THE WILSON C. RILES COLLECTION

Born in Elizabeth, Louisiana in 1917, Wilson Riles was orphaned at an early age. Family friends stepped forward to act as his foster parents. Encouraged to pursue his education by his foster parents, teachers, and the members of his church, Riles worked his way through J.W. Hoffman Junior High School and McDonogh No. 35 Senior High School in New Orleans by delivering milk in the early mornings. Soon after his graduation, his foster parents relocated to Arizona. Riles joined them, enrolling in Arizona State Teachers College (now Northern Arizona State University), in 1936. By working a number of odd jobs he was able to pay his college expenses and graduate in 1940 with a major in education and a minor in history.

In the ensuing years he taught, became a principal, earned a Master's degree, and then came to California to work for the Fellowship of Reconciliation as a regional secretary. In 1958, Riles moved to Sacramento to join the California State Department of Education as a Consultant in Certificated Employment Practices, (the title later changed to Consultant in Intergroup Relations). He was the Department's first African-American professional employee.

Riles became an expert in intergroup relations and the education of disadvantaged children. He served as Chief of the Bureau of Intergroup Relations, and as Chief of the Bureau of Compensatory Education (this position also carried the title of Associate Superintendent of Public Instruction). As his responsibilities increased, he began to attract national attention. Then-President Nixon invited him to Chair his task force on Urban Education.

In 1970 Riles, now the Deputy Superintendent for Program and Legislation, became convinced that the State's educational system could not survive another term of Max Rafferty's. After being encouraged to run for State Superintendent of Public instruction, he decided to accept the challenge in spite of the fact that Rafferty appeared unbeatable. After an intense campaign that featured several acrimonious debates, Riles was elected with 54% of the votes cast. California citizens re-elected Riles two more times, in 1974 and 1978.

Education during the Riles years experienced many stresses and exciting changes. It survived bussing, integration, student unrest, and Proposition 13. Programmatic innovations of the time included Early Childhood Education, the School Improvement Program, and the Master Plan for Special Education. In 1983, after a bitter campaign against a former supporter, Riles left office to form an educational consulting firm, Wilson Riles and Associates, Inc.

Riles' collection lay in a disorganized state when received by the Wilson Riles Archives and Institute for Education, reflecting his professional style that emphasized people. Where possible, archivists adhered to a resemblance of original order in processing the Wilson C. Riles Collection.

1. DUNBAR SCHOOL (ca. 1947-1954)
    
   1. SCRAPBOOK, (1938-1954).
           2 f.f. (F27:1-2).
           79 slides (S27:1-79).
           62 photographs (P27:1-62; copies and negatives).
           Presented to Dr. Riels by the Flagstaff, AZ school where he served as teacher and principal.
           Photographs, ephemera, notes, slides, and copy negatives. Slides capture assembled images of each page. Copy negatives and photograph copies duplicate original scrapbook photos. Scrapbook items memorialize the Dunbar School community and events, and the greater Flagstaff region.
           Arrangement: By media.
      
2. FELLOWSHIP OF RECONCILIATION (1954-1958)
    
   2. SPEECHES AND ARTICLES, ca. 1954-1958.
           3 items, (F20:1).
           Quaker organization for which Wilson Riles served as Regional Secretary.
           Speeches, a letter and an article. Topics and titles include disarmament, "Bigotry in the West," Dr. Riles' tour of Eastern Europe and "New Hope in the South."
           Arrangement: By media.
       
3. THE CALIFORNIA STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (1958-1983)
    
   3. SPEECHES AND STATEMENTS.
      Speeches and Statements of Dr. Max Rafferty, ca. 1962-1970.
           4 f.f. (F1:1-4).
           Former California State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and a noted conservative orator.
           Speeches, with titles including "The Pettigrew Syndrome," "Education's Ten Commandments," "Land of the Free: A 600-Page Paradox," and "The Passing of the Patriot." Some groups Rafferty addressed are the Commonwealth Club, the National War College, and the American Legion.
           Arrangement: None.

