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Bernice Hubbard May papers, 1930-1975 (bulk 1959-1975).
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Collection Overview
Title:
Bernice Hubbard May papers, 1930-1975 (bulk 1959-1975)Creator/Contributor:
May, Bernice Hubbard, 1897-1975, creatorAbstract:
The Bernice Hubbard May Papers contain material of interest to researchers of the history of women in politics, the conflict
over housing discrimination in Berkeley, and the issue of regional government in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. The collection
includes an array of campaign literature, correspondence, and other materials from Berkeley elections, covering the period
from May's first candidacy for city council in 1959 to her retirement in 1971. The most extensively documented of the electoral
measures is the unsuccessful 1963 Fair Housing Ordinance, which sought to penalize racial discrimination in housing. Reports,
minutes, and other documents from several organizations promoting regional governance (sometimes referred to as "home rule")
in the Bay Area are present: substantive documentation of the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC),
including reports on a wide variety of bay issues, preparatory to the Commission's master plan; and a smaller range of materials
regarding the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) and the Joint Committee on Bay Area Regional Organization (BARO).
Also included are reports and other documents from the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) and its Citizens' Task Force,
focusing on land acquisition efforts. The materials from the Berkeley City Council center on the issue of waterfront development,
but also touch on the city's responses to regional government and affirmative action policies. May's other professional activities
represented in the collection include the League of Women Voters and the California Citizens' Adoption Committee. As a whole,
the collection focuses on May's professional endeavors and contains little of a personal nature.
Date:
1959 (issued)Subject:
n-us-caWomen -- Political activity -- California
African Americans -- California
African American women -- California
Discrimination in housing -- California -- Berkeley
Elections -- California -- San Francisco Bay Area
Femmes -- Activité politique -- Californie
Noirs américains -- Californie
Noires américaines -- Californie
Discrimination dans le logement -- Californie -- Berkeley
Élections -- Californie -- San Francisco, Région de la baie de
African American women
African Americans
Discrimination in housing
Elections
Politics and government
Women -- Political activity
Berkeley (Calif.) -- Politics and government
Berkeley (Calif.) -- Elections
California -- Politics and government -- 1951-
Californie -- Politique et gouvernement -- 1951-
California
California -- Berkeley
California -- San Francisco Bay Area
League of Women Voters of California.
Berkeley (Calif.). -- City Council.
Berkeley (Calif.). -- City Council -- Elections
Association of Bay Area Governments.
San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission.
East Bay Regional Park District (Calif.)
Association of Bay Area Governments.
Berkeley (Calif.). -- City Council.
League of Women Voters of California.
San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission.
East Bay Regional Park District (Calif.)
May, Bernice Hubbard -- 1897-1975 -- Archives
May, Bernice Hubbard -- 1897-1975
Note:
COLLECTION STORED, IN PART, OFF-SITE: Advance notice required for use.
Transfer; From ROHO; 1976?
Related collection: Bernice Hubbard May memorial service [sound recording], 1975 May 16 (Phonotape 679 B).
Related collection: Photographs of Sierra Nevada outing trip (BANC PIC 1976.080).
Related collection: A native daughter's leadership in public affairs : transcript, 1974 (BANC MSS 76/175 c; Phonotape 835
A).
Related collection: Council-Manager form of municipal government [sound recording], 1972 Feb. 11 (Phonotape 677 B).
Related collection: Samuel Chester May papers, 1929-1947 (BANC MSS C-B 890).
Related collection: Samuel C. May papers, 1923-1955 (BANC MSS 75/130 c).
Photographs transferred to the Pictorial Collections of The Bancroft Library (BANC PIC 1976.028).
Bernice Hubbard May (1897-1975) entered politics after the death of her husband, UC Berkeley professor Samuel Chester May,
in 1955, following a career in administration at UC. She first ran for Berkeley City Council in 1959 with the slogan, "In
April, vote for May." Her successful campaign led to over a decade on the council, where she was a strong and respected progressive
voice. She campaigned for several African-American council members, including Zack Brown, Roy Nichols, and Ron Dellums, and
sought, both locally and as president of the California League of Women Voters, to increase the presence of women in politics.
She ended her last City Council term in 1971, when she decided not to seek re-election. While active in Berkeley government,
May also worked on a regional scale, serving as commissioner for both the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission
(1965-1971) and the Bay Area Transportation Study Commission (1969-1970), as well as a member of the executive committee for
the Association of Bay Area Governments (1968-1971). As a member of the Citizens' Task Force of the East Bay Regional Park
District (ca. 1972-1973), May continued a lifelong interest in conservation and worked to make the bay accessible to urban
populations. A prominent political figure in Berkeley and beyond, Bernice Hubbard May was an abiding influence through a tumultuous
period in the region's history.
In English.
Preferred citation: Bernice Hubbard May papers, 1930-1975, BANC MSS 76/174 c, The Bancroft Library, University of California,
Berkeley.
Type:
Archives.Campaign literature-California-20th century.
Campaign literature-California-Berkeley-20th century.
Physical Description:
print
4 cartons, 1 oversize folder (5 linear feet)
Language:
English
Origin:
CaliforniaCopyright Note:
COLLECTION STORED, IN PART, OFF-SITE: Advance notice required for use.