Finding Aid to the David Pesonen papers, 1921, 1947-1987 (bulk
1961-1984)
Josh Roselle
The Bancroft Library
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-6000
Phone: (510) 642-6481
Fax: (510) 642-7589
Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu
URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/
© 2010
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Finding Aid to the David Pesonen papers, 1921, 1947-1987 (bulk
1961-1984)
Collection number: BANC MSS 98/133 c
The Bancroft Library
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-6000
Phone: (510) 642-6481
Fax: (510) 642-7589
Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu
URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/
- Finding Aid Author(s):
- Josh Roselle
- Date Completed:
-
2010
- Finding Aid Encoded By:
- GenX
© 2011 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Collection Summary
Collection Title: David Pesonen papers
Date: 1921,
Date (inclusive): 1947-1987
Date (bulk): 1961-1984
Collection Number: BANC MSS 98/133 c
Creator:
Pesonen, David E.,
1934-
Extent:
9 cartons;
11.25 linear feet
Repository: The Bancroft Library.
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-6000
Phone: (510) 642-6481
Fax: (510) 642-7589
Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu
URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/
Abstract: The David Pesonen Papers include materials produced and acquired by
Pesonen relating to his professional activities as an environmental activist, lawyer, and
judge in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Languages Represented: Collection materials are in English
Physical Location: Many of the Bancroft Library collections are stored offsite
and advance notice may be required for use. For current information on the location of these
materials, please consult the library's online catalog.
Information for Researchers
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Materials in this collection may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17,
U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction of some materials may be restricted by terms of
University of California gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and
publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Transmission or reproduction of materials
protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of
the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited
without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively
with the user.
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials
must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services, The Bancroft Library,
University of California, Berkeley 94720-6000. See:
http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/reference/permissions.html .
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], David Pesonen papers, BANC MSS 98/133 c, The Bancroft Library,
University of California, Berkeley
Alternate Forms Available
There are no alternate forms of this collection.
Related Collections
Oral history interview with David E. Pesonen, 1992 : transcript (BANC MSS 95/166
c).
Attorney and activist for the environment, 1962-1992 : opposing nuclear power at
Bodega Bay and Point Arena, managing California forests and East Bay regional parks : oral
history transcript (BANC MSS 97/132 c).
Separated Material
Photographs have been transferred to the Pictorial Collections of The Bancroft
Library.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
library's online public access catalog
Pesonen, David E., 1934- --
Archives.
California. Dept. of Forestry.
California. Superior Court
(Contra Costa County)
Pacific Gas and Electric
Company.
Antinuclear movement
Environmental lawyers -- California -- San
Francisco Bay Area.
Environmentalism -- California.
Environmentalists--California
Forests and forestry -- California.
Judges -- California -- San Francisco Bay Area.
Lawyers -- California -- San Francisco Bay Area.
Nuclear energy -- Environmental aspects --
California.
Nuclear energy -- Law and legislation --
California.
Nuclear power plants -- California -- Bodega
Bay.
Nuclear power plants -- California -- Mendocino
County.
Nuclear power plants -- California -- Point
Arena.
Nuclear power plants -- California -- Sonoma
County.
Nuclear power plants -- Environmental aspects --
California.
Bodega Bay (Calif.)
Point Arena (Calif.)
Clippings.
Legal documents -- California.
Transcripts.
Trial proceedings.
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
The David Pesonen papers were given to The Bancroft Library by David Pesonen on March 18,
1998.
Accruals
No additions are expected.
Processing Information
Processed by Josh Roselle in 2010.
Biographical Information
David Pesonen was an environmental activist, lawyer, and judge in the San Francisco Bay
Area. After graduating from Boalt Law School, at the University of California, in 1968, he
began work at a San Francisco law firm and became involved in the anti-nuclear movement. He
was elected chairman of Californians for Nuclear Safeguards, and was one of the authors of
Proposition 15—an unsuccessful 1976 ballot initiative to restrict nuclear power
production in California. He was also involved in the successful opposition to proposed
nuclear power plants near Bodega Bay, in Sonoma County, and Point Arena, in Mendocino
County. In 1979 Pesonen was appointed by Governor Edmund Gerald "Jerry"
Brown, Jr. to the office of Director of Forestry. In the final days of Governor
Brown's term in office, he appointed Pesonen to the Superior Court in Contra Costa
County. He ran unsuccessfully for reelection to the post in 1984.
