by Miriam Pawel
Tom Quinn, October 13, 2016, October 17, 2016, and May 2, 2017
Michael Reese, March 22, 2017
Stephen Reinhardt, September 13, 2016
Joyce Rey, March 2, 2017
Baxter Rice, April 5, 2016, and May 24, 2017
George Rice III, May 27, 2017
Dan Richard, May 25, 2017
Ron Robie, October 12, 2016
Peter Roddy, June 20, 2016
Van Gordon Sauter, March 14, 2018
Patricia Schaad, February 22, 2016
Bobbi Jo Seaver, May 13, 2015
Janita Smith, May 13, 2015
Janet Staple, May 13, 2015, May 24, 2016, and October 11, 2016
Kevin Starr, June 23, 2015
Faye Straus, March 25, 2016
Karin Surber, March 25, 2016, and October 19, 2017
Phil Tagami, September 22, 2017
Peter Taylor, November 7, 2016
Stephen Tobriner, March 21, 2017
Larry Tramutola, March 21, 2017
Llew Werner, September 7, 2017
Chuck Winner, April 27, 2017
Notes
Unless otherwise indicated, oral histories cited are from the Bancroft Regional Oral History Center collection, “Interviews of the Goodwin Knight–Edmund G. Brown, Sr., Gubernatorial Eras,” Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
Archives abbreviations
BANC: Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley
CDC: California Democratic Council Papers, Southern California Research Library, Los Angeles
EGB: Edmund G. Brown Papers, Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley
HUNT: The Huntington Library, San Marino, California
JB: Edmund G. Brown Jr. Papers, Special Collections, University of Southern California Libraries, Los Angeles
JES: California Jesuit Archives, University Library, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara
JFK: John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, Boston, Mass.
NARA: National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.
OH: Oral Histories from the Regional Oral History Center, Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley
TIME: Dispatches from Time magazine correspondents: second series, 1956–1968, Houghton Library, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
UCLA: UCLA Library Special Collections
WRCA: Water Resources Collections & Archives, Orbach Science Library, University of California, Riverside
Other abbreviations
LAT: Los Angeles Times
NYT: New York Times
PPIC: Public Policy Institute of California, San Francisco
SFC: San Francisco Chronicle
SFE: San Francisco Examiner
TRIB: Oakland Tribune
The Mansion
Sources: “Visiting with Huell Howser: The Governor’s Mansion,” July 8, 1996; Library of Congress, Historic American Building Survey; “Stewards of the Mansion,” California State Parks; Pat Brown, Bernice Brown, Connie Carlson, OH; Author interviews with Kathleen Brown, Jerry Brown
“an extremely individual house” Joan Didion, The White Album (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1979), pp. 70–71
“Every day I come down the stairs” Author interview Oct. 20, 2017
1: The Pioneer
Sources: Patents and deeds, Colusa Clerk-Recorder; Land Entry Files, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, NARA; Shipping and immigration records, NARA; U.S. Census; Great Registers, Colusa County; Green, The History of Colusa; McWilliams, California the Great Exception; Rogers, Colusa County; Starr, Americans and the California Dream; Papers of Kathleen Brown, Janet Staple; Wagon Wheels, Vol. 20, No. 1, Feb. 1970; Williams Cemetery; Author interviews with Ash, O’Sullivan, Schaad, Seaver, Smith, Staple, Surber
“now engrossing the attention of the civilized world” Felix Wierzbicki, California As It Is, and As It May Be (Tarrytown, NY: Reprinted, W. Abbatt, 1927), E173.M24 no.126, HUNT, p. 1
“It is not necessary to be gifted” Ibid., p. 8
“a new and great community” Josiah Royce, California, from the Conquest in 1846 to the Second Vigilance Committee in San Francisco (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1948), p. viii
on the ship the Perseverance New York Passenger Lists, 1820–1897, Microcopy No. 237, Roll 79, NARA
a record number of pioneers William Hill, The California Trail (Boulder: Pruett, 1986), p. 18