      Speeches and Statements of Wilson C. Riles and Staff, 1958-1982.
           4.5 c.f. (F1:5-100).
           Speeches, statements, news releases, correspondence, ephemera, publication forwards, and drafts containing Riles' personal edits. Includes campaign speeches, and speeches given under the umbrella of Riles' speaking agent. Topics highlight the educational issues of the era, such as discrimination in teacher employment, integration, bussing, compensatory education, Proposition 13, and Proposition 9.
           Arrangement: Chronological.
           Index located in repository.

   4. REPORTS, CONFERENCE PROGRAMS, MANUSCRIPTS, AND BRIEFING PACKAGES.
      School District Reports, 1962-1981.
           1 c.f. (F2:1-23).
           California school districts and schools.
           Annual reports, handbooks, and reports on specific projects. Topics include integration and multi-cultural activities.
           Arrangement: Alphabetically by county.
      General Reports, 1959-83.
           9 c.f. (F2:24-166; F2:167-169 (OS)).
           1 audio tape (AT2:1).
           74 photographs (P2:00-72).
           Reports, conference programs, manuscripts and briefing packages. Included are studies of educational issues, findings of task forces and committees, federal and state guidelines and mandates for educational bureaucratic compliance, as well as reports of student activities and organizations. Conference papers, speeches and summaries frequently accompany announcements and programs for professional conferences. Manuscripts range from dissertations to educational theories formulated by concerned citizens. Briefing packages might contain an itinerary that encompasses meetings, speeches and press conferences; an analysis and the chances of an assembly bill or educational program; or be as simple as a few lines identifying a group of visiting school children.
           Arrangement: Alphabetically by author, editor, compiler or preparer [either personal or corporate].
           General report, photograph and audio tape indexes located in repository.
      
      
   5. RECOMMENDATIONS, 1974-1982.
           1 c.f. (F3:1-22).
           5 photographs (P3:1-5).
           Correspondence, resumes, memoranda, draft correspondence, and personnel reviews. Most correspondence solicits Riles for references for job applications or career advancement, endorsements for appointments to advisory bodies, entreaties for help getting into schools and dormitories, or appeals for grant and scholarship commendations. Some requests are from educators visiting other countries desiring general letters of introduction, and some desire suggestions for applicants to fill vacant posts. In addition to the initial letters of request, frequently included are copies of the actual letters of recommendation, and "thank you" or follow-up letters.
           Arrangement: Chronological.
           Photograph index located in repository.
      
      
   6. SUBJECT FILES, 1918-1982 (bulk 1958-1982).
           1.75 c.f. (F4:1-46; F4:47 (OS)).
           9 photographs (P4:1-9).
           Correspondence, newspaper clippings, reports, scholarly papers, newsletters, and notes relative to specific topics. Subjects include admissions, the american negro, blacks, bussing, census, Community Relations Conference of Southern California, compensatory education, crime and violence, desegregation and integration, disadvantaged, economics and education, employment, federal government, Friends of Public Education, general, housing, juvenile delinquency, The Learning Wall, lists, L.A.U.S.D. home-based parent education, Lou Jones Newsletter, mexican-americans, negroes in textbooks, News and Views on Human Relations, polls, private schools, Proposition 9, Proposition 13, race, Reagan, Resource Units on Intergroup Relations, San Bernardino, sayings, school finance, school problems, spanking, speech excerpts, testing, transportation, urban education, vouchers, and women.
           Arrangement: Alphabetical.
           Photograph index located in repository.
       
   7. PRESS RELEASES, 1973-1982.
           23 f.f. (F5:1-23).
           News memos and news releases issued by the California State Department of Education. Press releases indicate the Department's position on educational issues, and transmit information the Department wanted to communicate to the general population.
           Arrangement: Chronological.
           Annual indexes located within files.
       
   8. MEMBERSHIPS, 1961-1983.
           9 c.f. (F7:1-186).
           Correspondence, agendas, and reports related to the public and private boards and commissions upon which Dr. Riles sat, and organizations to which he belonged. Files reflect honorary and active membership both in educational and non-educational organizations, such as Council of Chief State School Officers, University of California Regents, Pacific Gas & Electric Co. and Wells Fargo Bank.
          Arrangement: Chronological.
          Index located in repository.
       
