Guide to the San José State University Office of the President, John T. Wahlquist Records MSS.2009.04.04
Thomas Stamps
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
© 2009
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: San José State University Office of the President, John T. Wahlquist Records
creator:
San José State University. Office of the President
Identifier/Call Number: MSS.2009.04.04
Physical Description:
45.0 boxes
(46.84 linear feet)
Date (inclusive): 1937-1976
Date (bulk): 1952-1964
Abstract: The Office of the President is the highest administrative office for the campus, reporting to the California State University
(CSU) Chancellor and Board of Trustees, respectively. As such, the Office of the President records document the overall policies,
practices and procedures of the daily operation of the campus, as well as interaction with other CSU campuses and with CSU
administration. The San José State University Office of the President, John T. Wahlquist Records, 1937-1976 (bulk 1952-1964),
document Wahlquist's tenure as university president (1952-1964). Wahlquist was Dean of the School of Education at the University
of Utah before becoming president of SJSU in 1952, succeeding President Thomas MacQuarrie (1927-1952).The records consist
of correspondence, awards, personal diaries and scrapbooks. The records also contain historically significant documents such
as master building indexes, the Stanton-Hutchinson court case files, and photographs of Richard Nixon at SJSU. This collection
is arranged into seven series: Series I. Administrative Files, 1937-1976 (bulk 1952-1964); Series II. Awards, Certificates,
and Photograph Albums, 1953-1969 (bulk 1953-1964); Series III. Correspondence, 1952-1964; Series IV. CSC Trustees Correspondence,
1961-1964; Series V. Diaries, 1952-1967; Series VI. Publicity, 1952-1964; and Series VII. Stanton-Hutchinson Controversy,
1959-1966 (bulk 1960-1962).
Access
The collection is open for research, with the exception of reel-to-reel tapes in Series VII, which are restricted.
Publication Rights
Copyright is assigned to the San José State University 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 Special Collections & Archives. Copyright restrictions may apply to digital reproductions of the
original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.
Preferred Citation
San José State University Office of the President, John T. Wahlquist Records, MSS-2009-04-04, San José State University Library
Special Collections & Archives.
Processing Information
Collection processed by
Thomas Stamps. Finding aid EAD encoded by
Mary Ellen Petrich. Reviewed by
Danelle Moon and
Erin Louthen.
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.
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.
Dr. John T. Wahlquist was Dean of the School of Education at the University of Utah before becoming president of SJSU in 1952,
succeeding President Thomas MacQuarrie (1927-1952). During Wahlquist's twelve-year term, he took annual tours across America
to recruit experienced teachers from prestigious colleges to keep pace with San José State's growing student enrollment. Over
time, Wahlquist increased the faculty from 300 to 1,000 members. Wahlquist also organized the largest construction development
in San José State's history, adding many buildings to the campus including Hugh Gillis Hall, Dudley Moorehead Hall, and Sweeney
Hall.
Related Material
CSU Board of Trustees Records, MSS-2009-03-10
SJSU Office of the President, Robert D. Clark Records, 2009-08-03
Scope and Content
The Office of the President is the highest administrative office for the campus, reporting to the California State University
(CSU) Chancellor and Board of Trustees, respectively. As such, the Office of the President records document the overall policies,
practices and procedures of the daily operation of the campus, as well as interaction with other CSU campuses and with CSU
administration.
The SJSU Office of the President, John T. Wahlquist Records, 1937-1976 (bulk 1952-1964), document Wahlquist's tenure as university
president (1952-1964). Wahlquist was Dean of the School of Education at the University of Utah before becoming president of
SJSU in 1952, succeeding President Thomas MacQuarrie (1927-1952).The records consist of correspondence, awards, personal diaries
and scrapbooks, as well as President's Council meeting minutes and agendas, budget reports, speeches, travel records, newspaper
clippings, and photographs. Chronicling the many changes implemented on campus during President Wahlquist's twelve-year term,
the records also contain historically significant documents such as master building indexes, the Stanton-Hutchinson court
case files, and photographs of Richard Nixon at SJSU. In addition, the records include President Wahlquist's mementos and
his autobiography.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into seven series: Series I. Administrative Files; Series II. Awards, Certificates, and Photograph
Albums; Series III. Correspondence; Series IV. CSC Trustees Correspondence; Series V. Diaries; Series VI. Publicity; and Series
VII. Stanton-Hutchinson Controversy.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Education, Higher -- California -- San José
San José State University. Office of the President
California State University, San José -- History
California State University. Office of the Chancellor -- Trials, litigation, etc.