But he kept a diary Diary courtesy of Kathleen Brown and Janet Staple
Colusa was a small town Rogers, Colusa County
“Those who came here came to stay” Ibid., p. 89
Home for August by 1860 1860 census; Peter Thomas Conmy, “Will Semple Green, Colusa Pioneer,” Oakland, CA, 1955, Call # 19465, HUNT
He chose the quickest route New York Passenger Lists, 1820–1957, Records of the U.S. Customs Service, RG 36, NARA; Passport Applications, 1795–1905, M1372, Roll 106, NARA
boarding the SS Hansa New York Passenger Lists, 1820–1897
August continued to prosper Property deeds, Colusa Recorder; “Production of Agriculture in Stoney Creek,” 1970, California State Library History Room
a well-known inn and tavern called the Mountain House Much of the description of life at the Mountain House is drawn from the writings of Gilbert Allen, grandson of August Schuckman, courtesy of Janet Staple
to keep her English grammar book Writing of Harold Brown, courtesy of Chris Brown
2: The Paris of America
Sources: U.S. Census; Great Registers, California State History Room; Pat Brown, Harold Brown, OH; Unitarian Church of San Francisco archives; Papers of Kathleen Brown; Starr, Americans and the California Dream; Temple, Josiah Howard, A History of Framingham (Town of Framingham, 1887); Walker, San Francisco’s Literary Frontier; Frank Brown, Harold Brown, Pat Brown, Constance Carlson, OH; Author interviews with Ash, Kathleen Brown, Straus, Surber
“There is in the whole world no city” Henry George, “What the Railroad Will Bring Us,” Overland Monthly, October 1868
“There were suddenly all these opportunities” TIME, Bill Glasgow, Aug. 29, 1958, Box 248
on the clipper ship Anglo American Boston Passenger Lists, 1820–1891, NARA
aboard the Aeolius Ibid.
the bulk of his $1,200 estate Probate records, Colusa Courthouse
“The wheel of fortune” George, “What the Railroad Will Bring Us”
For ten dollars SFC, Nov. 6, 1908
“We are all anxious about you” Nov. 8, 1917, courtesy of Karin Surber
take your girl to the Palace Mervyn Galvin to Pat, Aug. 1974, EGB, Carton 19, Folder 22
3: The Yell Leader
Sources: Bernice Brown, Frank Brown, Pat Brown, Constance Carlson, Tom Lynch, Albert Shumate, OH. Author interviews with Casey, Joseph Kelly, Straus, Surber
“The citizens of San Francisco have” Lowell Alumni Roster, 1856–1930, LD7501.S2 L8, HUNT
he laid out his vision for the congregation Dr. David Sammons, April 26, 2016, revsammons.wordpress.com/2016/04/26/dutton/
“In no other state” Quoted in Starr, Americans and the California Dream, p. 314
POLICE CAPTAIN’S DAUGHTER ELOPES SFC, Nov. 1, 1930
The Gaylord had been built United States Department of Interior, National Register of Historic Places
write down his thoughts Notes, Jan. 10, 1931, EGB, Carton 2, Folder 12
4: The Roosevelt Democrat
Sources: San Francisco City Directories; Starr, Embattled Dreams; Kevin Starr, Golden Gate; California in the 1930s: The WPA Guide; Frank Brown, Pat Brown, Carlson, Lynch, OH; “Lawyer for Quasi-Public Associations: the Biography of Mathew O. Tobriner,” 1961 oral history, UCLA; Author interviews with Casey, Grodin, Joseph Kelly, Schaad, Tobriner
Tobriner had grown up Tobriner oral history
Tobriner delighted in recalling author interviews with Tobriner, Grodin; Pat Brown OH
bill collection work Various bills, EGB, Carton 40, Folder 21
n
et income for the year Brown 1938 tax return, EGB, Carton 40, Folder 23
The two lawyers roomed together Tobriner Oral History, UCLA
“all of the pressure that I can think of” Pat to Mr. and Mrs. Norval Fast, July 6, 1939, EGB, Carton 40, Folder 23
“I cannot understand why my name” Pat to Olson, Dec. 12, 1942, EGB, Carton 40, Folder 29
exchanged vows on May 27 Church records, St. Agnes, San Francisco
they leased furniture for $20 a month Bills, EGB, Carton 3, Folder 44
“I do not see how anything” Pat to Ken Dawson, Feb. 7, 1941, EGB, Carton 40, Folder 25
“to determine which side is right” Pat to Dawson, Mar. 20, 1941, ibid.
