Sac History Happenings: In History's Spotlight: Illa Collin

Sac History Happenings

News and developments in Sacramento and California history

September 16, 2012

In History's Spotlight: Illa Collin

Born: Jan. 24, 1932

Known for: Illa Collin served the longest tenure -- 28 years -- on the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors before stepping down in 2006.

Background: A Rock Springs, Wyo., native, Collin was the daughter of a coal miner and homemaker. Her father was killed in a mining accident when she was 10. She married her husband, Don, in 1957 and they and their three daughters moved to Sacramento in 1967. Collin joined the League of Women Voters and eventually became its president. She was also served on the state Reclamation Board, the city Planning Commission and two county advisory panels. When the 2nd District supervisorial seat opened in 1978, Collin was set to support Sacramento City Councilman Robert T. Matsui. When he opted to run for Congress, Collin ran for the seat herself. Finishing second among 12 candidates in the primary race, she won a runoff to become the second woman elected to the board. During her tenure, Collin played an integral role in defining the shape and feel of suburban development.

A highlight: Collin holds the board's record for longest-serving supervisor, ahead of James R. Garlick (1941-1960) and Sandra Smoley (1971-1992).

-- Anthony Sorci

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California and Sacramento have a long, rich, vibrant history. And our region is blessed with an abundance of historical resources maintained by museums, libraries, archives and societies. This blog aims to alert readers to the latest developments in local/state historical education and research.

Send tips concerning upcoming exhibits, tours, lectures and meetings, as well as new books, magazine articles and online collections to the blog's contributors.

The Contributors:

Michael Dolgushkin

Michael Dolgushkin is Manuscript Librarian at the California State Library History Section. He is co-author of San Francisco's California Street Cable Cars and is a frequent contributor to the California State Library Foundation Bulletin. Contact him at mdolgushkin@library.ca.gov.

Amanda Graham is a Certified Archivist working in the Sacramento Room of the Sacramento Public Library. She earned a BS in History from Southern Oregon University and a MS in Information Studies with an emphasis in archives from The University of Texas at Austin. Contact her at agraham@saclibrary.org.

Pete Basofin is Director of Editorial Research at The Sacramento Bee. He previously worked at The St. Petersburg Times and Columbia (Mo.) Daily Tribune. Contact him at pbasofin@sacbee.com.

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