Elihu M. Harris Papers
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http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8jm2gww No online items Inventory of the Elihu M. Harris Papers Sean Heyliger African American Museum & Library at Oakland 659 14th Street Oakland, California 94612 Phone: (510) 637-0198 Fax: (510) 637-0204 Email: [email protected] URL: http://www.oaklandlibrary.org/locations/african-american-museum-library-oakland © 2013 African American Museum & Library at Oakland. All rights reserved. Inventory of the Elihu M. Harris MS 085 1 Papers Inventory of the Elihu M. Harris Papers Collection number: MS 085 African American Museum & Library at Oakland Oakland, California Processed by: Sean Heyliger Date Completed: 2017-12-30 Encoded by: Sean Heyliger © 2013 African American Museum & Library at Oakland. All rights reserved. Descriptive Summary Title: Elihu M. Harris papers Dates: 1968-1998 Collection number: MS 085 Creator: Harris, Elihu, 1947- Collection Size: 42 linear feet(35 boxes + 3 oversized boxes) Repository: African American Museum & Library at Oakland (Oakland, Calif.) Oakland, CA 94612 Abstract: The Elihu M. Harris Papers consist of reports, photographs, subject files, and administrative and financial records documenting Harris' political career as the mayor of Oakland, California from 1991-1999 and as co-owner of KDIA radio station from 1992-1996. Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English Access No access restrictions. Collection is open to the public. Access Restrictions Materials are for use in-library only, non-circulating. Publication Rights Permission to publish from the Elihu M. Harris Papers must be obtained from the African American Museum & Library at Oakland. Preferred Citation Elihu M. Harris papers, MS 085, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library. Oakland, California. Acquisition Information The Elihu M. Harris Papers were donated to the African American Museum & Library at Oakland by Elihu Harris on March 5, 1998. Processing Information Inventory of collection was created by Sean Heyliger and Sean Dickerson on December 14, 2017. Finding aid created by Sean Heyliger on December 30, 2017. Biography / Administrative History Politician and attorney Elihu M. Harris (1947-) was born to Frances and Elihu Harris Sr. in Los Angeles, California on August 15, 1947. Shortly after his birth, the family moved to Berkeley, California where he attended public schools graduating from Berkeley High School in 1965. After graduation, he enrolled at California State College at Hayward majoring in Political Science, serving as the student body vice president, and graduating with honors in 1968. The following year he graduated with a Master's Degree in Public Administration from University of California Berkeley's Graduate School of Public Policy and his Juris Doctor degree from University of California School of Law in 1972. He entered politics as an administrative assistant (1974-1975) to Congresswoman Yvonne Brathwaite Burke and California Assemblyman John J. Miller. He was first elected to the California State Assembly in 1978 as a Democrat representing the Inventory of the Elihu M. Harris MS 085 2 Papers cities of Alameda, Berkeley, and Oakland in California's 13th Assembly District. He was reelected in five consecutive elections in 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, and 1988 and while in the Assembly served as the Chairman of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee and was a member of the Ways and Means Committee, Judiciary Committee, and Health Committee and Transportation Committee. Harris ran as a candidate for the mayor of the City of Oakland in 1990 defeating sitting Oakland mayor Lionel Wilson and Councilman Wilson Riles Jr. in a run-off election. As mayor Harris focused on transitioning the city to a 'strong mayor' form of municipal government by promoting Measure F, a city charter revision that was defeated in 1996. In addition to Measure F, he focused on improving Oakland's public safety and economic development. In 1992, he purchased KDIA radio station with former California Assembly Speaker Willie Brown. They owned the historic Black radio station until it was purchased by Baybridge Communications in 1996. He was appointed by California governor Gray Davis to the California Unemployment Appeals Board (2000-2003) and served as chancellor of the Peralta Community College District from 2003-2010. Scope and Content of Collection The Elihu M. Harris Papers consist of reports, photographs, subject files, and administrative and financial records documenting Harris' political career as the mayor of Oakland, California from 1991-1999 and as co-owner of KDIA radio station from 1992-1996.The papers are organized into five series: