Joseph Beek

Who was Joseph Beek?

Joseph Allan Beek was the longest-serving Secretary of the Senate in California history. The Secretary of the California State Senate is a nonpartisan officer of the Senate who advises the presiding officer and Senators on parliamentary procedures and is the chief recordkeeper of the Senate. The Secretary is elected by majority vote of the Senators for each two-year session.

Joe Beek was born in Maine and established residency in California in 1907. He attended school in Pasadena at Throop Polytechnic Institute. Beek first served as a Senate attache in 1913. In 1917 he was elected Minute Clerk. He was first elected as Secretary in 1919 and served continuously, with the exception of 1921-22, until his death in office on October 20, 1968.

Beek authored the book "The California Legislature" in 1942. Written in narrative form, the book was part history lesson, part memoir, and part guide to the legislative process. Subsequent editions were published for the next 40 years. Beek also co-founded the American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries in 1943. He served as the ASLCS president for the first 25 years. Beek's years of Capitol service closely mirrored that of his colleague, Arthur Ohnimus, who served as Chief Clerk of the lower house from 1915 to 1963.