Norris Poulson papers, 1938-1976

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Summary

Creators:
Poulson, Norris
Abstract:
Charles Norris Poulson (1895-1982) was elected and served in the California State Assembly (1938-42), was elected to the House of Representatives in 1942, served as mayor of Los Angeles (1953-61), and was a member of the California Water Commission (1965-68). The collection consists of scrapbooks, clippings, documents, correspondence, photographs, and memorabilia related to the life of Norris Poulson including Poulson's autobiography, and materials related to his career as a California assemblyman, U.S. Congressman, and Los Angeles mayor.
Extent:
2.5 Linear Feet (5 boxes and 23 oversize boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Norris Poulson Papers (Collection 787). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Background

Scope and content:

Collection consists of scrapbooks, clippings, documents, correspondence, photographs, memorabilia, and related material of former Los Angeles mayor Norris Poulson. Includes Poulson's autobiography, The genealogy and life story of Erna and Norris Poulson. Includes materials related to his career as a California assemblyman, U.S. Congressman, and Los Angeles mayor, as well as signed letters and photographs of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Richard M. Nixon, Mayor Fletcher Bowron, Mayor Samuel Yorty, Nikita Khrushchev, Earl Warren, and others.

Norris Poulson's career as a California Assemblyman, Representative and member of the House Committee on Public Lands, and mayor of Los Angeles spans the time period 1938-1961. The Collection of his papers consists, in the greater part, of 39 scrapbooks containing clippings and memorabilia covering Poulson's political career. The majority of the material covers Poulson's two terms as mayor. There is very little correspondence of a personal or official nature, but there are many letters signed by prominent political figures, foreign dignitaries, and celebrities.

Particularly of interest are the extensive materials concerned with the California/Arizona water issue, the coverage of Nikita Khrushchev's visit to Los Angeles, and materials pertaining to the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chavez Ravine deal with Walter O'Malley.

As Congressman and Mayor, Poulson knew and associated with many prominent political figures and citizens. As Mayor Poulson met and hosted many celebrities and foreign dignitaries. The Collection contains many signed letters from and photographs of prominent people. Of note are: Dwight D. Eisenhower, Richard M. Nixon, Mayor Fletcher Bowron, Mayor Samuel Yorty, Nikita Khrushchev, Earl Warren, and others.

Also included in the Collection is an autobiography "The Genealogy and Life Story of Erna and Norris Poulson." The autobiography, like Poulson's oral history "Who would have ever dreamed," gives detailed accounts of Poulson's political career.

Biographical / historical:

Charles Norris Poulson was born on July 23, 1895; attended Oregon Agricultural College, 1914-15; farmed 1916-23; moved to Los Angeles in 1923; attended Southwestern University, 1923-25; began his own accounting business about 1925, passing the California CPA examination in 1933; was elected and served in the California State Assembly (1938-42); first elected to the House of Representatives in 1942; served as mayor of Los Angeles (1953-61); served as a member of the California Water Commission (1965-68); he died on September 25, 1982.

Missing Title
Date Event
July 23, 1895
Born Charles Norris Poulson, Baker County, Oregon
Fall 1913
Attended Oregon Agricultural College
Fall 1914
Attended business college in Baker City, Oregon
February, 1915
Became accountant for J.F. Bryant, Haines, Oregon
December 25, 1916
Married Erna June Loennig
1916-1923
Farmed in Baker County, Oregon
Spring 1923
Moved to Los Angeles, California; became a bookkeeper for Square Oil Company
ca. 1925
Began accounting business of his own
1933
Passed California CPA examination
1938
Elected to the California State Assembly for the Los Angeles 56th District
1939
Investigated the California Athletic Comm.
1940
Re-elected to the California State Assembly
November, 1942
Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for the California 13th District
November, 1944
Lost the congressional race for re-election to Ned Healy
1945
State lobbyist for California CPA Association
November, 1946
Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives
1948, 1950, 1952
Re-elected to serve as Representative; served on the House Public Lands Comm. (now the Interior Comm.)
December, 1952-May, 1953
Campaigned as Los Angeles mayoralty candidate against Fletcher Bowron
May 26, 1953
Elected mayor of Los Angeles
July, 1953
Settled the Los Angeles Public Housing issue
1956
Involved in the Los Angeles rubbish issue; served as a delegate to the Republican National Convention for Richard M. Nixon
1957
Was re-elected mayor of Los Angeles
1957-1959
Involved in the Los Angeles Major League Baseball issue
September, 1959
Hosted Premier Nikita Khrushchev during his visit to Los Angeles
1961
Lost the mayoralty election to Samuel Yorty
1965-1968
Served as member of the California Water Commission, participating in the California bond issue.
1969-
Retired and residing in Tustin, California
Acquisition information:
Gift of Norris Poulson, 1966 1976.
Processing information:

Processed by Patricia Sue Webb, 1977.

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Physical location:
Stored off-site. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.

Terms of access:

Property rights to the physical objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Norris Poulson Papers (Collection 787). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Location of this collection:
A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
Contact:
(310) 825-4988
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