Guide to the Norman Mineta Papers
SJSU Library Special Collections & Archives
© 2009
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
San José State University
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0028
Phone: (408) 808-2062
Fax: (408) 808-2063
Email: special.collections@sjsu.edu
URL: http://library.sjsu.edu/sjsu-special-collections/sjsu-special-collections-and-archives
Trustees of the California State University. All rights reserved.
Guide to the Norman Mineta Papers
Collection number: MSS-1996-02-17
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
San José State University
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0028
Phone: (408) 808-2062
Fax: (408) 808-2063
Email: special.collections@sjsu.edu
URL: http://library.sjsu.edu/sjsu-special-collections/sjsu-special-collections-and-archives
Finding aid funded by the generous support of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).
- Processed by:
- Robert Donahue
- Date Completed:
- 2009
- Encoded by:
- Mary Ellen Petrich
© 2009 Trustees of the California State University. All rights reserved.
Title: Norman Mineta Papers
Dates: 1961-2001
Bulk Dates: 1975-1995
Collection number: MSS-1996-02-17
Creator:
Mineta, Norman Yoshio 1931-
Collection Size:
349 boxes
(435.250 linear feet)
Repository:
San José State University. Library.
San José, California 95192-0028
Abstract: The Norman Mineta Papers, 1961-2001 (bulk 1975-1995) document the long-term political career of Norman Mineta. Mineta began
his career in local politics as a member of the San José City Council in 1967 and served as mayor from 1971-1975. Mineta was
the first American of Asian Pacific ancestry to serve as mayor of a large urban city. In 1974, Mineta was elected to the U.S.
House of Representatives, serving from 1975-1995. Mineta co-founded the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC)
and played a leadership role in the establishment of the 1978 Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians
(CWRIC). Mineta also secured passage of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, recognizing the wartime treatment of Japanese Americans.
He provided additional leadership as the Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Public Works and Transportation (1992-1995).
Mineta returned briefly to the private sector as the Vice President of Lockheed Martin Corporation. From 2000-2001, Mineta
served under President Clinton as the Secretary of Commerce, and from 2001-2006, he served under President Bush as the United
States Secretary of Transportation. Note that his district office files have been placed with the Japanese American Museum
in Los Angeles. This collection consists of Norman Mineta's Legislative Office files and is arranged into six series: Series
I. Administrative Files, 1967-1995 (bulk 1975-1995); Series II. Awards & Memorabilia, 1971-1996 (bulk 1980-1996); Series III.
Commerce Files, 1967-1994 (bulk 1977-1994); Series IV. Public Relations & Press Files, 1974-2001 (bulk 1980-1994); Series
V. Subject Files, 1961-1996 (bulk 1977-1995); and Series VI. Transportation Files, 1974-1995 (bulk 1982-1995).
Physical location: Vault 1, Ranges 27A, 27B and 28A
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
The collection is open for research.
Copyright is assigned to the San José State University Special Collections & Archives. All requests for permission to publish
or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Special Collections. Permission for publication
is given on behalf of the Special Collections & Archives. Copyright restrictions may apply to digital reproductions of the
original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.
Norman Mineta Papers, MSS-1996-02-17, San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives.
Collection processed by Robert Donahue. Finding aid EAD encoded by Mary Ellen Petrich. Reviewed by Danelle Moon and Erin Louthen.
This finding aid was created as part of the Survey and Cataloging Project, a two-year San José State University Library grant project funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. The project began in 2008. The Project Director is Danelle Moon. The Project Archivist is Erin Louthen.
Norman Y. Mineta was born in San José, California on November 12, 1931. His father immigrated to the U.S. from Japan as a
boy, and went on to build a successful insurance company in San José, where the family was prominent in the community. Their
lives were severely disrupted during World War II, with the issuance of Executive Order 9066, which mandated relocation of
all Japanese Americans living on the Pacific Coast to internment camps. From 1943 to 1944, the Mineta family was interned
at Heart Mountain internment camp in Wyoming. Local attorney James B. Peckham protected their home by taking title of the
deed; he rented the home to Dr. Lucy Lawson, a professor at San José State University. The mortgage on their home was held
by Parton Savings and Loan. During the war, Norman Mineta's father, Mr. Mineta, served as a volunteer, instructing American
army officers in Japanese in Chicago; his insurance company shut down during the family's internment, and reopened in 1946
following their return to San José. Norman Mineta graduated from high school in San José in 1949, serving as student body
president in his senior year. Following high school, he attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he received
a degree in business in 1953. In the same year, he joined the Reserve Officer Training Program (ROTC) and served as an intelligence
officer with the U.S. Army in Korea and Japan from 1953-1956. Following his military service, he returned to San José to work
with his father in the insurance business.
