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The Arthur Ohnimus Collection

THE ARTHUR A. OHNIMUS COLLECTION

Documents

Click on the descriptions below to view the document.

  1. General Douglas MacArthur, personal letter (March 9, 1945)
  2. General George S. Patton, Jr., re: declining invitation (June 27, 1945)
  3. Letter handsigned by Cecil B. deMille, Paramount Pictures, re: screening of 10 Commandments (April 22, 1957)
  4. Handwritten note and letter from NASA astronaut Alan B. Shepard (June 7, 1961)
  5. J. Edgar Hoover, Director, FBI, resolution acknowledgement (March 5, 1946)
  6. Franklin Delano Roosevelt (hand-signed) HR 77 (February 7, 1943)
  7. Vice President Harry S. Truman, re: AJR 7 (January 29, 1945)
  8. President Harry S. Truman, re: thank you for the birthday tribute (May 18, 1945)
  9. President Harry S. Truman: thank you for birthday resolution (July 21, 1947)
  10. President Harry S. Truman, re: Inauguration thank you (HR 55) (January 25, 1949)
  11. President Harry S. Truman, re: Inauguration (AJR 1) (February 26, 1949)
  12. Arthur H. Samish, re: thank you for Constitution/one of my best friends (June 16, 1943)
  13. Arthur H. Samish, personal letter (November 21, 1944)
  14. Arthur H. Samish to Ohnimus, re: book (September 23, 1952)
  15. Arthur H. Samish: personal to Ohnimus (November 15, 1954)
  16. Arthur H. Samish to Ohnimus, re: personal friendship, struggles (March 25, 1958)
  17. Arthur H. Samish to Ohnimus, re: personal, family (October 28, 1958)
  18. Governor Earl Warren, personal letter and thank you (December 1, 1944)
  19. Governor Earl Warren, re: thank you for use of Chamber (January 1, 1945)
  20. Governor Earl Warren, re: thank you to Clerk (July 20, 1945)
  21. Earl Warren, Chief Justice, re: personal to Ohnimus, handwritten note (March 30, 1954)
  22. Earl Warren, Chief Justice, re: thank you for Handbook, and personal note (June 4, 1955)
  23. Earl Warren, Chief Justice, re: personal to Ohnimus, including handwritten note; Warren honored Ohnimus at State Bar convention (October 16, 1963)
  24. Edmund “Pat” Brown, District Attorney, San Francisco, re: thank you for documents (December 2, 1944)
  25. Edmund “Pat” Brown, District Attorney, San Francisco, re: thank you for Handbook (April 2, 1945)
  26. Edmund “Pat” Brown, Attorney General, re: assistance in finding friend a job (Charles Henderson) (December 1, 1952)
  27. Edmund “Pat” Brown, Attorney General, re: thank you for publications and personal note, congrats on promotion as CAO of Rules (June 26, 1957)
  28. Governor “Pat” Brown, re: thank you for birthday wishes and personal notation (April 23, 1962)
  29. George C. Marshall, Secretary of State, re: declining invitation to speak to the Assembly (on UC letterhead) (March 19, 1948)
  30. Caspar Weinberger, re: thank you for birthday greetings (August 26, 1964)
  31. Stanley Mosk, handwritten note (November 21, 1958)
  32. Lt. Governor Goodwin Knight, hand-signed thank you for congratulations letter following the election (June 19, 1950)
  33. Governor Goodwin Knight, re: acknowledging thank you on election results and personal note (October 14, 1953)
  34. Governor Goodwin Knight, hand-signed thank you for Constitution (July 29, 1954)
  35. Vice President Alben W. Barkley, re: acknowledgement (January 28, 1949)
  36. Vice President Alben W. Barkley, re: Truman Inauguration (February 5, 1949)
  37. Tom Clark, U.S. Attorney General, re: resolution acknowledgement (February 25, 1946)
  38. Tom Clark, U.S. Attorney General re: Judge George B. Harris appointment (May 27, 1946)
  39. Tom Clark, U.S. Attorney General, resolution acknowledgement (January 18, 1949)
  40. Frank K. Knox, The Secretary of the Navy (February 27, 1943)
  41. Frank K. Knox, The Secretary of the Navy (February 23, 1944)
  42. James Forrestal, Secretary of the Navy (July 7, 1947)
  43. H. H. Arnold, General of the Army (August 1, 1946)