I. City of Oakland. Office of the Mayor records II. KDIA radio station III. Photographs IV. Biographical material V. Assorted printed material. The bulk of the collection are reports and subject files documenting Harris' term as mayor of Oakland. Subject files include documentation demonstrating Harris' focus on improving economic development and public safety in Oakland. Records related to Harris' co-ownership of KDIA radio station include the station's business plan, promotion and advertising material, legal documents related to the station's purchase in 1996, and financial records. Photographs in the collection include portraits taken of Harris as mayor of Oakland and photographs taken at public events including President Bill Clinton's visit to Oakland in 1993. Biographical material consists of mostly newspaper clippings, financial records, plaques awarded to Harris during his time as mayor, and a biographical sketch. Arrangement Series I. City of Oakland. Office of the Mayor Series II. KDIA radio station Series III. Photographs Series IV. Biographical Series V. Assorted printed material Indexing Terms The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog. African American radio stations Oakland (Calif.) -- History Oakland (Calif.). Mayor Oakland (Calif.) -- Politics and government Radio stations -- California -- San Francisco Bay Area -- History Other Finding Aids Elihu Harris Papers, California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California. City of Oakland. Office of the Mayor Physical Description: 11 linear ft. Series Scope and Content Summary Includes administrative records documenting Elihu Harris' term as mayor of the city of Oakland from 1991-1999. Arrangement Arranged into six subseries: 1) Reports, 2) Press conferences, 3) Office files 4) Subject files, 5) Committee files, 6) Proclamation applications Reports Box 19 15-point public safety plan 1994-09 Inventory of the Elihu M. Harris MS 085 3 Papers City of Oakland. Office of the Mayor Reports Box 17 7th St. revitalization study urban design proposal prepared Department of Landscape Design Program undated Box 10 A proposal for the charter of the City of Oakland 1996-01-10 Box 18 City newsletters 1995 Box 18 City newsletters undated Box 18 City newsletters undated Box 17 City of Oakland adopted policy budget vol. 1 1992-1993 1992 Box 17 City of Oakland annual report 1993 Box 17 Comprehensive housing affordability strategy (HAS) 1992-12 Box 17 Forging an economic development strategy : an overview undated Box 17 Forging an economic development strategy for the City of Oakland supplementary report undated Box 17 Kathryn Casch urban planning consultant report on housing policy issues in Oakland 1991-08-27 Box 17 MacArthur BART analysis report undated Box 2 Management and organizational study of the Oakland Convention and Visitor's Bureau and the Northern California Black Chamber of Commerce related to services funded by the City of Oakland undated Box 17 Oakland general plan update land use & transportation element technical report [Office of Planning building] 1995-03 Box 32 Oakland sharing the vision strategic plan watch summer festival 1997 Box 17 Residential hotels in downtown Oakland, report for the Office of Community Development, Jeffrey P. Levin 1985-05-15 Box 1 Restoring the dream: 1993 annual report to the people of Oakland 1993 Box 10 Restructuring priorities for the city of Oakland 1995-07 Box 2 Review of opportunities for the consolidation or contracting of city activities and of existing contracts and major revenues for the City of Oakland undated Box 1 The best of Oakland: city of Oakland annual report 1994 Box 2 The Oakland book review of the implementation of previously approved management audit recommendation Harvey M. Rose Accountancy Corporation for the City of Oakland, 1982-1987 circa 1987 Press conferences Box 6 Briefing document on Oakland Fire Department press conference 1993-07-29 Box 7 Controlling the nuisance activities associated with liquor stores press conference 1994-03-18 Box 6 Fannie Mae press conference 1993-03 Box 19 Firearms grant press conference 1994-11-29 Box 6 Mayor's statements 1993 Box 6 Office of Economic Development and Employment Oakland enterprise zone press conference undated Box 2 Press and public affairs forms Box 2 Press conference 1995-04 Box 15 Press conference 1995-07 Box 17 Press lists 1992 Box 6 Press release on Mayor's walking tour 1992-10-13 Box 18 Press releases 1992-1993 Box 7 Press releases 1994-1995 Box 7 Press releases 1995 Box 7 Press releases non-city 1995 Box 19 Shop Oakland press conference 1994 Office files Box 18 Arisco Insurance undated Box 18 Chubb Insurance Group undated Inventory of the Elihu M. Harris MS 085 4 Papers City of Oakland. Office of the Mayor Office files Box 17 City staff