   9. EXPENSE REPORTS, 1974-1982.
           3 f.f. (F10:1-3).
           Expense reports, memos, and notes. Reports are mostly connected to Dr. Riles' travel to official functions; occasional reports appear connected to Mrs. Riles' travel to functions attended by spouses, and entertaining responsibilities.
            Arrangement: Chronological.
       
   10. LEGISLATION, 1966-1982 (bulk 1977-1979).
            10 f.f. (F11:1-10).
            Bill analyses, signed original bills, reports, correspondence, memos, and notes. Records pertain to bills impacting public education. Bulk material relates to Serrano v. Priest and RISE legislation.
            Arrangement: Chronological.
        
   11. LITIGATION, 1960-1982.
            13 f.f. (F12:1-13; F12:13 (OS)).
            Court documents, litigation summaries, and notes. Cases encompass Mattews v. Board of Education of the City of San Diego; Serrano v. Priest; Regents v. Bakke; Riles v. Eu; Larry P. v. Riles; California Teachers Association v. Eu; Tinsley v. Palo Alto Unified School District; California School for the Blind v. Riles; the coordinated proceeding of Placentia Unified School District v. Riles, Serrano v. Priest, and Gonzalez v. Riles; Crawford v. Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles; National Association for the Advancement of Colored People v. State of California; Plyer v. Doe and Buckenmeyer v. Riles. Topics include school finance, affirmative action, misdiagnosing the mental acuity of African-American children, and compliance with candidacy filing standards.
            Arrangement: Chronological.
        
   12. PERSONAL FILES, 1963-1982.
            7 f.f. (F13:1-7).
            1 photograph (P13:1).
            Correspondence, memos, notes, newspaper clippings, and a photograph. Topics include Riles' professional donations; biographical information; family information; speaking agent and engagements; professional offers and refusals; consideration of the U.S. Secretary of Education position; jury duty; trip to brief President-elect Jimmy Carter; miscellaneous; current issues; and personnel.
            Arrangement: Topical.
            Photograph index located in repository.
        
   13. ENDORSEMENTS, 1971-79.
            8 f.f. (F15:1-8).
             Correspondence, memos, notes, and proposals. Correspondence detail requests sent to Dr. Riles, asking that he endorse organizations and projects, or lend his name to honorary committees. Memos and notes detail staff evaluation to determine whether Dr. Riles should accept or decline. Files at end of series focus on refusals.
            Arrangement: Chronological.
        
   14. APPOINTMENTS, 1961-1982 (bulk 1971-1982).
            1.25 c.f. (F16:1-14).
            Appointment cards, calendars, and notes. Appointment cards and calendars reflect Dr. Riles' daily schedule, including meetings and speaking engagements. Occasional notes elaborate Dr. Riles' schedule, or illuminate changes to it.
            Arrangement: Chronological.
        
   15. ARTICLES, 1962-1982.
            13 f.f. (F18:1-13).
            Correspondence, memos, notes, and draft and final articles. Correspondence communicates article requests of Riles from journal, magazine, book, program and newsletter publishers, editors, and authors. Memos and notes track Department of Education staff development of articles. Draft articles display Riles' edits, and final articles capture the finished product. Topics include early childhood education, the California State Department of Education and Proposition 13.
            Arrangement: Chronological (rough).
        
   16. MISCELLANEOUS, ca. 1971-1983.
            7 items (F19:1).
            Advertisements, resolutions, reception plan, testimonial, cartoon. Documents from various groups, including Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Young Republicans, and the Citizens' Council. Items display the responses and perspectives of differing organizations to Wilson Riles and Department of Education measures.
            Arrangement: None.
        
   17. "THE WILSON RILES REPORT," 1976-1981.
            6 f.f. (F21:1-6).
            Wilson Riles' weekly radio broadcast, interviewing educational leaders and some celebrities.
            Script outlines, notes, correspondence, and memos. Broadcast topics reflect current educational issues. Script outlines portray Wilson Riles' questions and narrative only. Correspondence and memos give background information to some interviews and interview topics.
            Arrangement: Chronological.
        
   18. TRAVEL, 1965-1982.
            14 f.f. (F22:1-14).
            52 photographs (P22:1-52).
            Correspondence, memos, brochures, expense reports, expense records, and photographs. Most records document Dr. Riles' international travels to Japan, England, Africa, China, and Israel on behalf of various educational and intercultural organizations, as well as an unfulfilled invitation to Germany. Some expense reports and records relate to Dr. Riles inter-state travel on behalf of the Department of Education and various professional organizations.
            Arrangement: Chronological.
        