  44. Maj. Gen. Edwin Watson, U.S. Army, Secretary to the President (February 22, 1944)
  45. Maj. Gen. John B. Wogan, Walter Reed Hospital, Washington, D.C. (May 20, 1943)
  46. Maj. Gen. John B. Wogan, Walter Reed Hospital, Washington, D.C. (May 19, 1945)
  47. Donald Cleary re: U.N. conference & police passes attached (April 23, 1945)
  48. Police pass UN (1945)
  49. Chairman of U.S. Delegation to the United Nations Conference (name not decipherable), re: UN remarks (May 4, 1945)
  50. Soviet Ambassador to U.N. re: Molotov (May 14, 1945)
  51. United Nations (signature not decipherable), re: resolution acknowledgement (May 23, 1945)
  52. Card from United Nations dignitary, re: resolution (written in French) (July 2, 1945)
  53. J. Paul-Boncour, Republic of France, re: French delegation (needs translation) (May 30, 1945)
  54. Donald M. Nelson, Chairman, War Production Board, re: ammunition for farmers to protect crops (February 15, 1944)
  55. Jesse M. MacKnight, Chief, Organizations and Propaganda Analysis Section, U.S. Department of Justice, Special War Policies Unit – War Division, re: requesting committee hearing information re: translation of foreign language newspapers (i.e. enemy propaganda) following Pearl Harbor (June 17, 1943)
  56. Library of Congress, re: publication request (March 11, 1943)
  57. Governor Culbert Olson (January 21, 1942)
  58. Lt. Governor C. C. Young, personal letter re: election (September 6, 1922)
  59. Frederick F. Houser, Lt. Governor, personal letter (December 1, 1943)
  60. Frederick F. Houser, Lt. Governor, re: congrats on appointment as Assistant Attorney General and personal note (January 13, 1944)
  61. Frederick F. Houser, Lt. Governor, re: personal Christmas greetings (December 29, 1945)
  62. Robert Kenny, California Attorney General, personal letter re: Judge Matthew Brady (February 24, 1944)
  63. Archbishop of Chicago, Samuel Alphonsius Cardinal Stritch), re: cardinal elevation (May 13, 1946)
  64. Chester Bowles, Administrator, Office of Price Administration, re: alfalfa price controls (March 2, 1944)
  65. Frank Hennessey, U.S. Attorney, San Francisco, re: meeting “Peter” at Tanforan racing (July 18, 1946)
  66. E. V. Rickenbacker, President and General Manager, Eastern Airlines, re: war effort, declining invitation to speak to Assembly (April 19, 1943)
  67. Harold Stassen, re: resolution acknowledgement (May 21, 1945)
  68. Stationery (1963) & Ohnimus Memorial Bookmark
  69. VE day journal (May 8, 1945)
  70. The El Doradan Newsletter of NSGW re: Ohnimus biography (August, 1927)
  71. Fred Links, Dept of Finance re: humorous letter, Bedell’s cocktail lounge, “Senator Beek” (January 13, 1942)
  72. Numerous letters and a petition (signed by 92 legislators) re: asking Gov. Warren to appoint Ohnimus as SF muni judge (January-February 1943)
  73. Louis Lurie (this man is mentioned in first chapter of Artie Samish’s book, “The Secret Boss of California”). Re: show business, Corporal Kyle Palmer (April 15, 1943)
  74. Former Speaker Walter J. Little, long hand, re: handbook (November 9, 1944). [There are numerous letters from Mr. Little in the collection. We posted this letter and the one below online]
  75. Former Speaker Walter J. Little, long hand, re: request for photo of Ohnimus; St Helena party in June with Lloyd and Patty Phillips, Earl Desmonds, Dick Littles, Frank Fat, Roy Nielsens (May 18, 1958)
  76. Helen Knowland re: Kyle Palmer inquiry about Hiram Johnson vacancy; attempt to reach Billy Knowland in Paris to no avail. (August 7, 1945)
  77. Helen Knowland re: Billy Knowland, Ohnimus letter to Knowland, excitement. (August 16, 1945)
  78. Five page letter/analysis from Ohnimus (circa early 1950) regarding burdensome duties placed upon Chief Clerk under new law (AB 5, 1949 session –Collier lobbyist registration law); suggest someone else with full-time state government job be given the duties.
