Guide to the Thomas C. Carrell Collection

Special Collections & Archives

University Library

California State University, Northridge

18111 Nordhoff Street

Northridge, CA 91330-8326

URL: https://library.csun.edu/SCA

Contact: https://library.csun.edu/SCA/Contact

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Contributing Institution: Special Collections & Archives

Title: Thomas C. Carrell Collection

Creator: Carrell, Thomas C., 1900-1972

Identifier/Call Number: URB.TCC

Extent: 13.92 linear feet

Date (inclusive): 1942-1972

Abstract: Senator Thomas C. Carrell became active in politics as the campaign manager for assemblymen Julian Beck and Allen Miller. Carrell served as an assemblyman from 1963-1967, and as a senator from 1967-1972. The papers of Senator Carrell document his political, professional, and personal interests. The bulk of the collection consists of legislative bills and subject files.

Language of Material: English

Biographical Information:

Senator Thomas C. Carrell was born on July 10, 1900, in Cooper, Texas. He was a teacher in public schools from 1921 to 1926, and owner of the Carrell Chevrolet Agency in San Fernando, California. He held a Bachelor's Degree from the University of California at Los Angeles, and a Master's Degree in Education from the University of Southern California. Very active in civic and community enterprises, Carrell was a member of the American Legion, Elks and Moose Lodge, president of the San Fernando Kiwanis Club, and president of the San Fernando Chamber of Commerce. In addition, he had held office in the Valley Council of Boy Scouts, Red Cross, Community Chest (United Way), March of Dimes, and other charitable organizations.

Carrell became active in politics when he became the campaign manager for assemblymen Julian Beck and Allen Miller. He was also active in the Harry Truman and Adlai Stevenson presidential campaigns, was State Chairman for the Estes Kefauver campaign for President in 1956, and Southern California chairman for U.S. Senator Engle's 1964 campaign.

During his terms in office, first as an assemblyman (1963-1967) and then as a senator (1967-1972), Carrell actively supported and worked for legislation to increase the efficiency of government organization and the handling of public affairs. He also worked for the protection of small businessmen, and for legislation encouraging new industry to come to the San Fernando Valley.

Carrell authored and co-authored legislation relating to freedom of the press, narcotics control, penalties for unlicensed medical practice, traffic violations, drunk driving, and other driving safety regulations. He also authored bills on the extension of radio and television news coverage to administrative hearings, juvenile drug use, environmental controls and air pollution standards, mass transit, and senior citizen benefits. He died of a heart attack in October 1972 on the island of Hawaii.

Scope and Contents

The Thomas C. Carrell Collection documents Senator Thomas C. Carrell's political, professional, and personal interests.The bulk of the collection consists of legislative bills and subject files, which contain articles, correspondence, legislative reports, surveys, newspaper clippings, and related documents. Personal materials include biographical data, correspondence, financial papers, legislative publicity, and speeches, which document friendships he built while in office, constituent responsibilities, personal financial investments, and Carrell's personal and public concerns. The collection is divided into four major series: Personal Papers (1957-1972), Legislative Action (1963-1971), Subject Files (1944-1971), and Non-Manuscript Material (1942-1970).

Series I, Personal Papers, contains correspondence, financial papers, senatorial newsletter and press releases, and speeches of Senator Carrell. The files are arranged alphabetically by document type.

Series II, Legislative Action, includes State Assembly and Senate bills introduced, written, and co-authored by Carrell. The files are arranged in chronological order. Senate bills authored by Carrell have subject indexes at the beginning of each year.

Series III, Subject Files, contains articles, correspondence, documents, editorials, legislative reports, surveys, newspaper clippings, newsletters, and related material on a wide variety of events and issues of importance to Senator Carrell. The files are arranged alphabetically by subject.

Series IV, Non-Manuscript Material, includes ephemera, photographs, awards, and fourteen scrapbooks containing broadsides, correspondence, newspaper clippings, papers, and photographs documenting Democratic Party conventions and elections for the period 1944 to 1960.

Arrangement of Materials:

Series I: Personal Papers, 1957-1972

Series II: Legislative Action, 1963-1971

Series III: Subject Files, 1944-1971

Series IV: Non-Manuscript Material, 1942-1970

Electronic Format:

Digital reproductions of selected items in this collection are available electronically as a part of the San Fernando Valley History Digital Library .

Related Material

Senator Ed Davis Collection

Conditions Governing Access:

The collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use:

Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection has not been transferred to California State University, Northridge. Copyright status for other materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) 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 owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Mike Sagor. 10/08/1982.

Preferred Citation:

For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual, or see the Citing Archival Materials guide.

