Guide to the San José State University Commencement & Honors Convocations Records
SJSU Library Special Collections and Archives
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
San José State University
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0028
Phone: (408) 808-2062
Fax: (408) 808-2063
Email: special.collections@sjsu.edu
URL: http://library.sjsu.edu/sjsu-special-collections/sjsu-special-collections-and-archives
© 2009
Trustees of the California State University. All rights reserved.
Guide to the San José State University Commencement & Honors Convocations Records
Collection number: MSS-2009-02-03
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
San José State University
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0028
Phone: (408) 808-2062
Fax: (408) 808-2063
Email: special.collections@sjsu.edu
URL: http://library.sjsu.edu/sjsu-special-collections/sjsu-special-collections-and-archives
Finding aid funded by the generous support of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).
- Processed by:
- Jane Gilvin
- Date Completed:
- 2009
- Encoded by:
- Lynn Sheehy
© 2009 Trustees of the California State University. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: San José State University Commencement & Honors Convocations Records
Dates: 1889-2009
Bulk Dates: 1956-1968
Collection number: MSS-2009-02-03
Creator:
San José State University Academic Senate Commencement Committee & Academic Affairs Division
Collection Size:
14 boxes
(11.92 linear feet)
Repository:
San José State University. Library.
San José, California 95192-0028
Abstract: The San José State University Commencement & Honors Convocation Records, 1889-2009 (bulk 1956-1968) consist of programs, event
planning paperwork, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks and correspondence for the university's commencement and honors convocation
ceremonies. A small number of photographs and negatives are included in the records. This collection is arranged into two
series: Series I. Academic Senate Commencement Committee, 1925-1978 (bulk 1956-1968); and Series II. Academic Affairs: Commencement
& Honors Convocation, 1889-2009.
Physical location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
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.
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.
Bibliography:
Gilbert, Benjamin F., and Burdick, Charles.
Washington Square, 1857-1979: The History of San José State University. San José, California: San José State University, 1980.
Walsh, James P.
San José State University: An Interpretive History, 1950-2000. San José, California: San José State University, 2003.
Scope and Content
The San José State University Commencement & Honors Convocation Records 1908-2007 (bulk 1956-1968) consist of programs, event
planning paperwork, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks and correspondence for the university's commencement and honors convocation
ceremonies. A small number of 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.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into two series: Series I. Academic Senate Commencement Committee, 1925-1978 (bulk 1956-1968);
Series II. Academic Affairs: Commencement & Honors Convocation, 1889-2009.
Subject Headings:
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
San José State Normal School -- History
San José State Teachers College -- History
San José State College -- History
California State University, San José -- History
San José State University -- History
Commencement ceremonies -- California -- San José
Education, Higher -- California -- San José
Related Material
Scrapbook, 1878-1952. SJSU Commencement Programs. LD729.C99 C35x 1878.
Collection Contents
Series I:
Academic Senate Commencement Committee
1925-1978
(bulk 1956-1968)
Physical Description: 5 Boxes
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series contains correspondence, manuscripts, programs, and scrapbooks from the San José State University Academic Commencement
Committee. Letters inviting commencement speakers and copies of university presidents' speeches are also included.
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 San José State University
Commencement & Honors Convocation Records indicate that the school had winter, spring and summer commencement ceremonies each
academic year until the 1971-1972 term. Today, commencement at San José State University occurs once in the spring.
Arrangement
This series is arranged chronologically by date.
Box 1
Commencement Program Scrapbooks
1925-1956
Box 2
SJSU Presidents' Commencement Reports
1953-1964
Boxes 3-5
Commencement Programs, Correspondence & President's Reports
1951-1978
Series II:
Academic Affairs: Commencement & Honors Convocation
1889-2009
Physical Description: 9 Boxes
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series contains correspondence, clippings and programs from the Honors Convocation. Programs, negatives and negative
indexes from commencement are also part of the series. The extensive date range of commencement programs shows the growth
of the student population and the evolution of the university's academic programs.
The Honors Convocation was inaugurated in 1962 by the Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Xi and Phi Beta Kappa Faculty Club honor societies.
According to the Office of the Provost, Honors Convocation is intended to recognize President's and Dean's scholars. President's
scholars are undergraduate students who have earned a 4.0 grade point average at San José State University in at least two
contiguous semesters of the three semesters prior to the Honors Convocation. Dean's scholars are undergraduate students who
have earned a 3.65 or higher grade point average at San José State University in at least two contiguous semesters of the
three semesters prior to the Honors Convocation.
Arrangement
This series is arranged chronologically by date.
Box 6
Commencement & Senior Week Programs
1889-1980
Boxes 7-9
Commencement Programs
1924-1925,
1938-1998
Box 10
Commencement Programs & Photographs
1949,
1987
2003-2007
Box 11
Commencement Photographic Negatives & Graduate List
1991-1996
Box 12
Honors Convocation & Commencement Programs
1980-2009
Box 13-14
Honors Convocation Clippings, Programs & Correspondence
1962-1996