  79. “Necessity for a Permanent Organization.” 10-page letter from Ohnimus to Rules Chair Allen Miller (D), arguing for full-time staff due to expanding workload of legislature and population growth; analysis of legislative staffing levels.
  80. Letter from Ohnimus to Members and former Members of Assembly, thanking them for retirement “vacation fund” gift; thanking Capitol staff. (November 27, 1963)
  81. Netta Scott Holton (daughter of Assembly Member L.D. Scott (R-Fresno, 1915 session) reminiscing over 1915 session, playing in snow in Reno; heard on radio he was retiring. (October 8, 1963)
  82. Ewing Haas to Ohnimus (February 12, 1964): Minute Clerk deletion as officer/consent calendar in constitution.
  83. Georgene Hawe to Ohnimus re: Mr. Hass. (March 2, 1964)
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  84. Stuart Hall letter to Ohnimus letter re: Senator Cobey, Law Revision Cmsn (January 24, 1964)
  85. Stuart Hall to Ohnimus re: numbering, revision and annotation of the Assembly Rules (March 9, 1964)
  86. Ohnimus to unknown person, undated. Re: retirement, vacation.
  87. List of pall bearers at the Louis J. Ohnimus funeral on April 5, 1903 in San Francisco: Mayor Schmitz, Thomas Boyle, TT Williams, Dr. George T. Daniels, Walter Bishop, Alfred Roncoveen; Mike Casey; JB Brooks; Ed Kennedy, Frank H. Powers. (This note was likely handwritten in 1909 by Arthur’s mother, Grace Ohnimus, to let her son Arthur know the details of his father’s funeral, which occurred when Arthur was only 9 years old)
  88. Poem by Ohnimus “The Violet”
  89. Assemblyman Frank Lanterman to Ohnimus re: James Driscoll, Ohnimus retirement (December 17, 1964)
  90. Invitation to Tea at the Stanford Home to honor Mrs. Earl Warren and the wives of legislators.
  91. Letter from Christian Brothers mentor/teacher (February 4, 1916)
  92. Letter from Christian Brothers mentor/teacher (August 29, 1917)
  93. Telegram from San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce (E.S. Rigdon) to Arthur Ohnimus re: job offer (March 6, 1920)
  94. Letter from George Hume, California Bank (Van Nuys) re: job offer (April 27, 1923)
  95. Letter from George Hume, California Bank (Van Nuys) re: job offer and Ohnimus’ future (May 5, 1923)
  96. Letter from E.E. Meyer, President, California Shorthand Reporter’s Association, re: Harold Packer, adoption of resolution honoring Ohnimus (August 25, 1934)
  97. Resolution adopted by California Shorthand Reporters Association honoring Ohnimus, adopted September 1, 1933 in San Diego.
