Restrictive Covenant Resources
Introduction
Welcome to Marin County’s resource and learning page focused on restrictive covenants, discriminatory housing policies and laws that shaped the make-up of Marin County. The mission of the Marin County Restrictive Covenant Project is to share information to help the Marin County community connect, learn and affirm that discriminatory housing practices are not consistent with Marin County values. This page includes information and perspectives gathered from local and national sources about unfair housing practices and the impact at the local level in Marin County. The information on this page and the associated links are not comprehensive; though, we do expect the resources accessible through this page to grow. The current resources are listed by medium and date.
Learn More
Learn more about the project and how to participate on the County's website:
On this page: Books | Films | Current News | Articles | Article Clips | Booklets | BOS Resolutions
Books
The Color of Law
by Richard Rothstein
Unjust Deeds
by Jeffrey D. Gonda
Marinship at War
by Charles Wollenberg
The Second Gold Rush
by Marilynn S. Johnson
(p.182,99,228)
Eichler
by Paul Adamson
(p.197-204)
Films
Short Film: Segregated By Design
Video Clip: Marin City Land Ownership Dispute, opens a new window
KPIX-TV news footage, December 9, 1971
Video Clip: Assignment Four - A Family on Fell Street, opens a new window
KRON-TV documentary film, 1968
.
Oral History
Conversation with Marinship Workers from Marin City, opens a new window: Sausalito Historical Society (Note: Housing discussed from 23:00 to 25:35)
Current News
Eichler – Progressive in More Than Just Design, opens a new window: SF Gate, January 12, 2012
Why is Marin So White, opens a new window: KQED, February 16, 2017
A ‘Forgotten History’ of How the U.S. Government Segregated America, opens a new window: NPR, May 3, 2017
Marin County Has Long Resisted Growth in the Name of Environmentalism. But High Housing Costs and Segregation Persist, opens a new window: Los Angeles Times, January 7, 2018
Marin County Confronts Institutionalized Racism Focusing on Equity, opens a new window: COM (Brent Ainsworth)
Dr. Granville Coleridge Coggs: First African American to purchase home in Terra Linda, opens a new window: Granville Coleridge Coggs 1925-2019 Obituary
The Unsung Story of Eichler Homes and How They Helped Integrate American Neighborhoods, opens a new window: Dwell, June 23, 2020
Marin County Dominates Racial Segregation Rankings in Bay Area According to UC Berkeley, opens a new window: Marin IJ, November 30, 2020
Marin Lets Homeowners Repudiate Racially Restrictive Deeds, opens a new window: Marin IJ, June 5, 2021
Deed Covenant Findings Are a Proactive Move, opens a new window: Marin IJ (editorial), June 18, 2021
Articles
Predict 20,000 Increase in Population: County to Speed Housing Check, opens a new window: Sausalito News, May 21, 1942
Mill Valley Housing Project Started, opens a new window: Sausalito News, July 9, 1942
417 Fewer Voters in this Area, opens a new window: Mill Valley Record August 4, 1942
New Homes for Ship Builders, opens a new window: Mill Valley Record, August 7, 1942
‘Boogie Woogie’ Sensation is Latest ‘Find’, opens a new window: Sausalito News March 4, 1943
Post-War Plans for Marin City Should Be Started, opens a new window: Sausalito News, March 11, 1943
Population Has Doubled Here Since Spring, opens a new window: Sausalito News, March 25, 1943
400 Negroes Quit Yard in Protest, opens a new window: San Pedro News Pilot, November 27, 1943
Yard Enjoined From Discharging Negroes, opens a new window: San Pedro News Pilot, November 30, 1943
Joseph James Secures Court Injunction – Negro Workers Reinstated at Marinship, opens a new window: Mill Valley Record, December 2, 1943
Negro History Week to Be Observed, opens a new window: Mill Valley Record, February 10, 1955
Future of Marin City Monday Night Theme, opens a new window: Mill Valley Record, March 17, 1955
Citizen Advisory Group Supports MC Proposition, opens a new window: Sausalito News, October 12, 1956
Living with a reminder of segregation, opens a new window: LA Times, July 27, 1968
HUD tracking "whites-only" covenants in N. California, opens a new window: SF Gate, October 25, 1998
Hidden In Old Home Deeds, A Segregationist Past, opens a new window: NPR, February 6, 2010
Article Clips
Marin AVC Differs With Legion, Backs Gen. Omar Bradley, opens a new window: San Anselmo Herald, October 10, 1946
'Round Marin, opens a new window: San Anselmo Herald, November 21, 1946
How the FHA Will Attempt to Deter Discrimination, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, December 7, 1949