Scope and Content of Collection
The David Pesonen Papers, 1947-1987 (bulk 1961-1984), include materials produced and
acquired by Pesonen relating to his professional activities as an environmental activist,
lawyer, and judge in the San Francisco Bay Area. The collection consists primarily of
environmental reports, court proceedings, newspaper clippings, and correspondence. The
collection is divided into six series: Subject Files; Proposition 15; Bodega Bay Power
Plant; California Department of Forestry; Superior Court Judge; and Mendocino Power
Plant.
Container Listing
Series 1:
Subject Files.
1971-1986
Physical Description:
Carton 1, folders 1-3; Carton 6, folder 18
Arrangement
Arrangement of the series is alphabetical.
Content/Description
This series is small and represents materials that do not correspond to other series.
carton 6, folder 18
American Nuclear Society- speech (cassette tape)
1975
carton 6, folder 18
Chronology of Pesonen blood poisining (cassette tape)
1984
carton 1, folder 1
Designs for Nevada, a Prospectus - Resource Use.
1971
carton 1, folder 2
Negligence Lawsuit Against Kaiser.
1985-1986
carton 1, folder 3
Sierra Club - Lawsuits and Complaints.
Undated
Content/Description
Lawsuit concerning the acquisition of land and housing and displacement of poor and
racially oppressed families and individuals to facilitate construction for the Route
238 highway project in Hayward, CA.
Series 2:
Proposition 15.
1961-1980
Physical Description:
Carton 1, folders 4-15; Carton 2, folders 1-16
Arrangement
Arrangement of the series is alphabetical.
Content/Description
Proposition 15, an unsuccessful 1976 ballot initiative, called for stringent
legislative regulation of the nuclear power industry in California. Pesonen was an
author of the proposition and was chairman of Californians for Nuclear Safeguards. The
material consists primarily of background documentation and research, reports, voting
literature, speeches, and analysis of the failure of the proposition.
carton 1, folder 4
Attorney's Fees - Briefs and Memoranda.
1975, undated
carton 1, folder 7-8
Californians for Nuclear Safeguards vs. March Fong Eu -Transcripts and
Exhibits.
1976
carton 1, folder 9-11
Californians for Nuclear Safeguards vs. March Fong Eu - Pleadings and
Correspondence. Mandate re. Ballot.
1976
carton 1, folder 12
Election Post-mortems.
1976-1977
carton 1, folder 13-15
Energy Research and Development Administration, Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, and Federal Energy Administration - Reports and Activity
1976-1978
carton 2, folder 1-2
Humboldt Bay Plant History.
1969-1980
carton 2, folder 3
Pacific Alliance - Correspondence and History.
1977-1978
carton 2, folder 4-5
Pesonen's Speeches and TV Programs.
1975-1976
carton 2, folder 6
PG&E Progress Magazine.
1961-1975
carton 2, folder 7
PG&E/Research West Surveillance.
1978
carton 2, folder 8
Press Releases by Californians for Nuclear Safeguards.
1975-1976
carton 2, folder 9
Press Coverage.
1976-1978
carton 2, folder 10-11
Price Anderson Act.
1969-1977
carton 2, folder 12-14
Public Attitude Surveys.
1976-1978
carton 2, folder 15
Simpatico, Musicians Report - Newsletters.
1978-1979
carton 2, folder 16
Yes on 15 Campaign Literature.
1975-1976
Series 3:
Bodega Bay Power Plant.
1947-1987
Physical Description:
Carton 3; Carton 4
Arrangement
Carton 3: Letter size folders in alphabetical order. Carton 4: Legal size folders in
alphabetical order.
Content/Description
This series contains material related to Pesonen's successful opposition to
PG&E's attempt to construct a nuclear power plant at Bodega Head, near
Bodega Bay, California. The files consist of clippings (one carton), PG&E
literature and applications, research files, and reports.
carton 3, folder 2
Correspondence.