San Jose State College
San José State University -- History
San José State University. President's Office -- History
San José State University. President's Office -- Records and correspondence
Wahlquist, John Thomas, b. 1899
Box 1-16
Series I: Administrative Files Series I:
1937-1976
Physical Description: 16.0 boxes
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series contains the agendas and meeting minutes of the President's Council and the Chancellor's Council of State College
Presidents. The series also includes master indexes for campus buildings and facilities, as well as annual financial and enrollment
reports, including reports from the State Department of Education. It also contains a State College Administrative Manual
documenting college organization and administration, student affairs and services, and facilities standards.
Arrangement
This series is arranged by subject.
Box 17-18
Series II: Awards, Certificates, and Photograph Albums Series II:
1957-1965
Physical Description: 2.0 boxes
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series contains awards and certificates achieved by President Wahlquist (1952-1964), mementos he collected, and photograph
albums. Photographs of note include one of Richard Nixon giving a speech on campus.
Arrangement
This series is arranged by subject.
Box 19-26
Series III: Correspondence Series III:
1937-1968
Physical Description: 8.0 boxes
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series consists of correspondence to and from President Wahlquist (1952-1964) and SJSU administrators during his tenure,
including correspondence sent by members of the State College Advisory Board and the Western College Association. This series
also contains President Wahlquist's travel records.
Arrangement
This series is arranged by subject and chronologically by date.
Box 27-28
Series IV: CSC Trustees Correspondence Series IV:
1961-1964
Physical Description: 2.0 boxes
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series contains letters and directives from the Trustees of the California State Colleges (CSC), including requests for
funds, budget reports and meeting minutes.
Arrangement
This series is arranged chronologically by date.
Box 29-32
Series V: Personal Diaries and Scrapbooks Series V:
1953-1969
Physical Description: 4.0 boxes
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series contains diaries and newspaper clippings collected and created by President Wahlquist (1952-1964) during his tenure
at San José State University. It also includes Wahlquist's personal datebooks and appointment calendars.
Arrangement
This series is arranged by subject.
Box 34-40 and 45
Publicity and Speeches Series VI:
1949-1964
Physical Description: 8.0 boxes
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series contains materials relating to President Wahlquist's (1952-1964) inauguration in 1952, including newspaper clippings.
The series also includes copies of Wahlquist's speeches delivered at events and organizations such as the Industrial Relations
Institute and the California Teachers Association.
Arrangement
This series is arranged by subject.
Stanton-Hutchinson Controversy Series VII:
1959-1966
Physical Description: 4.0 boxes
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series documents the judicial hearings and campus unrest resulting from the wrongful termination suit brought by two
SJSU professors, Dr. William F. Stanton and Dr. Bud R. Hutchinson, against the Chancellor of the State Colleges of California,
Dr. Glenn Dumke. Stanton and Hutchinson believed the reason they were not re-hired for the fourth and tenure-granting year
was non-academic. The professors claimed that the real reason was that they had discovered certain California State College
presidents agreeing to exclude Southern students who participated in sit-ins, and also that Stanton and Hutchinson had attempted,
as members of the Teachers Union, to obtain more democracy among college departments. Materials in this series document the
Stanton-Hutchinson court case with newspaper clippings, legal reports, and petitions. This series also contains reel-to-reel
audio tapes of former A.C.L.U. attorney Albert Bendich discussing the case. The tapes are restricted.
Arrangement
This series is arranged by subject and date.
Access Restrictions
Reel-to-reel tapes are restricted.
Box 40-42
Newspaper Clippings, Reports and Petitions
1959-1966
Box 43 (V2)
Reel-to-Reel Audio Tapes
1961-1964