  98. Letter from Mark Megladdery, Secretary to Governor Merriam, re: Ohnimus application to become San Francisco judge (August 28, 1935)
  99. Letter from F.C. Clowdsley, District Attorney San Juaquin County, re: Ohnimus leaving office of chief clerk (January 6, 1937)
  100. Letter from Thomas Coakley re: Earl Warren for Attorney General campaign (August 3, 1938)
  101. Glenn Willaman, State Secretary, California Real Estate Association, re: Ohnimus leaving as chief clerk, hoping for return to normalcy (February 4, 1937)
  102. Stan Natcher, Standard Oil Company of California congratulating Ohnimus on return as chief clerk (January 10, 1941)
  103. Thomas Cunningham to Ohnimus re: congratulations on election as clerk (January 10, 1941)
  104. Justus Craemer, Railroad Commission of California, re: congratulations on election (January 16, 1941)
  105. Assemblyman Don Allen (handwritten) pledging to vote for Ohnimus (November 23, 1942)
  106. Vincent Kennedy congratulating Ohnimus on his appointment as Deputy Attorney General (December 31, 1943)
  107. Matthew Brady, District Attorney of San Francisco, accepting Ohnimus letter of resignation as Assistant D.A. (January 7, 1944)
  108. State Personnel Board
  109. Job description/duties as Deputy AG, April 10, 1944
  110. Ohnimus describing duties as Deputy Attorney General
  111. State job application
  112. Record of employment for Arthur Ohnimus, 1934-1944
  113. Fresno County Supervisor Maurice Meeker to Ohnimus re: Deputy A.G., Chief Clerk, new wife, and 80 Assembly Members (January 10, 1944)
  114. Letter from Ohnimus to S.W. MacDonald, re: sending him his old Assistant District Attorney badge (humorous) (October 11, 1944)
  115. Assemblyman Don Allen handwritten response to Ohnimus letter (humorous) (November 18, 1944)
  116. Letter of resignation from Ohnimus to Speaker Sam Collins, March 27, 1950. (Ohnimus was protesting new lobbying law that required the part-time Chief Clerk to perform full-time duties of registering lobbyists. The Legislature rejected the resignation and re-assigned the duties to the Legislative Auditor in order to keep Ohnimus.)
  117. Letter to Rules Chairman Tom Bane re: Ohnimus retirement, extension of service through the summer (June 27, 1963)
  118. Rules and regulations for inactive State Bar members.
  119. State Bar inactive member application, 1964.
  120. Letter from SF Mayor Angelo Rossi, regarding salary increases for District Attorney’s office, April 15, 1943
  121. Letter from Arthur Ohnimus to Rules Chairman Tom Bane regarding retirement, June 27, 1963.
  122. Letter from Rules Chairman Tom Bane to Controller Alan Cranston, regarding Ohnimus reaching mandatory retirement age, July 9, 1963
  123. 1963 poem by Assembly Member Charles “Gus” Garrigus, “The Session of ’63, Or Too Little, Too Late,” regarding the 1963 session. Includes references to Governor Brown, legislators Bane, Rumford, Dymally, McMillan, Collier, Bee, Conrad, Elliot, Unruh, and the Senate.
  124. Letter from former Assemblyman and Republican Party Chairman Caspar Weinberger to Ohnimus expressing regret that Ohnimus is retiring, October 15, 1963.
  125. Letter from Ohnimus to Caspar Weinberger regarding retirement decision and how the Assembly has changed. November 6, 1963
  126. Letter from State Printer Carroll Smith to Ohnimus commending Ohnimus as a “war horse” of the legislature, September 3, 1929.
