Dymally, Mervyn M. (Mervyn Malcolm), 1926-2012

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Mervyn Malcolm Dymally (May 12, 1926 – October 7, 2012) was an American politician from California. He served in the California State Assembly (1963–66) and the California State Senate (1967–75) as the 41st Lieutenant Governor of California (1975–79) and in the U.S. House of Representatives (1981–93). Dymally returned to politics a decade later to serve in the California State Assembly (2003–08).

Dymally was the first Trinidadian to serve California as State Senator and Lieutenant Governor. He was one of the first persons of Dougla (mixed African and Indian) origin to serve in the U.S. Congress.

In 1974, he and George L. Brown became among the first African Americans elected to statewide state office since Oscar Dunn did so during Reconstruction. Edward W. Brooke, III (R) had been elected Attorney General of Massachusetts in 1962 and 1964, and was elected to the United States Senate from Massachusetts in 1966 and 1972. Dymally was the second African-American to hold statewide office in California, following Wilson Riles who served as California Superintendent of Public Instruction starting in 1971.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Guide to the Daily Worker and Daily World Photographs Collection, 1920-2001 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn General Records of the Department of Justice, 1790 - 2002. Congressional Committee Chairmen Correspondence Files, 1982 - 1998. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Counsel to the President (Clinton Administration), 1993 - 2001. Mary Smith's Files, 1996 - 1997 William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
referencedIn Franchetti, Michael. Deputy Attorney General, Chief Deputy Attorney General, Director of Finance. 1942-. Oral history interview with Michael Franchetti, 1993. Transcript. / by Donald B. Suey, California State University Sacramento for the State Government Oral History Program, California State Archives. California State Archives
referencedIn Records of the Office of Counsel to the President (Reagan Administration). 1/20/1981 - 1/20/1989. John Roberts' Chronological Files Ronald Reagan Library
referencedIn Lorenzo Johnston Greene Papers, 1680-1988, (bulk 1933-1972) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Congress of Racial Equality. Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) papers, 1959-1976 (inclusive), [microform]. Yale University Library
creatorOf Dymally, Mervyn M., 1926-. Mervyn M. Dymally : commercials , 1980 University of Oklahoma, Political Community Archives
referencedIn Records of the White House Office of Public Liaison (Reagan Administration). 1/20/1981 - 1/20/1989. Morton Blackwell's Subject Files Ronald Reagan Library
referencedIn Ron Nessen Files (Ford Administration), 1974 - 1977. Ron Nessen's Sunday Interview Show Transcripts, 1974 - 1976 Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn Lorenzo Johnston Greene papers, 1680-1988 Library of Congress. American Folklife Center
creatorOf Southern Elections Fund. Papers, 1965-1975 of the Fund and of the chairman of the Board of Trustees, Julian Bond [manuscript]. University of Virginia. Library
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf The HistoryMakers Video Oral History with The Honorable Mervyn M. Dymally The HistoryMakers
Place Name Admin Code Country
Ward of Cedros SIP TT
Jefferson City MO US
Orange CA US
San Fernando 10 TT
Sacramento CA US
Los Angeles CA US
Subject
Advertising, political
Radio advertising
Occupation
Teachers
Businessmen
Labor organizers
Lecturers
Lieutenant governors
Newspaper Reporter
Representatives, U.S. Congress
State Assemblyman
Activity

Person

Birth 1926-05-12

Death 2012-10-07

Male

Americans,

Trinidadian Tobagonian

English

Information

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