Marin City Group To Make Further Probe Of Cross Burning, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, February 6, 1950
Civic Unity Group Will Meet DA To Discuss Fire Cross, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, February 8, 1950
Race, Property Values, Discussed At Council, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, April 23, 1952
Who's Responsible For Racial Housing Ban, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, August 30, 1954
Appraisal Of Housing Finished But Unreported, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, May 3, 1955
Federal Housing Projects Here Net $55,194, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, August 2, 1955
Favor Racial Integration, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, November 12, 1955
Inclusion of 160 Open Acres in Marin City Project Sought, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, January 8, 1957
Anti-Negro Bias Charge Leveled, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, January 29, 1958
Support Expected for Negro Housing, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, February 4, 1958
Eichler Blasts Builders On Race Discrimination, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, June 27, 1958
Negroes Can Buy Homes in Marin, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, November 15, 1958
3 Marin City Negro Couples Tell Futile Try To Buy Homes, page 1, opens a new window, page 2, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, January 20, 1959
Committee On Racial Discrimination Faces Difficult Task Getting Facts, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, January 22, 1959
Marin City Segregation Predicted Under Scheuer Plan, page 1, opens a new window, page 2, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, February 28, 1959
2 More Cases Of Race Bias In Housing Told, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, March 10, 1959
Sport Show Edition Was Educational, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, March 20, 1959
The Time Is Now, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, March 11, 1960
Board Of Church Council Backs Bias Probe Here, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, April 11, 1959
Wider Race Bias Study Urged Here, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, June 12, 1959
We Want No Powerful, Secret Agencies In Marin, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, December 10, 1959
Radio Panel Debates Race Discrimination In Housing, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, December 10, 1959
10 Bay Area Lending Institutions Accused Of Race Discrimination, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, May 6, 1960
Anti-Discrimination Ordinance Held For Supervisors' Study, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, September 14, 1960
They Used Everything But Having Your Daughter Marry One, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, December 2, 1960
Fairhills Is Unfair Hills, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, February 14, 1961
Racial Housing Bans Illegal, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, February 18, 1961
Rev. King Rips Marin - 'Not All-American', opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, March 25, 1961
Discrimination In Housing Is Panel's Target, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, May 13, 1961
Public Panel Will Discuss Marin County Integration, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, December 9, 1961
Members Of Three Races In Marin See Little Of Integration Problem, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, December 11, 1961
Uncle Sam's Purse Closed On Marin County Housing, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, March 14, 1962
Marin Fair Housing Gains Favor, page 1, opens a new window, page 2, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, March 20, 1962
Fair Housing Support To Be Asked At Session, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, April 23, 1962
Race Bias Ban Rejected Again By Supervisors, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, April 26, 1962
No Property Rights No Human Rights, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, May 2, 1962
Priority Of Property Rights Made Clear To Everyone By Speakers, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, May 3, 1962
Terra Linda CSD Unit Won't Follow The Leader, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, May 29, 1962
Supervisor Behr Backs Pole Homes, page 1, opens a new window, page 2, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, September 27, 1962
