Oral history interview with Mervyn M. Dymally ..., 1996-1997

Resource Information

The work Oral history interview with Mervyn M. Dymally ..., 1996-1997 represents a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in UCLA Library.

Label

Oral history interview with Mervyn M. Dymally ..., 1996-1997

Statement of responsibility

by Elston L. Carr

Inclusive dates

1996-1997

Creator

• Dymally, Mervyn M., 1926-

Contributor

• University of California, Los Angeles, Oral History Program
• Carr, Elston L.
• State Government Oral History Program (Calif.)

Interviewee

• Dymally, Mervyn M., 1926-
• Dymally, Mervyn M, 1926-2012

Interviewer

• Carr, Elston L.

Subject

• Reagan, Ronald
• Brown, Willie L., (Willie Lewis), Jr, 1934-
• African Americans -- Civil rights -- United States
• Burke, Yvonne Brathwaite, 1932-
• American Federation of Teachers
• California -- Politics and government -- 1951-
• Brown, Jerry, 1938-
• Bradley, Tom, 1917-1998
• Legislators -- California -- Interviews
• Democratic Party (Calif.)
• California, Legislature | Assembly
• oral histories
• United States, Congress | House | Committee on Foreign Affairs
• United States, Congress | House | Committee on Science and Technology
• King, Martin Luther, Jr, 1929-1968
• California, Legislature | Senate
• Dymally, Mervyn M, 1926-2012
• Eu, March Fong

Genre

• Interviews
• oral histories

Language

eng

Summary

Dymally discusses his family background and education, decision to move to Calif., lack of opportunities for blacks to become politically active, and joining the American Federation of Teachers. He continues with gaining support in the 1962 campaign for the 53rd Assembly District, impact of the Watts riots, running for the 29th Senate District seat in 1966, legislation to teach black history in public schools, Early Childhood Education Act, the California Fair Plan, prison reform, 1965 reapportionment. He continues with events leading to his decision to run for Lt. Governor in 1974, endorsing Jerry Brown for President in 1976, decision to run for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives after his loss for a 2nd term as Lt. Governor in 1978, issues he became involved in during his tenure in the House, and the decision to leave Congress in 1992 after 12 years of service

Additional physical form

Audiotape recording available in the California State Archives.

Biographical or historical data

Mervyn M. Dymally was born in Cedros, Trinidad, on May 12, 1926. In 1946, he immigrated to the United States, attended school in Missouri, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois before graduating from Cal State University, Los Angeles in 1954 with a B.A. in education. He continued his education during his legislative career, completing an M.A. in government in 1969 from Cal State University, Sacramento and a Ph.D. in human behavior in 1978 from U.S. International University, San Diego. From 1963-67, Dymally represented the 53rd District in the Calif. State Assembly. He then became a member of the state senate, winning the 29th District seat in 1966. He left the senate in 1975 to become lieutenant governor. Dymally lost the reelection bid to the lieutenant governor's office in 1978, but returned to public office in 1980, when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for the 31st District. He retired from Congress in 1992.

Cataloging source

CLU

Form designation

oral history transcript

Location of originals duplicates

• The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
• California State University, Fullerton. Library. Oral History Program.
• California State University, Sacramento. Library. University Archives.
• Honnold Library for the Associated Colleges, Claremont, Calif.
• University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Dept. of Special Collections.