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Bentel, (Dwight) Papers
MSS.2004.04.02
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Title: Dwight Bentel papers
creator:
Bentel, Dwight
source:
Lundstrom, Charlie Mack
Identifier/Call Number: MSS.2004.04.02
Physical Description:
10.85 Linear Feet
8 records boxes, 1 legal document box, and 1 flat record box
Date (inclusive): 1905 - 2006
Date (bulk): (Bulk 1934 - 2003)
Abstract: Dr. Dwight E. Bentel was a noted professor of journalism at San Jose State University from 1934 through 1974, as well as the
acknowledged founder of the school’s Department of Journalism. Dr. Bentel also had a lifelong passion for Death Valley, and
spent many hours visiting, studying and researching the Valley and the people who inhabited it.
The majority of the collection pertains to Death Valley, its inhabitants and its history. Death Valley related materials
include articles from various publications, photocopies of books, and notes and manuscripts written by Dr. Bentel. Other
materials in the Dwight Bentel Papers include notes and texts for talks on various topics, honors and recognitions, news clippings,
personal and professional correspondence, and other memorabilia.
Dr. Dwight E. Bentel was a noted professor of journalism and the acknowledged founder of the San Jose State College (later
San Jose State University) Department of Journalism.
The son of educators, Dr. Bentel was born in Walla Walla, Washington in 1909, relocating shortly afterward with his family
to the San Francisco Bay Area. Dr. Bentel got his start in journalism as a copy boy and reporter for the San Jose Mercury
News in 1928. He later worked for the Associated Press and the San Francisco Call-Bulletin while completing bachelor's and
master's degrees at Stanford University in the early 1930’s.
Dwight Bentel was hired by San Jose State College President T. W. MacQuarrie in 1934 and given one year to establish a journalism
program. Dr. Bentel accepted the challenge and developed a department that became one of the largest of its kind in the nation,
with six of its graduates winning Pulitzer Prizes in journalism. Except for a three year period (1942-1945) during which
he worked on his doctorate at Columbia University and reported on the war effort, Dr. Bentel remained at San Jose State University
until his retirement in 1974.
Dr. Bentel had broad interests, which included the subjects of freedom of the press, libel, photography, and the history of
SJSC. Death Valley was another passion, and Dr. Bentel spent many hours touring, photographing, and studying the area and
its inhabitants.
Dr. Bentel died on May 16, 2012 at the age of 103.
Stone Photographic Collection, MSS-2014-02-28
Professor Gordon Greb Papers, MSS-2014-09-27
Dwight Bentel Papers, MSS-2004-04-02, San Jose State University Library, Special Collections & Archives.
The Dwight Bentel Papers are arranged into four series: Series I: Professional Materials, Series II: Personal Materials,
Series III: Death Valley, and Series IV: Slides and Plate Glass Negatives. Series I is arranged alphabetically by subject
and then chronologically. Series II is arranged alphabetically by format and then by subject followed by a chronological
order. Series III is arranged by format and then alphabetically by subject. Series IV is arranged by format.
The Dwight Bentel Papers document portions of Dr. Bentel’s professional and personal life, as well as provide insight into
his thinking and methods of writing. Materials pertaining to his professional life include awards and honors, articles, news
clippings, notes and texts for talks, and correspondence.
Materials pertaining to Dr. Bentel’s personal life include personal correspondence, greeting cards, vital documents, and news
clippings. Together, these items document the relationship between Dr. Bentel and various family members. Due to their personal
nature, the Personal Materials are available by permission only.
The bulk of the collection is composed of Death Valley materials, including personal notes, news clippings, magazine articles,
and copies of books. Outlines and manuscripts for a planned book by Dr. Bentel on Death Valley are also included.
A small portion of this series contains correspondence with and/or pertaining to George E. Stone, an Assistant and Associate
Professor in Journalism from 1934 through 1956. Although this correspondence is mostly personal in nature, it was included
with the professional materials due to professional relationship between Dr. Bentel and Professor Stone and the position both
men held as members of the SJSC faculty. Materials relating to Professor Stone date from 1951 -1964 and include a portion
of an autobiographical manuscript.
Copyright has been assigned to the San Jose State University Library Special Collections & Archives. All requests for permission
to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Special Collections. Permission for publication
is given on behalf of the San Jose State University Library Special Collections & Archives as the owner of the physical items
and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.
With the exception of Series II: Personal Materials, the collection is open for research. Access to Series II: Personal Materials
is by permission from the Director of Special Collections and Archives only.
Included in the Dwight Bentel Papers were a number of complete, unphotocopied publications pertaining to Death Valley. There
were also several promotional publications directed at San Jose State College or the San Jose Unified School District. These
materials, listed below, were separated from the collection and transferred either to the King Library or to the San José
State University Archives Publications Collection, as noted.
Donated to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library:
Glasscock, C. B. Here's death valley. New York : Grosset & Dunlap, 1940.
Johnson, LeRoy and Johnson, Jean. Julia : Death Valley's youngest victim. 2nd ed. Bishop, CA., c. 1981. 2002.
Lindgenfelter, Richard E. and Dwyer, Richard A., eds. Death Valley lore : Classic tales of fantasy, adventure, and mystery.
Reno : University of Nevada Press, 1988
Muir, John. The mountains of California. New York : Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1961
Transferred to the San José State University Archives Publications Collection, MSS-2010-01-01:
San Jose State College. Impact! The dynamic effect of San Jose College on the community it serves. c. 1961.
San Jose State College. Pioneers for one hundred years. San Jose State College. 1957.
One camera box was separated from the collection and placed with artifacts to be used in displays. The leather trimmed, wooden
box is 11"hx8.8"dx19.5"w. The interior is trimmed in pig skin and appears to have been modified to include compartments and
a shelf.
Patterson, Brittany. "Spartan Daily founder Dwight Bentel dies at 103." Spartan Daily [San Jose, CA] 16 May 2012. Web.
Rosenberg, Mike. "Dwight Bentel, founder of San Jose State University journalism department, dies at 103." San Jose Mercury
News [San Jose, CA] 16 May 2012. Web.
San Jose State University "In Memoriam." SJSU ERFA News Late Spring (2012) : 7. Web.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Correspondence
Death Valley -- California and Nevada
Education -- Higher -- California -- San Jose
San Jose State College -- History
San José State University -- History
Twentieth century
Bentel, Dwight E. (1909 - 2012)
Bentel, Dwight
Lundstrom, Charlie Mack