Processing Information:

Kay Lee, Lori Underwood

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Ephemera

Documents

Photographs

Scrapbooks

Series I: Personal Papers, 1957-1972

Box 1, Folder 1

Biographical statements: Senator Tom C. Carrell

Box 1, Folder 2

Testimonial Dinner: speech Governor Edmund G. Brown, 1959 December 1

Box 1, Folder 3

Testimonial Dinner: correspondence, 1972 February 18

Box 1, Folder 4

Testimonial Dinner: correspondence book, 1972 February 18

Box 1, Folder 5

Administrative and Personnel: correspondence, 1961-1962

Box 1, Folder 6

Administrative and Personnel: correspondence, 1963-1965

Box 1, Folder 7

Capital Tour: letters from students, 1967 July 5

Box 1, Folder 8

Constituents: requests; recommendations, 1968-1971

Box 1, Folder 9

Constituents: requests; recommendations, January 1972-May 1972

Box 1, Folder 10

Constituents: requests; recommendations, June 1972-September 1972

Box 1, Folder 11

Humphrey, Hubert H.: correspondence, 1965-1972

Box 1, Folder 12

Johnson, Lyndon B.: correspondence, 1960-1965

Box 1, Folder 13

Letters of Congratulations: 1966 election campaign, November 1966

Box 1, Folder 14

Letters of Congratulations: 1966 election campaign, November 1966

Box 1, Folder 15

Letters of Congratulations: 1970 election campaign, November 1970

Box 1, Folder 16

Letters of Congratulations: 1970 election campaign, November 1970

Box 1, Folder 17

Letters of Congratulations: outgoing, 1969-1972

Box 1, Folder 18

Letters of Congratulations: outgoing, 1969-1972

Box 1, Folder 19

Letters of Congratulations: outgoing, 1969-1972

Box 1, Folder 20

Letters of Congratulations: outgoing, 1969-1972

Box 1, Folder 21

State Scholarship and Loan Commission: correspondence, 1972

Box 1, Folder 22

Truman, Harry S.: correspondence, 1957

Box 2, Folder 1

El Camino Enterprises: statements, 1972

Box 2, Folder 2

Tom Carrell Chevrolet: audits, 1971; 1972

Box 2, Folder 3

Tom Carrell Investments, A Corporation: statements, 1960-1967

Box 2, Folder 4

Newsletters, 1965

Box 2, Folder 5

Newsletters, 1965

Box 2, Folder 6

Newsletters, 1965

Box 2, Folder 7

Newsletters, 1972

Box 2, Folder 8

Press Releases, 1963

Box 2, Folder 9

Press Releases, 1965

Box 2, Folder 10

Press Releases, 1972

Box 2, Folder 11

Press Releases: mailing lists, 1971

Box 2, Folder 12

Admission Day: speech before Rotary Club, 1967 September 9

Box 2, Folder 13

Air Pollution: speech before Natural Resources Committee, Sacramento City/County Chamber of Commerce, 1967 May 23

Box 2, Folder 14

Air Pollution: speech before Senate Committee on Public Health & Safety, ca. 1967

Box 2, Folder 15

Air Pollution: article, "Smog"

Box 2, Folder 16

California State Employees Association: speech, ca. 1966

Box 2, Folder 17

Drivers Education: speech, ca. 1966

Box 2, Folder 18

Drivers Education: speech

Box 2, Folder 19

Education: speech before Association for Childhood Education, 1966 May 16

Box 2, Folder 20

Juvenile Arrests, Non-disclosure: speech before San Fernando Valley College, 1965 December 6

Box 2, Folder 21

Legislative Speeches: a summary of 1967

Box 2, Folder 22

National Negro History Week: speech before Parks Chapel, African Methodist Episcopal Church, Pacoima, 1966 February 20

Box 2, Folder 23

Rapid Transit Legislation

Box 2, Folder 24

Rapid Transit: before Mayor's Advisory Committee, 1965 October 20

Box 2, Folder 25

Rapid Transit - Southern California: before League of California Cities, Los Angeles Division, 1965 October 7

Box 2, Folder 26

San Fernando Adult School: graduation speech, 1972 June 15

Box 2, Folder 27

San Fernando Valley Junior Chamber of Commerce: campaign speech, 1966 October 14

Box 2, Folder 28

School Transport Legislation

Box 2, Folder 29

Seismic Safety: speech before Joint Legislative Committee on Seismic Safety, 1972 January 6

Box 2, Folder 30

Tax Legislation: speech before Glendale Tax Action Group, 1966 January 31

Box 2, Folder 31

Transportation: speech before California Streets & Highways Conference, University of California, Los Angeles, 1965 January 28

Box 2, Folder 32

Transportation: speech before California Streets & Highways Conference, University of California, Berkeley, 1966 January 27

Box 2, Folder 33

Transportation: general

Box 2, Folder 34

Transportation: Golden State Freeway Dedication Speech, 1967 September 13

Box 2, Folder 35

Transportation: "The Legislative Search for Balanced Transportation," California Transportation and Public Works Conference, 1972 March 23

Series II: Legislative Action, 1963-1971

Box 3, Folder 1

Assembly Bills: introduced, 1963

Box 3, Folder 2

Assembly Bills: introduced, 1963

Box 3, Folder 3

Assembly Bills: introduced, 1963

Box 3, Folder 4

Assembly Bills: introduced, 1963

Box 3, Folder 5