Birmingham Hurt U.S. Irreparably, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, May 28, 1963
Freedom Food Drive Collects $571 In Terra Linda Area, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, September 17, 1963
CORE Says Realty Stand Proves Bias, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, December 7, 1963
Home-Buying Panel Due Marin City, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, February 5, 1964
New Marin City Co-Ops Call Best Deal For Negroes - Now, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, February 13, 1964
Church Head Acts For Human Rights, page 1, opens a new window, page 2, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, February 22, 1964
Vote for Facts, Not on Fears, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, July 30, 1964
Rumford Fair Housing Act Causes No Mass Appeals, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, August 19, 1964
Proposition 14 Annuls Fair Housing, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, September 29, 1964
'Intellectual Booby Trap' Found During Rights Study, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, December 1, 1964
County Gets Housing Proposals, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, December 4, 1964
Marin Integration Move Is Sought, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, December 11, 1964
Bill Would Lighten Restrictions In Deeds, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, February 23, 1965
Supervisors Go To Work On Housing Integration, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, May 11, 1965
Multiracial Gathering Set July 11, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, July 3, 1965
Students Bused To Sausalito Are Jeered But Can Take It, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, December 2, 1965
Amend, But Don't Ban All Fair Housing Laws, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, October 14, 1966
Bigotry Issue In Lucas Valley: Daily Independent Journal, January 27, 1969
Many Marinites Are Living In City Named Elsewhere, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, June 18, 1969
Federal Plan On Leased House Is Hit, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, September 12, 1969
A Million Extra Homes Urged In Region By 1990, opens a new window: Marin Independent Journal, November 22, 1969
A Surprising Surplus of Low Cost Housing, opens a new window: S.F. Sunday Examiner & Chronicle, November 23, 1969
The Paradox of Paradise, opens a new window: Pacific Sun, March 11, 1970 [pdf]
Black Commissioner Quits Marin Housing Authority, page 1, opens a new window, page 2, opens a new window: Daily Independent Journal, November 19, 1974
How High Housing Costs Drive People From SF, opens a new window: San Francisco Chronicle, September 18, 1985
New Housing Director Takes on Supervisors, opens a new window: Marin Independent Journal, October 24, 1985
Being Black in Marin, opens a new window: Marin Independent Journal, February 1, 1993
Booklets
Fair Housing of Marin Calendar Illustrations, opens a new window: 1997
FHA Underwriting Manual (1938) [pdf]: (pg. 93 paragraph 904) (pg. 108 paragraph 934) (pg. 109 paragraph 935) (pg. 110 paragraph 937) (pg. 113 paragraph 951) (pg. 119 paragraph 973) (pg. 120 paragraph 978) (pg. 122 paragraph 980) (pg. 123 paragraph 982) (pg. 126 paragraph 987) (pg. 137 paragraph 1032) (pg. 202 paragraph 1360) (pg. 230 paragraph 1412 d.) (pg. 383 paragraph 1812) (pg. 393 paragraph 1850 b. &d.) (pg. 399 paragraph 1863) (pg. 399 paragraph 1864)
Golden Gate Village Media Backgrounder [pdf]
History of Fair Housing, opens a new window
Home Free? New Vistas in Regional Housing [pdf], opens a new window: Urban Renewal Demonstration Project, 1974
Housing Discrimination Under the Fair Housing Act, opens a new window
Marvelous Marin Vignette, opens a new window: Mill Valley Historical Society
Mill Valley Historical Society Review, Summer 2021 [pdf], opens a new window
Racial Segregation in the San Francisco Bay Area, Part 5 [pdf], opens a new window: Othering & Belonging Institute
Report of Sub-Committee of Minority Group Housing, opens a new window: Marin County, 1962
Roots, Race & Place: Othering & Belonging Institute
Board of Supervisors Resolutions
BOS Resolutions, opens a new window:
Meeting Date: November 22, 1960: Ordinance on Racial Discrimination (Page 1 of the minutes)
Outcome: The Ordinance was not passed with a 2 yes and 3 noes vote
Meeting Date: April 24, 1962: Ordinance Re Racial Discrimination (Page 16 of the minutes)
Outcome: The Ordinance was not passed and unanimously tabled
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