A natural leader, Mineta worked closely with the Japanese Methodist Church, serving on the Santa Clara County Council of Churches.
His appointment by San José Mayor Ron James to the Human Relations Council was an important stepping stone in his political
career. Mineta served on the San José City Council from 1967-1971, when he became the first American of Asian Pacific ancestry
to serve as mayor of a large urban city (1971-1974). In 1974, Mineta was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, serving
from 1975-1995.
In Congress, Mineta demonstrated his leadership in civil rights legislation, public works and transportation. He co-founded
the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) and played a leadership role in the establishment of the 1978 Commission
on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians (CWRIC). In 1988, Mineta secured passage of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988,
recognizing the wartime treatment of Japanese Americans. From 1981-1988, he chaired the Aviation Subcommittee, and co-authored
the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA). This act increased control by state and local governments
over highway and mass transit decisions that included fuel-efficient mass transit programs and the creation of bike lanes.
Mineta's interest in aviation and surface transportation can be seen in his work as the Chairman of the U.S. House Committee
on Public Works and Transportation (1992-1995).
Mineta retired from Congress in 1995, retuning briefly to San José to assume the position of Vice President at the Lockheed
Martin Corporation. Mineta became the first Asian Pacific American to serve under two Presidents. From 2000-2001, he served
under President Clinton as the Secretary of Commerce, and from 2001-2006, he served under President Bush as the United States
Secretary of Transportation. Mineta's rich experiences in politics, particularly his expertise in transportation legislation,
enabled him to succeed during the tumultuous period after 9/11, when he helped restore the confidence of the nation in the
transportation system and played a key role in the establishment of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Norman
Mineta has received numerous honors throughout his 40-year political career, including two local namesakes: the Mineta Transportation
Institute, a research institute devoted to transportation policy located at San José State University (SJSU), and the Norman
Y. Mineta San José International Airport.
Mineta lives in San José with his wife Danealia. He has two sons, David and Stuart Mineta, and two step-sons, Robert and Mark
Brantner.
Academy of Achievement, Norman Mineta Biography,
http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/min0bio-1
Who's Who of Asian Americans, Biography of Norman Y. Mineta,
http://www.asianamerican.net/bios/Mineta-Norman.html
Rod Diridon Papers, MSS-1995-03-02, San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives.
http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt929029xg/
Don Edwards Congressional Papers, MSS-1995-01, San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives.
http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt096nc5sv/
Janet Gray Hayes Papers, MSS-2002-01, San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives.
http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt4v19r0fx/
Guide to the Norman Y. Mineta Papers, 1975-1996, Japanese American Museum, Los Angeles.
http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/tf938nb3m0/
Scope and Content of Collection
The Norman Mineta Papers, 1961-2001 (bulk 1975-1995) document the long-term political career of Norman Mineta. Mineta began
his career in local politics as a member of the San José City Council in 1967 and served as mayor from 1971-1975. Mineta was
the first American of Asian Pacific ancestry to serve as mayor of a large urban city. In 1974, Mineta was elected to the U.S.
House of Representatives, serving from 1975-1995. Mineta co-founded the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC)
and played a leadership role in the establishment of the 1978 Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians
(CWRIC). Mineta also secured passage of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, recognizing the wartime treatment of Japanese Americans.
He provided additional leadership as the Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Public Works and Transportation (1992-1995).
Mineta returned briefly to the private sector as the Vice President of Lockheed Martin Corporation. From 2000-2001, Mineta
served under President Clinton as the Secretary of Commerce, and from 2001-2006, he served under President Bush as the United
States Secretary of Transportation. Note that his district office files have been placed with the Japanese American Museum
in Los Angeles.
This collection consists of Norman Mineta's Legislative Office files and is arranged into six series: Series I. Administrative
Files, 1967-1995 (bulk 1975-1995); Series II. Awards & Memorabilia, 1971-1996 (bulk 1980-1996); Series III. Commerce Files,
1967-1994 (bulk 1977-1994); Series IV. Public Relations & Press Files, 1974-2001 (bulk 1980-1994); Series V. Subject Files,
1961-1996 (bulk 1977-1995); and Series VI. Transportation Files, 1974-1995 (bulk 1982-1995).
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Mineta, Norman Yoshio, 1931-
United States. Dept. of Commerce. Office of the Secretary.
Democratic Party (U.S.)
United States -- Politics and government.
United States -- Commerce.
California -- Politics and government.
San José (Calif.) -- Politics and government.
Transportation -- United States.