   19. RECEPTIONS, 1971-1977.
            1 f.f. (F23:1).
            Guest lists, notes, and bills. Records pertain to annual receptions hosted by Dr. Riles and the State Department of Education for the State Board of Education. Invited guests include legislators seated on the education committees of the Senate and Assembly, and reporters. Guest lists include annotations depicting individual responses to invitations.
            Arrangement: Chronological.
        
   20. AUDIO TAPE, 1956-1982.
             255 audio tapes (AT6:1-255).
            Reel to reel and cassette original recordings.
            Speeches, "The Wilson Riles Report," press conferences, discussions, interviews, editorials, meetings, conference sessions, radio programs, tours, and campaign commercials relating to California public education. Includes an original, unique interview with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Glen Smiley on February 28, 1956.
            Arrangement: Chronological.
            Audio tape index located in repository.
        
   21. PROGRAM FILES, 1960-1981.
            17 f.f. (F24:1-17).
            Correspondence, memos, reports, notes, and newspaper clippings. Topics include ethnic surveys, Compensatory Education, Early Childhood Education, Childcare Development, California banks and public education, migrant education, and testing.
            Arrangement: Chronological.
       
       
   22. ADMINISTRATION FILES, 1960-1982.
             25 f.f. (F25:1-25; F25:26).
             Memos, correspondence, notes, and reports relating to departmental and programmatic administrative matters. Topics include the 1068-70 and 1973 Department of Education reorganizations, Cabinet, committees, and school site visits. Also included are general files encompassing positions held by Dr. Riles within the Department; Consultant, Certified Employment Practices (title later changed to Consultant, Intergroup Relations), Chief, Bureau of Intergroup Relations, Associate Superintendent of Public Instruction and Director of Compensatory Education, Deputy Sueprintendent for Program and Legislation, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
             Arrangement: None.
       
       
   23. NOTES, ca. 1970-1982.
            6 f.f. (F26:1-6).
            Notes, memos, and correspondence. Most notes are written by Dr. Riles for personal use, and to communicate with immediate staff. Some notes are written by staff to Dr. Riles. Notes highlight the inner workings of the State Superintendent's office, and encompass both educational and administrative topics.
            Arrangement. None.
        
4. EPHEMERA 
   
   24. EPHEMERA, ca. 1958-1983.
            31 items (F9:1-2; F9:3 (OS)).
            Brochures, event programs, invitations, posters, a drawing, certificates, campaign paraphernalia, minor publications, and identification cards. Topics include the National School Lunch Program, the creation of the U.S. Department of Education, No on Proposition 9, and riots.
            Arrangement: None.
        
5. AWARDS AND WALL PHOTOS 
   
   25. AWARDS AND WALL PHOTOS, 1968-1982.
            8 f.f. (F14:1-7; F14:8 (OS)).
            21 photographs (P14:1-21).
            14 artifacts (A14:1-13; A14:14 (OS)).
            Plaques, certificates, photographs, correspondence, memos, and notes. Plaques and certificates represent awards given to Dr. Riles by professional associations, fraternities, universities, and other educational organizations. Photographs, which were framed and displayed in Dr. Riles' office, feature prominent dignitaries. Papers include correspondence informing Dr. Riles of his selection as an awardee, internal memos arranging the receipt of awards, and letters of congratulation.
            Arrangement: None.
            Photograph and artifact indexes located in repository.
        
6. ARTIFACTS 
   
   26. ARTIFACTS, ca. 1971-1983.
            163 items (A17:1-163).
            Exhibit panels, VIP correspondence, original signed bill, office accessories, Riles' shorthand text, buttons, and personal paraphernalia. Artifacts represent the contents of Dr. Riles' office, special documents he regarded as artifacts, gifts given to Riles, and a Department of Education exhibit on California's State Superintendents. Correspondence includes letters from Jimmy Carter, Walter Mondale, and Nelson and Happy Rockefeller.
            Arrangement: None.
            Artifact index located in repository.