Guide to the Norman Gunderson Cybernetic Systems Program Collection
MSS.2012.06.12
Xiaoda Wang
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
04/17/2013
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
San José State University
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0028
special.collections@sjsu.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Title: Norman Gunderson Cybernetic Systems Program Collection
Identifier/Call Number: MSS.2012.06.12
Physical Description:
1 boxes
(1.25 linear feet)
Date (inclusive): 1952-2004 (bulk 1967-1984)
Abstract: This collection is comprised of professional materials, periodicals, ephemera, correspondence and photographs documenting
Norman O. Gunderson's significant career as dean of School of Engineering at San Jose State University (1955-1970), as director
of Masters Degree Program in Cybernetic Systems (1970), and as a legislative and educational consultant to Santa Clara County
Director of Transportation after his retirement from academia (1975-1991). The bulk of this collection (1967-1984) contains
primary and secondary sources that delineate Norman O. Gunderson's role in the conception, establishment and expansion of
SJSU's Masters Degree Program in Cybernetic Systems. In 1970, Gunderson resigned as dean to direct the establishment and development
of SJSU's Masters Program in Cybernetic Systems, an interdisciplinary curriculum focused on technology-oriented problem solving
methodologies within political, economic, social, and moral systems. Included in these files are curriculum proposals, course
description, lecture notes, correspondences, event brochures, newspaper clippings, and compiled course and research readings.
Other significant parts of the collection include documents related to Gunderson's effort to help SJSU School of Engineering
obtain its state accreditation to offer graduate degree engineering programs and to provide research opportunities for faculty.
The collection also contains personal effects and memorabilia, e.g., awards, honorable mentions, and miscellaneous biographical
materials.
Access
The collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright has been assigned to San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives. All requests for permission
to publish or quote from materials must be submitted in writing to the Director of Special Collections & Archives. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of 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. Copyright restrictions
also apply to digital reproductions of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational
purposes.
Preferred Citation
Norman Gunderson Cybernetic Systems Program Collection, MSS-2012-06-12, San José State University Library Special Collections
& Archives.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Xiaoda Wang. Finding aid created using Archivists' Toolkit. Reviewed by Danelle Moon.
Biographical History
This collection focuses primarily on Norman O. Gunderson's (1918-1996) academic career at San Jose State College. Born in
Laramie, Wyoming in 1918, Gunderson obtained a bachelors degree in Civil Engineering from University of Wyoming in 1939. After
graduation, he worked for U.S. Soil Conservation Service Bureau of Reclamation (1939-1941), then he entered U.S. Army and
retired as Lieutenant Colonel (1941-1946). In 1942, Gunderson married Bonne Jeane Davis. In 1947, Gunderson received a M.A.
in Civil Engineering from University of Wyoming. Immediately afterwards, Gunderson was offered the position as assistant professor
of Engineering at San Jose State College. In 1955, Gunderson was promoted to Dean of San Jose State College's Department of
Engineering. During his tenure, he directed an effort to challenge the state-imposed restrictions on engineering education
at the state college level, and successfully helped San Jose State College's Department of Engineering obtain its accreditation
to offer graduate degree engineering programs and to provide research opportunities for faculty. Notably in the 1966-1967
academic year, Gunderson had the honor of inviting and accommodating the incessant futurist and architect Buckminster Fuller
(1895-1983) as San Jose State College's first "Distinguished Scholar in Residence." In 1970, Gunderson resigned to direct
the establishment and development of San Jose State College's Masters Program in Cybernetic Systems, an interdisciplinary
curriculum focused on technology-oriented problem solving methodologies within political, economic, social, and moral systems,
which he had previously conceived during his deanship. After his retirement in 1983, Gunderson served as a legislative and
educational consultant for Santa Clara County Transportation and supervised University Fellowship Program.
Scope and Content of Collection
This collection is comprised of professional materials, periodicals, ephemera, correspondence and photographs documenting
Norman O. Gunderson's significant career as Dean of the Department of Engineering at San Jose State College (1955-1970), as
director of the Masters Degree Program in Cybernetic Systems (1970), and as a legislative and educational consultant to Santa
Clara County Director of Transportation after retirement (1975-1991). In 1970, Gunderson resigned as dean to direct the establishment
and development of San Jose State College's Masters Program in Cybernetic Systems, an interdisciplinary curriculum focused
on technology-oriented problem solving methodologies within political, economic, social, and moral systems. The bulk of this
collection (1967-1984) contains primary and secondary sources that delineate Norman O. Gunderson's role in the conception,
establishment and expansion of this program. Included in these files are curriculum proposals, course description, lecture
notes, correspondences, event brochures, newspaper clippings, and compiled course readings. Other significant parts of the
collection include documents related to Gunderson's effort to help San Jose State College's Department of Engineering obtain
its state accreditation to offer graduate degree engineering programs and to provide research opportunities for faculty. The
collection also contains personal effects and memorabilia, e.g., awards, honorable mentions, and miscellaneous biographical
materials.
