Access
Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
Project Information
Processing Information
Organizational History
Scope and Content
Arrangement
University Archives Collection
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Title: San José State University Commencement & Honors Convocations Records
Identifier/Call Number: MSS-2009-02-03
Physical Description:
15.0 boxes
(12.67 linear feet)
Physical Description:
101 Rolls of microfilm
Date (inclusive): 1889-2018
Date (bulk): 1956-1968
Abstract: The San José State University Commencement & Honors Convocation Records, 1889-2018 consists of programs, event planning paperwork,
newspaper clippings, scrapbooks and correspondence for the university's commencement and honors convocation ceremonies, as
well as programs for the African American (later renamed to Black Grad) and Chicano Commencement ceremonies. Photographs and
negatives are included in the records.
Access
The collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright has been assigned to the San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives. All requests for permission
to publish or quote manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Special Collections. Permission for publication
is given on behalf of the Special Collections & Archives as the owner of the collection. Copyright restrictions also apply
to digital representations of the original materials. Use of digital files from or derived from these collections is restricted
to research and educational purposes.
Preferred Citation
San José State University Commencement & Honors Convocations Records, MSS-2009-02-03, San José State University Library Special
Collections and Archives.
Project Information
This finding aid was created as part of the Survey and Cataloging Project, a two-year San José State University Library grant
project funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. The project began in 2008. The Project Director
is Danelle Moon. The Project Archivist is Erin Louthen.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Jane Gilvin. Finding aid EAD encoded by Lynn Sheehy. Reviewed by Danelle Moon and Erin Louthen. Series
III added by Dana V. Lema in 2017. Finding Aid updated by Christine Thuy Minh Nguyen in Feb 2023, adding Box 15.
Organizational History
In 1857 the San Francisco Board of Education established Minns' Evening Normal School for current and prospective teachers
in the city. Named after its principal, George W. Minns, the institution was formally established as the first California
State Normal School by the State Legislature in 1862. A decade later, the Legislature voted to move the Normal School to San
José, and the school relocated to its new home on Washington Square prior to the fall term of 1872. After a fire destroyed
the Normal School building in 1880, the Legislature authorized $200,000 to construct a new building on the same site. Completed
in 1881, the building was commonly referred to as the Second State Normal School. After several names and curriculum changes,
Minns' Normal school is now San José State University, offering more than 134 bachelor's and master's degrees with 110 concentrations,
and is recognized as one of the top public universities granting such degrees in the West.
Minns' Evening Normal School held commencement ceremonies in 1861 and 1862 with two graduating classes. After the institution
became the California State Normal School, the first commencement was held on May 14th, 1863. The university's Honors Convocation
was inaugurated in 1962 by the Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Xi and Phi Beta Kappa Faculty Club honor societies. The convocation is
intended to recognize President's and Dean's scholars--undergraduate students who have earned a 4.0 or 3.65 grade point average
or higher in at least two contiguous semesters of the three semesters prior to the Honors Convocation, respectively.
Scope and Content
The San José State University Commencement & Honors Convocation Records 1889-2018 (bulk 1956-1968) consist of programs, event
planning paperwork, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks and correspondence for the university's commencement and honors convocation
ceremonies. Photographs are also included in the records as well as negatives and negative indexes document the commencement
exercises. Letters inviting commencement speakers and copies of university presidents' speeches are also included. The extensive
date range of commencement programs shows the growth of the student population and the evolution of the university's academic
programs. Also documented is the move from three commencements per academic year to a single commencement ceremony. For many
of the years covered in the records, event programs are the only items that exist documenting commencement and convocation
ceremonies. Accrual in Feb 2023 added programs from the SJSU Annual African American Commencement (later renamed to Black
Grad) and the SJSU Annual Chicano Commencement.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into three series: Series I. Academic Senate Commencement Committee, 1925-1978 (bulk 1956-1968);
Series II. Academic Affairs: Commencement & Honors Convocation, 1889-2017 and Series III: Academic Affairs: Commencement &
Honors Convocation Negatives, 1990-1999.
University Archives Collection
Record Group: 8.2.1
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Commencement ceremonies -- California -- San Jose
Education, Higher -- California -- San Jose
San José State University -- History
San José State Normal School -- History
San José State Teachers College -- History
California State University, San José -- History
San Jose State College