1960-1962
carton 3, folder 4
Foundation Investigation, Unit 1, for PG&E, Prepared by Dames
& Moore.
1962
carton 3, folder 5
Government Agencies' Reports - Final WEC, ACRS, USGS, USC &
GS.
1963-1964
carton 3, folder 6-7
Journal.
1964-1965, undated
Content/Description
Pesonen's journal
carton 3, folder 8
PG&E Annual Reports.
1965-1972
carton 3, folder 9
PG&E Application and Transcripts from the Public Utilities Commission
Hearing.
1962
carton 3, folder 11
PG&E Miscellaneous Publications.
1964-1975
carton 3, folder 12-13
PG&E Progress Magazine.
1961-1976
carton 3, folder 14
PG&E Reports.
1962, undated
carton 3, folder 15
Public Utilities Commission Case.
1962
carton 3, folder 16
Radiological Health News, California Department of Public Health.
1962-1963
carton 3, folder 17-19
Reactor Accidents, Employee Safeguards.
1947-1986
carton 3, folder 20
Report on Waste Discharge.
1962
carton 3, folder 21
Sonoma County Board of Supervisors Case.
1963-1964
carton 4, folder 1
Battle of Bodega Bay - Clippings Compiled and Published by the Northern
California Association to Preserve Bodega Head and Harbor.
1958-1963
carton 4, folder 2
California Public Utilities Commission - Briefs, Petitions, Replies, Orders.
1961-1964
carton 4, folder 15
PG&E Applications and Responses.
1962
Series 4:
California Department of Forestry.
1973,
1979-1982
Physical Description:
Carton 5, folders 1-17
Arrangement
Arrangement of the series is alphabetical.
Content/Description
This series contains material relating to Pesonen's term as the Director of
the California Department of Forestry (CDF), from 1979-1982. It consists primarily of
material relating to his appointment to the position, CDF press releases, reports, and
correspondence.
carton 5, folder 2
Canadair CL-215 Aerial Tanker.
1982
carton 5, folder 3
CDF Employees' Association "No Confidence" Vote in
Pesonen.
1982
carton 5, folder 4
Congratulatory Letters on Appointment to Director of Forestry.
1979
carton 5, folder 5-6
Correspondence.
1979-1982
carton 5, folder 7
Correspondence with John B Crowell, Assistant USDA Secretary, and related
Correspondence.
1981-1982
carton 5, folder 8
Departure Correspondence and Clippings.
1982
carton 5, folder 9-11
Director's Report to the Board of Forestry.
1980-1982
carton 5, folder 12
Forestry Practice Act.
1973
carton 5, folder 13
Forestry Papers - Peter Green et al.
1981-1982
carton 5, folder 14-17
Press Releases/Communique Articles.
1979-1982
Series 5:
Superior Court Judge.
1974-1985
Physical Description:
Carton 5, folders 18-27; Carton 6, folders 1-9
Arrangement
Arrangement of the series is alphabetical.
Content/Description
Superior Court Judge: This series consists of material
relating to Pesonen's one-year term as a California Superior Court Judge in
Contra Costa County. He was appointed by Jerry Brown in 1983 and lost his reelection bid
to Richard Flier. Most of the material documents the campaign, and includes fundraising
information, newspaper clippings, and correspondence.
carton 5, folder 18
Appellant Decisions.
1984-1985
carton 5, folder 19
Campaign Appearances and Speech Texts.
1984
carton 5, folder 20
Campaign Correspondence.
1984
carton 5, folder 21
Campaign Disclosure Report, Fund Raising.
1983-1984
carton 5, folder 22-23
Campaign Endorsements.
1983-1984
carton 5, folder 24
Campaign Fund Raising.
1982
carton 5, folder 25
Campaign Fund Raising Lists.
1981-1984
carton 5, folder 26
Campaign Literature.
1984
carton 5, folder 27
Campaign Memos, Consultants.
1984-1985
carton 6, folder 18
American Nuclear Society- speech (cassette tape)
1975
carton 6, folder 3
Drefus, Garry Cases.