“it is my desire to serve” Pat to FBI, Dec. 16, 1941, EGB, Carton 40, Folder 26
“wherein I would be making a real contribution” Pat to Downey, Jan. 13, 1942, EGB, Carton 40, Folder 29
“does not know that there is a war going on” Pat to Civil Service, Mar. 16, 1942, ibid.
“the feeling of alienage” Pat to Knox, Mar. 23, 1942, ibid.
Harold wrote home with detailed accounts Harold to Edmund, Jan. 31, 1943, EGB, Carton 2, Folder 13
“it is kind of tough” Pat to Frank, Jan. 8, 1943, EGB, Carton 41, Folder 4
“I felt very sorry” Pat to Harold, Apr. 26, 1943, EGB, Carton 2, Folder 13
total federal spending was $728 million Walton Bean, California: An Interpretive History (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1988), pp. 425–26
“we should live each day to the fullest” Pat to George Keefe, Jun. 23, 1943, EGB, Carton 41, Folder 2
Japanese-operated farms McWilliams, “Moving the West Coast Japanese,” Harper’s, September 1942
Yoneo Bepp War Relocation Authority files, NARA; Blue and Gold, Cal 1927 Yearbook
“the reason for the movement” Pat to Bepp, Nov. 3, 1942, EGB, Carton 40, Folder 27
“virtually a ‘concentration’ camp” Bepp to Pat, Jun. 14, 1942, EGB, Carton 40, Folder 28
“as much of an American as I am” Pat to WRA, Jan. 29, 1943, EGB, Carton 41, Folder 4
“my contribution to the war effort” Bepp to Pat, Jul. 13, 1943, EGB, Carton 41, Folder 3
“marking their ballots for them” Pat to Bepp, Jan. 26, 1943, EGB, Carton 41, Folder 4
“he has the energy” SFC, Oct. 21, 1943
“Born and reared in San Francisco” 1943 campaign literature, EGB, Carton 691, Folder 32
“I am confident that” EGB to George Keefe, Aug. 19, 1943, EGB, Carton 41, Folder 2
“It felt as if the whole world” Belcher to Pat, Nov. 6, 1943, EGB, Carton 60, Folder 11
just a stepping-stone Glasgow, Sep. 1, 1958, TIME, Box 250
“I listened to the election returns” Levy to Pat, Nov. 5, 1943, EGB, Carton 60, Folder 7
“Norton Simon’s dice games” Klein to Pat, Nov. 16, 1943, EGB, Carton 60, Folder 8
“Belated congratulations” Laye to Pat, Nov. 19, 1943, EGB, Carton 60, Folder 10
“I am very proud” Frank to Pat, Dec. 27, 1943, EGB, Carton 2, Folder 16
“The prosecutor must not become the persecutor” San Francisco News, Jan. 8, 1944
5: Forest Hill
Sources: Pat Brown, Bernice Brown, Connie Carlson, Fred Dutton, Tim Lynch, OH; Author interviews with Jerry Brown, Casey, Coleman, Johnson, Joseph Kelly, Lally, Rice, Roddy, Starr, Straus, Surber
“a country home within the city” Newell-Murdoch Co., Forest Hill pamphlet, San Francisco Heritage
Pat wrote to his son Pat to Jerry, Jul. 21, 1948, EGB, Carton 41, Folder 5
“I have two teen-age daughters” Pat to Frank Mackin, Aug. 12, 1948, EGB, Carton 693, Folder 15
to make arrangements for Pat Pat to Yosemite Superintendent, EGB, Carton 39, Folder 3
during the wartime years Starr, Embattled Dreams
“the gambling situation” Pat to George Keefe, Aug. 9, 1945, EGB, Carton 39, Folder 2