  127. Letter from Controller Ray Riley to Ohnimus regarding legislative accounting audit, September 23, 1926.
  128. Letter from Controller Ray Riley to Ohnimus regarding legislative accounting audit, March 29, 1930.
  129. Arthur Ohnimus record of Assembly employment
  130. Assemblyman Jack Beaver re: commending Ohnimus and Speaker Brown (April 7, 1960)
  131. Professor Joseph Harris commending Ohnimus for his role in Legislative Internship Program (Assembly Fellows) (May 11, 1959)
  132. Holiday Cards from Governor Pat Brown
  133. Governor Brown re: George Rochester, Superior Court Judge (May 19, 1960)
  134. Governor Brown re: thanks for birthday wishes (May 24, 1961)
  135. Commending Ohnimus for excellent job (July 31, 1961)
  136. Birthday wishes from Governor to Ohnimus (June 5, 1963)
  137. Gov. Brown re: Ohnimus recommendation of Judge William Rosenthal (November 29, 1961)
  138. January 1963 Inaugural Program, Governor Brown
  139. News clipping regarding Ohnimus’s appointment as Assembly’s first full-time employee
  140. Coat made of the old Assembly draperies. Sewn by Nadene Kayser, Arthur Ohnimus’s sister-in-law. (Photo courtesy of State Capitol Museum, California State Parks)
  141. Dress made of the old Assembly draperies. Sewn by Nadene Kayser, Arthur Ohnimus’s sister-in-law. (Photo courtesy of State Capitol Museum, California State Parks)
  142. Governor Pat Brown’s condolence letter to Bernice Ohnimus (March 18, 1965)
  143. Rules Chairman Thomas Erwin regarding Ohnimus presentation at Legislative Orientation Conference (March 9, 1956)
  144. Ohnimus letter to International Roll Call re: voting system and the U.N. (February 18, 1964)
  145. International Roll Call, Marshall Thompson to Ohnimus re: CAO Steven E. Smith, letter of recommendation for the United Nations (February 22, 1964)
  146. Ohnimus to Everett Burkhalter, U.S. House, re: voting machines (May 18, 1964)
  147. Congressman Everett Burkhalter to Ohnimus re: electric voting (May 7, 1964)
  148. Letter of recommendation from Assembly Speaker Henry Wright (November 28, 1922)
  149. Assembly Speaker Frank Merriam letter of recommendation for Ohnimus (December 15, 1926)
  150. Assemblyman Isaac Jones to Ohnimus re: Chief Clerk position (November 9, 1926)
  151. Assemblyman Harry Sewell to Ohnimus (August 29, 1929)
  152. Assemblyman Isaac Jones to Ohnimus re: Chief Clerk candidacy (December 8, 1930)
  153. Assemblyman Hubert Scudder, regarding Chief clerk candidacy (November 27, 1936)
  154. Assemblywoman-elect Jeanette Daley, regarding Ohnimus as Chief Clerk (December 1, 1936)
  155. Assemblyman Michael Burns, Bay Bridge opening, Ohnimus candidacy as Chief Clerk (humorous) (November 13, 1936)
  156. Assemblyman James E. Thorp to Ohnimus, re: Ohnimus return as Chief Clerk under Speaker Garland (December 16, 1940
  157. Assemblyman Dr. Jesse Randolph Kellems re: Ohnimus reelection (November 30, 1942)
  158. Assemblyman-elect E.J. Carey re: support for Ohnimus (humorous) (November 30, 1942)
  159. Assemblywoman-elect Kathryn Niehouse handwritten response on Ohnimus’s original letter seeking re-election (November 9, 1944)
  160. Assemblyman Charles M. Weber, supporting Ohnimus reelection as Chief Clerk (November 18, 1944)
  161. Assemblyman William Rosenthal, supporting Ohnimus reelection as Chief Clerk (November 20, 1944)
  162. Thomas Maloney to Ohnimus, humorous “amended letter” showing support for Ohnimus’s reelection as Chief Clerk.
  163. Assemblyman John Lyons re: Ohnimus reeelciton (November 9, 1944)
  164. Assemblyman-elect Jonathan Hollibaugh, undated (likely 1940s)
  165. Assemblyman-elect Albert Dekker to Ohnimus re: reelection (December 1944)
  166. Assemblyman-elect Michael J. Burns to Ohnimus re: reelection (undated)
  167. Assemblyman-elect George Butters to Ohnimus re: Ohnimus reelection (December 4, 1944)
  168. Assemblyman Harrison Call to Ohnimus re: reelection, Chief Clerk should be civil service (December 1944)


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