Guide to Black Masque Honor Society Records MSS.2010.12.01
Beaudry Allen
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
12/22/2014
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
San José State University
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0028
special.collections@sjsu.edu
Note
Processed by: Beaudry Allen, Reviewed by: Danelle Moon ; Edited by Davier Floyd (Fall 2022)
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Title: Black Masque Honor Society Records
creator:
Black Masque Honor Society
Identifier/Call Number: MSS.2010.12.01
Physical Description:
17 boxes
(5.75 linear feet)
Date (inclusive): 1930-2013
Date (bulk): 1965-1985
Abstract: The Black Masque Society Records document the history of the San José State University's Black Masque Honor Society, alumni,
and reunion activities from 1957 to 2013. The collection materials consist of the adminstrative records, correspondence,
negatives, memorabilia, and scrapbooks with photographs, newsclippings, and announcements.
Biographical / Historical
The Black Masque Honor Society formed in 1930 as a secret senior women's honorary student organization. In 1930 Gladys Aitken,
a senior at San Jose State Teachers College, attended a convention of Associated Women Students and was first introduced to
the Mortar Board, a national society honoring senior women for both scholarship and leadership. Influenced by the convention,
Aitken proposed San Jose State establish its own organization similar to Mortar Board and the Dean of Women, Helen Dimmick,
shared her enthusiasm and together outlined the provisional society called The Mystic 13. By 1931 member qualifications were
chosen and a constitution written which entailed members to wear black robes and black masks for initiation, leading to the
official name of the group—Black Masque. Each year thirteen women were invited for membership at the end of their junior year
on the basis of their leadership and service to the university and would become active members their senior year. The group
would convene for community outreach, fellowship, and annual reunions. The Black Masque Alumni Council was established in
1943 and continues to actively work with the campus society. In 1977 men were allowed admittance. Black Masque remains an
active, albeit an exclusively nomination only, honor society of San José State University.
Scope and Contents
The Black Masque Society Records contain the administrative records, scrapbooks, and memorabilia documenting the San José
State University Black Masque Honor Society, alumni committee, and reunion activities from 1930 to 2013. The collection consists
of the Black Masque constitution, by-laws, agendas, negatives, printed material, audiovisual, and other object memorabilia
of the society and its alumni. The bulk of the collection consists of scrapbooks, which include photographs, news clippings,
and event announcements.
San Jose State University Student Memorabilia Collection
San José State University Student Organization Records, MSS-2009-03-09, San José State University Library Special Collections
& Archives.
San José State University Scrapbook Collection
San José State University Scrapbook Collection, MSS-2010-03-04, San José State University Library Special Collections and
Archives.
Preferred Citation
Black Masque Honor Society Records, MSS-2010-12-01, San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into four series: Series I. Organizational Records and Related Materials, 1965-2013; Series II.
Scrapbooks, Photographic, and Audiovisual Materials (1958-2010); Series III. Printed Material; Series IV. Miscellaneous Materials.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
California State University, San José -- History.
San José State University -- History
Students -- Social life and customs
Students -- Societies
Women -- Societies and clubs
Black Masque Honor Society
Series I: Organizational Records
1957-2013
bulk dates 1965-1990
Physical Description: 2 boxes
Scope and Contents
Series I consists of the Alumni Council meeting minutes and by-laws (1966-2013), organizational correspondence, reports, and
the Annual Alumni Newsletter (1965-2010) of the Black Masque Honor Society. Also included in the series are reports and administrative
information from the Mortar Board National College Senior Honor Society and their review of the Black Masque's organizational
structure and membership to Mortar Board.
Box 1
Administrative Records
1957-2013
Physical Description: 1 Box
Folder 1: Alumni Council Meeting Minutes
1966-1970
Folder 3: Alumni Council Meeting Minutes
1983-1991
Folder 4: Alumni Council Meeting Minutes
1994-2000
Folder 5: Alumni Council Meeting Minutes
2002-2005
Folder 6: Alumni Council Meeting Minutes
2005-2008
Folder 7: Alumni Council Meeting Minutes
2008-2013
Folder 8: Black Masque Constitution
1957-1991
Folder 9: Agreements, Services Compliance, and Correspondence
1972-1985
Folder 10: Black Masque Standing and Advisory Content
1962-1985
Folder 11: Mortar Board Review and Bylaws
1967-1992
Folder 12: Mortar Board Report & Manual
undated
Folder 13: Mortar Board Manual for Advisors
undated
Box 2
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletters
1965-2010
Physical Description: 1 boxes
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
1965
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
1966
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
1967
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
1969
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
1970
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
1971
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
1972
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
1975
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
1977
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
1978
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
1979
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
1980
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
1981
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
1982
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
1983
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
1984
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
1985
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
1986
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
1987
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
1988
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
1989
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
1990
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
1991
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
1992
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
1993
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
1994
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
1995
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
1996
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
1998
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
1999
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
2000
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
2001
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
2002
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
2003
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
2004
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
2006
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
2005
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
2007
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
2008
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
2009
Blackward Glances Alumni Annual Newsletter
2010
Series II: Scrapbooks, Photographic, & Audiovisual Materials
1930-2010
bulk dates 1930-1985
Scope and Contents
Series II consists mainly of alumni reunion scrapbooks (1958-2001), which includes photographs, news clippings, correspondence,
and flyers detailing the activities and events of the Society. Also included in the series are negatives (1965-1980) (bulk
1967-70) of Black Masque activities and reunion events, and oral histories recorded in 2010 of alumni from the Class of 1960.
Arrangement
The materials in this series are arranged by format and then chronologically by file.
Box 3
Scrapbook Volume I
1958-1961
Physical Description: 1 Box
Box 4
Scrapbook Volume II
1962-1973
Physical Description: 1 Box
Box 5
Scrapbook Volume III
1973-1982
Box 6
Scrapbook Volume IV
1982-1986
Box 7
Scrapbook Volume V
1986-1988
Box 8
Scrapbook Volume VI
1988-1990
Box 9
Scrapbook Volume VII
1990-1992
Box 10
Scrapbook Volume VIII
1992-1995
Box 11
Scrapbook Volume IX
1995-1998
Box 12
Scrapbook Volume X
1999-2001
Box 13
Oral History
Physical Description: DVD
Series III: Printed Material
1964-2000
bulk dates 1965-1972
Physical Description: 1 Box
Scope and Contents
Series III consists of miscellaneous printed material related to the Black Masque Honor Society which includes the Associated
Women Students Handbooks (1964-1968), student academic organizations handbooks (1965-1972), and a compilation Black Masque
members' recipes and songs.
Arrangement
The materials in this series are arranged alphabetically by subject, and then chronologically within each folder.
Box 14
Printed Material
Physical Description: 1 Box
Associated Women Students Handbook
1964-1968
Physical Description: 1 folders
Cookbook and Recipes
1980, 2000
Miscellaneous Handbooks
1965-1972
Series IV: Miscellaneous Material
undated
Scope and Contents
Series IV is comprised of memorabilia such as commemorative dishes and a membership masque.
Arrangement
The materials in this series are arranged by format.
Box 15
Commemorative Plates
undated
