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Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California Berkeley Oral History Center University of California The Bancroft Library Berkeley, California Anne Halsted: A Leading Community Advocate Interviews conducted by Shanna Farrell in 2018 Copyright © 2019 by The Regents of the University of California Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California Berkeley ii Since 1954 the Oral History Center of the Bancroft Library, formerly the Regional Oral History Office, has been interviewing leading participants in or well-placed witnesses to major events in the development of Northern California, the West, and the nation. Oral History is a method of collecting historical information through tape-recorded interviews between a narrator with firsthand knowledge of historically significant events and a well-informed interviewer, with the goal of preserving substantive additions to the historical record. The tape recording is transcribed, lightly edited for continuity and clarity, and reviewed by the interviewee. The corrected manuscript is bound with photographs and illustrative materials and placed in The Bancroft Library at the University of California, Berkeley, and in other research collections for scholarly use. Because it is primary material, oral history is not intended to present the final, verified, or complete narrative of events. It is a spoken account, offered by the interviewee in response to questioning, and as such it is reflective, partisan, deeply involved, and irreplaceable. ********************************* All uses of this manuscript are covered by a legal agreement between The Regents of the University of California and Anne Halsted dated July 24, 2019. The manuscript is thereby made available for research purposes. All literary rights in the manuscript, including the right to publish, are reserved to The Bancroft Library of the University of California, Berkeley. Excerpts up to 1000 words from this interview may be quoted for publication without seeking permission as long as the use is non-commercial and properly cited. Requests for permission to quote for publication should be addressed to The Bancroft Library, Head of Public Services, Mail Code 6000, University of California, Berkeley, 94720-6000, and should follow instructions available online at http://ucblib.link/OHC-rights. It is recommended that this oral history be cited as follows: Anne Halsted, “Anne Halsted: A Leading Community Advocate” conducted by Shanna Farrell in 2018, Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, 2019. Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California Berkeley iii Anne Halsted, 2018 Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California Berkeley iv Anne Halsted is a longtime leading community advocate in the Bay Area. She was born in West Virginia, was raised in Cleveland, Ohio and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and attended Duke University. She moved to San Francisco in 1964, where she began a career in Human Resources. She has also had a long career in civic engagement, and served on numerous boards both local and nationally, which have had a significant impact on the Bay Area. In this interview, Halsted discusses her early life, her education, her time abroad, settling in the Bay Area, becoming involved with community organizations, getting involved with local politics, her time on multiple boards, her reflections of a changing city and her career, both professional and extracurricular, and her hopes for the future of San Francisco. Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California Berkeley v Table of Contents — Anne Halsted Introduction to Interview of Anne Halsted by Jim Chappell xii Introduction to Oral History of Anne Halsted by Anne Halsted xiv Interview 1: March 29, 2018 Hour 1 1 Born in Charleston, West Virginia, 1942 — Father was mechanical engineer — Mother was secretary — Born during the war — Growing up in Charleston — Learning about discrimination — Recalling the pollution of Charleston — Family involvement in coal mining industry — Moving to Cleveland at age 6 — On the growing of victory gardens — Experiencing the second industrial revolution — Sister is Mary Halsted — Development of interest in sailing — Moving to Milwaukee, Wisconsin — Early career aspirations — Developing an interest in political science — Attending Duke university, 1960 — Working with an all-black staff in a non-integrated school — Sense of civil rights activities as college student — Spending junior year in Florence, Italy — On the common market project — Experiencing the start of integration — Family move to San Francisco, 1964 — Working as a receptionist in San Francisco — Early memories of North Beach — The process of job searching — On position as a PBX operator — Returning to Luxembourg — Process of applying to the Peace Corps — Engaging in the Free Speech Movement — On the cultural differences between the East Bay and San Francisco — Life in California — Living in Presidio Heights — Moving to Luxembourg to work for the common market — Cultural differences of Luxembourg — Interest in economics — On witnessing cultural revolutions of the 1960s — Returning to the U.S., 1965 — Training to become a secretary — On short time living in Scotland, 1968-69 — Role of parents in life trajectory — Working for United States Leasing International Interview 2: April 18, 2018 Hour 1 32 More on working for at United States Leasing International — On sexual liberation — On the San Francisco work environment of the early 1970s — Working for equal opportunity in the job process — Fighting to ensure equality in workplace — On working with the California Department of Employment — Witnessing the employment of more women and men of color — On growing her career within the company — Remembering San Francisco in the early 70s — Campaign against Manhattanization — On neighborhood redevelopment — Organizing against Manhattanization — Receiving promotion — Changes in shipping among ports of San Francisco and Oakland — Moving into a management role — Developing a management style — Changes in benefit plan — On approaching layoffs — Balancing work and personal life — On working with mentors within the organization — Working as a teaching for the Potrero Hill Neighborhood Association — On working with the Telegraph Hill Dwellers, Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California Berkeley vi 1973-82 — Meeting Dianne Feinstein — Interest in creating a residential parking zone — Dorothy Erskine — Starting SPUR (San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association) — Interest in park development Hour 2 61 On working on committee with Dianne Feinstein — Fighting gender segregation — Experiencing the environmental regulations of the 70s — Role of property value — Changes in rent — Reflecting on work Interview 3: April 24, 2018 Hour 1 74 More on the open space advisory committee — Serving as co-chair, 1978-79 — Process of acquiring new parks — Role of socioeconomics — Involvement in the International Institute of San Francisco — Gourmet Gala Cookbook — English in Action program — Audrey Doughty — Working for immigrants — Balancing work and committee involvement — Witnessing changes in San Francisco, 1970s — Passing the bussing legislation — Loss of engagement in San Francisco public schools — Working within the Legal Aid Society — Witnessing and addressing discrimination — Issues around the HIV and AIDS epidemic — On networking and fundraising strategy — Involvement in SFT (San Francisco Tomorrow) — Interest in architecture — On joining SPUR — San Francisco Redevelopment Agency Commission, 1983-84 — More on Dianne Feinstein — Memories of the redevelopment agency commission — On Western Addition changes — Balancing open spaces and urban environment development — Time on the Redevelopment Agency board — Working with Dave Jenkins — Reflecting on time at US Leasing — Receiving an award from SF Tomorrow, 1978 Interview 4: May 2, 2018 Hour 1 106 Land development of Pier 39 — Feinstein falling into Mayor — Results of development — An imaginative reconciliation of Pier project — Appealing through narratives — Arguments for the development of Pier 39 — Telegraph Hill Dwellers — Relationship with media — Aquarium construction — The fishing industry — Obstruction of Bay: Embarcadero Freeway — Business Executives for National Security — Primary attraction in organizing — Involvement with BENS — Stanley Weiss — Redevelopment Agency Commission — Shift in maritime industry — Issues on the forefront of 1984 — Pushing the women’s movement: “I guess I’m sort of attracted to that opportunity” Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California Berkeley vii Hour 2 132 Public interests vs. future interests — Land use planning — Challenges of commission — Embarcadero Promenade — Hopes for future of waterfront Interview 5: May 15, 2018 Hour 1 142 Women’s Campaign Fund — Difference of national campaign fundraising — Building people with a base — WCF network — Office impact politics — The move from grassroots and local to national politics — Rhetoric of fundraising — Leaving the board in 1994 — Reopening the club — City Club in local politics — Future of the City Club — AIDS crisis — Retirement — Involvement with Wells — San Francisco Planning and Urban Research organization — Early memories of SPUR — Third Street Rail — The division of board members — Time as chair Interview 6: May 22, 2018 Hour 1 169 Selection of Jim Chappell — SPUR and collaborative