Arrangement
Norman Gunderson Cybernetic Systems Program Collection is arranged into six series: Professional Materials, 1962-1991; Periodicals,
1954-1996; Correspondence, 1952-2001 (bulk 1980-1987); Ephemera, n.d., 1956-1996; Photographs, n.d., 1961-1968, 1980-1989;
Biography and Awards, n.d., 1960, 1987-2004.
Bibliography
Gunderson, Norman O. "Cybernetics and Man in the engineering curriculum."
Journal of Engineering Education 56, no. 10 (1996): 362-365.
Gunderson, Norman O.
An Oral History Conducted by the San Jose State University Archivist. Conducted by H. Brett Melendy. San Jose, CA: SJSU, 1987.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
San José State University -- Faculty
High technology and education -- California -- Santa Clara County
Cybernetics –- Research
Santa Clara County Transportation Agency -- History
San José State University. College of Engineering -- Curricula
Ferguson, Cherielyn
Series I: Professional Materials
1962-1991
1967-1984
Scope and Content of Collection
This series consists of materials related to Norman O. Gunderson's work at San Jose State University and in Santa Clara County.
The bulk contains primary and secondary documents that delineate Norman O. Gunderson's role in the conception, establishment
and expansion of SJSU's Cybernetic Systems Program. Included in these files are curriculum proposals, course description,
lecture notes, and compiled writings about systems analysis.
Arrangement
This series is arranged alphabetically by subject and chronologically within each subject.
Folder 1: Binder I - Cybernetic Systems Course 200
1977
Folder 2-4: Binder II - Cybernetic Systems Course 200
1979
Folder 5-12: Binder III - Various Courses
1979
Folder 13: Course Descriptions
n.d.
Folder 14: Course Reader - Cybernetic Systems Course 200
1973
Folder 15: Course Syllabus and Schedule
1973-1974
Folder 16: Cybernetic Systems Program
1967-1984
Folder 17: Cybernetic Systems Program Awards
1978
Folder 18:
A Guide to the Cybernetic Systems Program
1976
Folder 19-21: Lecture Slides
n.d.
Folder 22: Other Writings on Cybernetic Systems
1962-1983
Folder 23: Reprint of
Cybernation and Man
1965
Folder 24: Santa Clara Transportation and Education
1984-1991
Folder 25: School of Engineering
1967-1981
Folder 26: Selected Writings on Cybernetic Systems
1968-1982
Folder 27:
A Systems Tools Handbook
1976
Series II: Periodicals
1954-1996
1954-1981
Scope and Content of Collection
This series contains newspaper clippings, newsletters and journals that document Norman O. Gunderson's public appearances,
academic work and achievements.
Arrangement
This series is arranged alphabetically by subject and chronologically within each subject.
Folder 28: Journals and Newsletters
1954-1981, 1996
Folder 29: Newspaper Clippings
1954-1988
Series III: Correspondence
1952-2004
1980-1987
Scope and Content of Collection
This series contains letters written by or to Norman O. Gunderson that are related to his academic and professional pursuits.
Arrangement
This series is arranged in chronological order.
Folder 30: Correspondence
1952-2001
1980-1987
Series IV: Ephemera
1956-1996
Scope and Content of Collection
This series contains pamphlets, event programs and invitations, and agendas that Norman O. Gunderson had collected during
his career.
Arrangement
This series is arranged in chronological order.
Folder 31: Ephemera
n.d., 1956-1996
Series V: Photographs
1961-1968, 1980-1989
Scope and Content of Collection
This series contains photographs that documents Norman O. Gunderson in various stages of his career and after.
Arrangement
This series is arranged in chronological order.
Folder 32: Photographs
n.d., 1961-1968, 1980-1989
Series VI: Biography and Awards
1960, 1987-2004
Scope and Content of Collection
This seriess contains timeline, biographical notes, and awards attributed to Norman O. Gunderson.
Arrangement
This series is arranged in chronological order.
Folder 33: Biography and Awards
n.d., 1960, 1987-2004
