A native of Chicago, Joy Picus was the first female member of the Los Angeles City Council from the San Fernando Valley. Elected to the seat in 1977, during her four terms in office she worked on pay equity, childcare and family leave, and environmental and educational issues. The collection documents these efforts and also preserves: administrative records; materials from her election campaigns; publicity, speeches, and news clippings; and publications and notes related to the committees on which she served.

Joy Picus (née Newberger) was born on November 18, 1930 in Chicago, Illinois. Her father died shortly after she was born, and her mother, Daisy, supported the family by managing an apartment complex. Picus graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1951 with a degree in political science. Following completion of her degree, she returned to Chicago where she met Gerald Picus, and the couple were married on March 9, 1952. In 1959, the Picus family moved to California, where Gerald worked as a physicist for Hughes Aircraft. They raised three children in Woodland Hills, where she served as community organizer and volunteer for several organizations, among them the Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, the League of Women Voters, the Association of University Women, the Jewish Federation Council, and the PTA.

15.30 linear feet

Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection has been transferred to California State University, Northridge.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.

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