Alfred E. Alquist (Democrat) served the California State Legislature as an Assemblyman from 1963 to 1966 and as a Senator from 1967 to 1996. Alquist represented Assembly District 24 and Senate Districts 11 and 13. He authored several bills on seismic safety, education, taxation, law enforcement, and employee benefits. The collection documents Alquist's long-term political career from 1963 to 1996. The collection also details Alquist's legislative work and office administration, legislative files, campaign material, correspondence, reports, office administration files, public relations, press files, and subject files.

Alfred Ernest Alquist was born August 2, 1908, in Memphis, Tennessee. He attended Southwestern University where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Political Science. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army and became a navigation and meteorology instructor for the Air-Sea Emergency Rescue Service. Alquist worked in the railroad industry before entering politics. In 1950, Alquist moved to San José as the yardmaster and labor negotiator for Southern Pacific Railroad. While in this position, he served as secretary to the General Adjustment Committee (Western States) for the Railroad Yardmasters of North America. He married his first wife, Mai in 1934, with whom he had one son, Alan. Mai Alquist died in 1989, and in 1993 he married Elaine White. At the end of his eighth Senatorial term in 1996, Alquist retired from office due to term limits. Alfred Alquist died on March 27, 2006 at the age of 97; Elaine Alquist succeeded him in office and continues to serve in Santa Clara County in the California State Senate.

47 record cartons, 1 box, and 1 large flat file box (48 linear feet)

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