2219

Series 15 Investigation Files 1939-1941

Physical Description: 2 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by year.

Scope and Content

This series consists of notes, hearing transcripts, resolutions, correspondence, articles of incorporation, news clippings, and other material related to the Commission's investigation of discrimination against African-American boxers at the Hollywood Legion Stadium in Los Angeles.

Dept. of Professional and Vocational Standards - Athletic Commission 1946-1985

Physical Description: 16 cubic feet and 29 file folders

F3920:1-189

Series 1 Investigation Files 1955-1985

Physical Description: 14 cubic feet

Arrangement

Arranged by case file number.

Access Information

Records in this series that are less than 75 years old are RESTRICTED under the Public Records Act (PRA) as investigative records per Government Code section 6254(f).

Scope and Content

Investigation files of boxers, wrestlers, managers, clubs, and others involved in the sport. These files contain information about boxing in California during the 1950's and 1960's, and illustrate the State's role in regulating the sport. Includes boxers' license applications and renewals with photographs attached. Occupation, age, and medical records are provided, as well as Bureau of Investigation reports (rap sheets), criminal activity reports and police records, parole records, fingerprint cards and win-loss cards for each boxer. Files also contain correspondence between the State Athletic Commission and individuals under investigation. Investigations include the Cox Report, a study commissioned in 1955 by the Governor to study abuses within boxing and wrestling. Ninety-five percent of the files date from 1955 to 1966.

F3920:190-228

Series 2 Transcripts 1946-1963

Physical Description: 2 cubic feet

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by date of hearing.

Access Information

Records in this series that are less than 75 years old are RESTRICTED under the Public Records Act (PRA) as investigative records per Government Code section 6254(f).

Scope and Content

Transcripts of meetings, hearings, and proceedings of the California State Athletic Commission. Subject matter covers boxing, crime, and safety in the sport. Transcripts include Commission meetings, boxer, manager, and referee suspensions, disputed matches, and death and injury in the ring. Also includes testimony taken in regards to the Cox report of 1955.

F3920:229-252

Series 3 Revenue Reports 1946-1960

Physical Description: 24 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by month.

Scope and Content

Monthly revenue reports of boxing and wrestling clubs and arenas in California. Contains lists of shows and attendance figures. Files are grouped by month; each file contains multiple years' records for a particular month.

F3920:259-263

Series 4 Agendas 1957-1959, 1961, 1963-1964

Physical Description: 5 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by date of meeting.

Scope and Content

Agendas of the Athletic Commission. Includes some minutes with a complete file of minutes for the year.

Dept. of Consumer Affairs - State Athletic Commission 1959-1991

Physical Description: 14.5 cubic feet and 6 file folders

R121.1. Box 1/1-Box 3/11

Series 1 License Files - Wrestlers 1959-1989

Physical Description: 2.5 cubic feet

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by last name.

Access Information

Records in this series that are less than 75 years old are RESTRICTED as per Information Practices Act, as they contain personal information regarding the various wrestlers and boxers such as medical reports, addresses, phone numbers, photographs, etc.

Scope and Content

License Files include wrestlers' license applications and renewals with photographs attached. Occupation, age, addresses, ring names, emergency contacts, phone numbers, and medical records are provided, as well as Bureau of Investigation reports (rap sheets), criminal activity reports and police records, parole records, and fingerprint cards for each wrestler.

See Appendix A of the Master Finding Aid at the California State Archives for an alphabetical name index for Wrestlers.

R121.2, Box 3/12 - Box 15/3

Series 2 License Files - Boxers 1959-1991

Physical Description: 12 cubic feet

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by last name.

Access Information

Scope and Content

License Files include boxers' license applications and renewals with photographs attached. Occupation, age, addresses, ring names, emergency contacts, phone numbers, and medical records are provided, as well as Bureau of Investigation reports (rap sheets), criminal activity reports and police records, parole records, fingerprint cards and win-loss cards for each boxer.

F3920:253-258

Series 3 Correspondence with Boxing Organizations 1968-1977

Physical Description: 6 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically within each organization.

Scope and Content

Correspondence between the State Athletic Commission and the World Boxing Council (WBC) and the North American Boxing Federation (NABF). Significant documentation about the attempt to establish international uniformity in the ranking of boxers and the officiating of boxing contests. Documents the genesis of the World Boxing Council. Includes correspondence relating to disputed boxing matches. Four file folders contain W.B.C. correspondence; two file folders contain N.A.B.F. correspondence.