“I want to be Attorney General” Pat to Patrick Cooney, EGB, Carton 60, Folder 34
(“She says she has enough trouble”) Pat to Keefe, Jun. 23, 1943, EGB, Carton 41, Folder 2
Lockheed employed ninety thousand workers Starr, Embattled Dreams, pp. 124–25
veterans made up half the students Ibid., p. 191
“Warren-ize yourself” Mackin to Pat, Jul. 27, 1948, EGB, Carton 693, Folder 15
made his pitch Pat to Leslie Claypool, political editor, Daily News, Feb. 7, 1950, EGB, Carton 60, Folder 31
a thirteen-page confidential letter Pat to Clarvoe, Mar. 1, 1950, EGB, Carton 60, Folder 29
“Pat Brown’s children run the gamut” SFE, Jan. 9, 1951
“highest, most articulate idea of itself” Pelfrey, Brief History of the University of California, p. 3
“interested in being a priest” Burt Chandler to Pat, Jul. 15, 1951, EGB, Carton 3, Folder 25
“to mold manhood” St. Ignatius High Catalog, 1951–52 and 1952–53, Box 9, JES
the annual Silver Medal Debate Ibid.
“It trains the student to read between the lines” The Ignatian, 1955, Box 12, JES
“was about ready to explode” Pat to Fraynes, Oct. 29, 1971, EGB, Carton 18, Folder 6
“a glad-handing politician” Pat to Chandler, Jul. 8, 1954, EGB, Carton 695, Folder 1
“In a conversation with Governor Knight” notes, EGB, Carton 76, Folder 29
he subscribed to the Catholic Lawyer Various documents, EGB, Carton 76, Folder 34
“California is a tremendous state” Pat to Chandler, Dec. 4, 1950, EGB, Carton 60, Folder 30
6: The Governor and the Seminarian
Sources: Beadle books, Rector Files, Minister logs, photographs, correspondence, Jesuit Archives; Bernice Brown, Pat Brown, Warren Christopher, Fred Dutton, Marc Poché, OH; Pat Brown Oral History, JFK; Ben Swig Oral History, BANC; Walter Blum, Benjamin H. Swig: The Measure of a Man (San Francisco: Lawton and Alfred Kennedy, 1968), 493043, HUNT; Author interviews with Baumann, Burman, Coleman, Collins, Damrell, Joe Kelly, Lally, Poché, Rice
“Everybody at home is very well” Pat to Jerry, Mar. 15, 1956, EGB, Carton 67, Folder 14
“A tremendous opportunity” Jerry to Harold, Apr. 14, 1959, in Harold Brown OH
“devoted to religion” San Jose Mercury-News, January 1971
“the party for you” 1956 Convention program, Alexander Pope papers, Box 184, HUNT
“I must confess” Pat to Nolan, Aug. 22, 1956, EGB, Carton 695, Folder 22
On his first full day at Sacred Heart Rector’s book, Aug. 15, 1956, JES
“As in any ‘boot-camp’ ” “Points for Parents,” JES
“beginning to feel the loss” Straukamp to Pat, Aug. 30, 1956, EGB, Carton 67, Folder 12
“The change in routine” Jerry to Harold, Apr. 14, 1959, in Harold Brown OH
“with a truly American throng” Speech, Oct. 27, 1956, EGB, Carton 695, Folder 13
“a magnetic personality” Pat to Jerry, Oct. 2, 1956, EGB, Carton 67, Folder 12
“an excellent performance” Jerry to Pat, May 11, 1957, EGB, Carton 67, Folder 9
“necessary evil” Pat to Jerry, May 20, 1957, ibid.
