E. Richard Barnes Papers

Collection

Identifier: MS-0071

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The E. Richard Barnes Collection dates from 1964-1972 and contains reports, correspondence, press releases and information sheets relating to Barnes' work as a member of California's Natural Resources, Planning and Public Works Committee. Also included are legislative bill files and press releases on topics including education, military, the fishing industry, and public administration.

The folders related to Arcata consist of hearings about private and public land assignments that pertain to Arcata's marine seashores, discussions on the status of recreation use and development, and the establishment of the Redwood National Park. The folders related to Fresno include hearings about the planning, funding, and management of new recreational sites. Many of the hearings in the Fresno folders mention the committee's accomplishments with projects at Arcata. A folder consists of hearings about the steps taken in the beautification of the Capitol Mall, located in Sacreamento. One folder consists of hearings about whether to register undocumented boats in San Diego and the discussion of the state of California's jurisdiction of water off of the state's coast. Other folders group together by material (bill files and press releases). The collection is filed in chronological order.

Dates

Creation: 1964 - 1972

Creator

Barnes, E. Richard (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The copyright interests in some or all of these materials have not been transferred to San Diego State University. Copyright resides with the creator(s) of materials contained in the collection or their heirs. The nature of archival collections is such that multiple creators are often applicable and copyright status may be difficult or even impossible to determine. In any case, the user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, obtaining publication rights and copyright infringement. When requesting images from Special Collections & University Archives for publication, we require a signed agreement waiving San Diego State University of any liability in the event of a copyright violation.

Biographical Note

E. Richard Barnes was born January 4, 1906 in Braham, Minnesota. He joined the US Navy and served during WWII and Korea as a Navy chaplain. After retiring from the military service he continued his career as a pastor in Methodist churches in Pennsylvania and New York. He had also directed the San Diego office of the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade from 1961 to 1962.

Barnes was elected to the California State Assembly in 1963 as a Republican representative of San Diego's 78th District. He supported capital punishment and the abolition of the federal income taxes, and opposed race-integration busing in public schools and liberalizing marijuana laws.

During his ten years in the legislature, Barnes served as the Chairman of the Committee on Retirement Systems and was a member of the Committee on Ways and Means and Natural Resources. He was most known for his outspoken opposition to President Nixon's trip to China in 1971; which contributed to Barne's election loss in 1972.

Barnes died at age 79 in August 21, 1985 at his home in El Cajon, CA. He was married and had two sons and two daughters.