Teachers' Retirement System Records, 1920-1988

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Summary

Title:
State Teachers' Retirement System records,
Dates:
1920-1988
Creators:
State Teachers' Retirement System
Abstract:
This record group consists of subject files of the California State Teachers' Retirement System, including information on its method of organization, its rules, and members' benefits.
Extent:
3.5 cubic feet
Language:
English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], State Teachers' Retirement System records, F3919:1-71, California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.

Background

Scope and content:

This record group consists of subject files of the California State Teachers Retirement System, including information on its method of organization, its rules, and members' benefits. The subject files include correspondence with assemblymembers, governors, superintendents of schools, and organizations such as the California Teachers Association. The material also includes debates over benefits given to members. The Teachers Retirement Board controlled the agency. Board members, most often the Chief Executive Officer, attended other organizational meetings such as those of the CTA or the California Retired Teachers Association, from whom they received opinions and proposals on changes that should have been made in STRS. Financial records are prominent throughout the files, especially investment records. Meeting minutes, pamphlets and newspaper articles that mention STRS are also included.

Biographical / historical:

In 1913, a retirement system known as the Public School Teachers' Retirement Salary Fund and Permanent Fund was established under Chapter 694. The system's purpose was to provide retirement salaries to public school teachers who were involved in and planned to retire from the California state school system. The Retirement Salary Fund Board was in charge of administering the benefit programs of the retirement system and the funds associated with them. This Board was one of the functions of the State Board of Education. Not until 1963 did the system's controlling board become independent of the Department of Education.

From 1916 to 1935, the retirement agency's funds dwindled due to the agency's reliance on inheritance tax as its major source of revenue. Because the system's funding was too low to supply its members with beneficial pensions, teachers began to lose the incentive for contributing as members to this agency. Then, in 1935, the new Annuity Deposit Fund was added to the retirement program. It collected additional funds from the teachers for investment purposes. Members had to contribute as additional 4% of their salary to this new fund, and the benefit they received was life annuity based on their own accumulated contributions.

Acquisition information:
The California State Archives acquired the State Teachers' Retirement System Records in a series of transfers according to state law.

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Processed by Staff.
Date Prepared:
© 2004
Date Encoded:
Machine-readable finding aid created by Staff. Machine-readable finding aid derived from MS Word. Date of source: 2000.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives collections.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], State Teachers' Retirement System records, F3919:1-71, California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.

Location of this collection:
1020 "O" Street
Sacramento, CA 95814, US
Contact:
(916) 653-2246
reference@sos.ca.gov
Website