1974-1979
carton 6, folder 4
Initial Appointment Correspondence and Press.
1982-1983
carton 6, folder 5
Lemmon, Jack: Biography, Reception, Proceeding.
1984
carton 6, folder 6
Police Organizations Campaign Support.
1984
carton 6, folder 18
Personen/Flier Candidates' Night - Concord Police Academy
(cassette tape).
1984 Feb. 16
carton 6, folder 7
Post-election Correspondence.
1984
carton 6, folder 9
Richard Flier's (Pesonen's Opponent) Campaign Literature,
FPPC Reports, and Fundraising.
1984
Series 6:
Mendocino Power Plant.
1921,
1963-1975
Physical Description:
Carton 6, folders 10-17; Carton 7; Carton 8; Carton 9
Arrangement
Arrangement of the series is alphabetical.
Content/Description
This series contains material related to Pesonen's successful opposition to
PG&E's attempt to construct a nuclear power plant at Point Arena, in
Mendocino County, California. The material consists of two cartons of Safety Analysis
and Environmental Reports, as well as briefs, newspaper clippings, and
correspondence.
carton 6, folder 10
Atmospheric Physics - Meteorological Investigation.
1971-1973
carton 6, folder 11
Atomic Energy Commission Proceedings.
1965-1973
carton 6, folder 12
Biological Effects.
1971-1972
carton 6, folder 13
Citizens for Clean Energy.
1971-1972
carton 6, folder 14
Correspondence Regarding the Point Arena Plant and Earthquake Hazards.
1971-1973
carton 6, folder 15
Environmental Impact Report.
1972-1973
carton 6, folder 17
Notes, Memoranda, and Point Arena Task Force.
1971-1973
carton 7, folder 1-2
PG&E Antitrust Case.
1972
carton 7, folder 3-4
PG&E Pre-operational Environmental Studies.
1970-1972
carton 7, folder 5-6
Press Coverage.
1966-1972
carton 7, folder 7
Public Utilities Commission Proceedings.
1971-1972
carton 7, folder 8-10
Resources Agency Agreements.
1963-1975
carton 7, folder 11-12
Seismologic Investigation.
1971-1973
carton 7, folder 13
Seismologic Investigation - Photos.
1921,
1967
carton 7, folder 14
Sierra Club Correspondence.
1971-1973
carton 7, folder 15-16
Sierra Club: General Policy, Fundraising, Meeting Minutes, and
Correspondence.
1971-1972
carton 8, folder 1-3
Units 1 & 2, PG&E - Preliminary Safety Analysis Report,
Volume 1.
1972
carton 8, folder 4-7
Units 1 & 2, PG&E - Preliminary Safety Analysis Report,
Volume 2.
1972
carton 8, folder 8-10
Units 1 & 2, PG&E - Preliminary Safety Analysis Report,
Volume 3.
1972
carton 8, folder 11-12
Units 1 & 2, PG&E - Preliminary Safety Analysis Report,
Volume 4.
1972
carton 8, folder 13-15
Units 1 & 2, PG&E - Preliminary Safety Analysis Report,
Volume 5.
1972
carton 8, folder 16-17
Units 1 & 2, PG&E - Preliminary Safety Analysis Report,
Volume 6.
1972
carton 9, folder 1-2
Units 1 & 2, PG&E - Preliminary Safety Analysis Report,
Volume 7.
1972
carton 9, folder 3-5
Units 1 & 2, PG&E - Preliminary Safety Analysis Report,
Volume 8.
1972
carton 9, folder 6-7
Units 1 & 2, PG&E - Supplement to Applicant's
Environmental Report, Volume 1.
1972
carton 9, folder 8-9
Units 1 & 2, PG&E - Supplement to Applicant's
Environmental Report, Volume 2.
1972
carton 9, folder 10-12
Units 1 & 2, PG&E - Supplement to Applicant's
Environmental Report, Volume 3.
1972
carton 9, folder 13-16
Units 1 & 2, PG&E - Supplement to Applicant's
Environmental Report, Volume 4.
1972