Legislators -- United States.
Cabinet officers-- United States.
City council members -- California -- San José.
Asian American legislators.
Mayors -- California -- San José.
Collection Contents
Series I: Legislative Office Administrative Files 1971-2000s
Physical Description: 25 boxes
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series documents the political career of Norman Mineta, from his early service as Mayor of San José through his long
tenure as a member of the House of Representatives. The contents include Mineta's biographical profile, copies of his administrative
policies and procedures, correspondence, meeting minutes, memoranda, political and campaign documents, publicity and financial
records, and voting records. Note that the bulk of this series relates to his Congressional career, and the collection does
not include any materials from his cabinet appointments under President Clinton and President Bush. Also included in this
collection are the research materials for the Norman Mineta Collection, which include biographical information on Mineta and
research on the collection contents.
This series is arranged chronologically by date range.
Boxes 1-25
Legislative Office Administrative Files 1971-2000s
Series II: Awards & Memorabilia 1971-1996 (bulk 1980-1996)
Physical Description: 22 boxes
Series Scope and Content Summary
Norman Mineta received numerous awards throughout his long political career. This series consists of commendations and memorabilia,
the bulk of which include awards, plaques, and framed pictures.
This series is arranged chronologically by date range.
Boxes 26 - 44, 347-349
Awards & Memorabilia 1971-1996
Series III: Commerce Files 1967-1994 (bulk 1977-1994)
Physical Description: 24 boxes
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series documents Norman Mineta's service as a member of the House of Representatives and specifically his contribution
to national commerce issues. The series consists of studies, policies, recommendations for and implementations of the development
and improvement of national commerce. Mineta's interest in policies related to transportation and international trade is well
represented with documents on the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA),
and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), as well as high-technology trade with an emphasis on semiconductors
and international competition. The formats represented include correspondence, newspaper clippings, and legal and legislative
files concerning commerce and trade issues.
This series is arranged chronologically by date range.
Boxes 45-68
Commerce Files 1967-1994
Series IV: Public Relations & Press Files 1967-2001 (bulk 1980-1994)
Physical Description: 52 boxes
Series Scope and Content Summary
The series consists of press releases, press materials, and public relations materials documenting Norman Mineta's 40-year
political career. This series reveals his interest in international aviation, Asian American issues, commerce, the Smithsonian
Museum, and transportation.
This series is arranged chronologically by date range.
Boxes 69-120
Public Relations & Press Files 1967-2001
Series V: Subject Files 1961-1996 (bulk 1977-1995)
Physical Description: 163 boxes
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series documents Mineta's congressional role in implementing national policies on a variety of political topics. Mineta's
interest in transportation (land, sea, and air) as well as trade and commerce is well represented. In addition, Mineta played
a leadership role in the establishment of the 1978 Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians (CWRIC). Mineta
also secured passage of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, recognizing the wartime treatment of Japanese Americans. Mineta had
a profound interest in preserving the constitutional rights of Asian Pacific Americans, and he used his leverage in Congress
to influence public figures to act responsibly and respectfully toward all races. Following the negative portrayal of Judge
Ito during the O.J. Simpson trial in the 1990s by Senator D'Amato, Mineta co-founded the Congressional Asian Pacific American
Caucus (CAPAC) in 1994 in an effort to promote and secure equal rights for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Mineta was
also very involved with the Smithsonian Museum and headed an advisory group for the Asian Pacific American Program, which
was developed in the late 1990s to better reflect the Asian Pacific American experience in Smithsonian exhibitions, programs,
and research. Other subjects covered in this series include health issues, women's issues, civil rights, hate/racism, taxes,
various Bay Area issues, and NASA. This series also contains administration plans, amendments, budgets, contracts, correspondence,
grants, legislative files, meetings and agendas, and reports.
It should be noted that the Japanese Internment legislation is not represented here and can be found at the Japanese American
Museum in Los Angeles, California. None of the policy files involve the Civil Liberties Act of 1988.
This series is arranged chronologically by date range.
Boxes 121-282, 344-345
Subject Files 1961-1996
Series VI: Transportation Files 1974-1995 (bulk 1982-1995)
Physical Description: 61 boxes
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series consists of Norman Mineta's transportation files. Included are congressional studies, policies, and recommendations
for and implementations of the development and improvement of transportation, especially aviation. This series consists of
correspondence, newspaper clippings, and legal and legislative files relating to transportation issues over the course of
20 years, and also includes files documenting Mineta's service as a member of the U.S. House Committee on Public Works and
Transportation (1992-1994).
This series is arranged chronologically by date range.
Boxes 283-343
Transportation Files 1974-1995