“one of these days” Pat to Jerry, Mar. 1, 1957, EGB, Carton 67, Folder 10
“enjoyed politics” Pat to Jerry, Jul. 11, 1957, EGB, Carton 67, Folder 8
“being Attorney General” Pat to Jerry, Apr. 26, 1957, EGB, Carton 67, Folder 9
“Dear Dad” Jerry to Pat, Jul. 3, 1957, EGB, Carton 67, Folder 8
“cross the Rubicon” Pat to Jerry, Jul. 11, 1957, ibid.
“you have to decide” Dutton to Pat, Jul. 27, 1957, EGB, Carton 79, Folder 3
“slides in the bedrooms” Pat to Kathy, Jul. 18, 1957, EGB, Carton 67, Folder 16
“early announcement” Dutton to Pat, Aug. 23, 1957, EGB, Carton 79, Folder 12
“most important year” Pat to Jerry, Aug. 13, 1957, EGB, Carton 67, Folder 8
“a great state” Speech, Oct. 30, 1957, EGB, Carton 721, Folder 19
“the 4 major papers” Rogers to Dutton, n.d., EGB, Carton 79, Folder 15
campaigned year-round “Overall Conclusions,” Dutton, n.d., EGB, Carton 102, Folder 8
“indispensable arm” Harris to Dutton, Oct. 28, 1957, EGB, Carton 79, Folder 14
outlined for Harris areas they should poll Dutton to Harris, Nov. 25, 1957, EGB, Carton 79, Folder 5
“as natural as an old shoe” Curry to Brewer, Jun. 4, 1958, EGB, Carton 200, Folder 18
“very, very real” Pollard, Sep. 5, 1958, TIME, Box 252
Pat was hurt Pollard, Sep. 5, 1958, ibid.
“a finished masterpiece” Jerry to Harold, April 14, 1959
“an inspiring picture” Ibid.
“early election returns” Minister’s Diary, Box 4, Nov. 4, 1958, JES
“caused some uneasiness” Rector to Rome, Jan. 1959, Rector Files, Box 20, JES
Father William Burman Vice Provincial to Rector, December 1958, JES
“the greatness of California” Pat to Jerry, Dec. 23, 1958, EGB, Carton 261, Folder 1
“the only time we will have an opportunity” LAT, Jan. 1, 1959
decisive political leader Dutton to Pat, Oct. 31, 1958, EGB, Carton 79, Folder 3
“challenging budget” Diary entry, Jan. 28, 1959, EGB, Vol. 25
“Worried very much” Diary entry, Mar. 13, 1959, ibid.
“passed with highest marks” Mar. 23, 1959, Hearst News Service
“It amazes me sometimes” EGB to Bert Dunne, Feb. 10, 1960, EGB, Carton 200, Folder 21
“some real thunderheads” Pat to Jerry, Jan. 21, 1959, EGB, Carton 192, Folder 22
“The tough part is ahead” Diary entry, April 21, 1959, EGB, Vol. 25
“a stimulating life” Diary entry, Jun. 24, 1959, ibid.
The juniors were admonished Rector to Father Provincial, Sep. 29, 1959, JES
“lend them a willing ear” Burman to Rector Connally, Jan. 29, 1960, JES
“visited my son” diary entry, Dec. 20, 1960, EGB, Vol. 26
“no vocation” Rector John F. Connally to Father Provincial Carroll M. O’Sullivan, Dec. 30, 1959, Rector Files, JES
“I see no hope” Ibid.
Finnegan made the same request Rector to Father Provincial, Jan. 1, 1960, Rector Files, JES
“attitudes toward religious life” Rector to Rome, July 3, 1960, JES
“the most forgotten soul” Pat Brown oral history interview, Jul. 27, 1972, Banc 83/97, Box 1
7: Fiat Lux
