Guide to the Sarah Locke Family Papers MSS.2008.06.01
Finding aid funded by the generous support of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
© 2010
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: Sarah Locke Family Papers
source:
Ettington, Michael Locke
source:
Smith, Mildred
creator:
Smith, Sarah Locke, 1860-1939
Identifier/Call Number: MSS.2008.06.01
Physical Description:
4 boxes
(6.17 linear feet)
Date (inclusive): 1865-2004 (bulk 1879-1948)
Abstract: This collection is comprised of a few personal items belonging to Sarah Locke and various members of her family. The materials
document Locke's time at California State Normal School and include items such as books, journals and a diary. Also included
in the collection are materials related to Locke's granddaughter, Shirley, who was a graduate of San Jose State College in
1948.
Access
The collection is open for research. Photographs from this collection are available on the SJSU Special Collections website:
http://digitalcollections.sjlibrary.org/cdm/landingpage/collection/sjsuloc.
Publication Rights
Copyright is assigned to the San José State University Library 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 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
Sarah Locke Family Papers, MSS-2008-06-01, San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives.
Project Information
This finding aid was created as part of the Survey and Cataloging Project, a two-year San Jose 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 Danelle Moon and Silke Higgins. Finding aid EAD encoded by Silke Higgins and Rosalinda Gonzales. Reviewed
by Danelle Moon and Erin Louthen.
Biographical History
Sarah Locke Smith was born Sarah Anne Jane Locke on August 5th, 1860, in Lockeford, California (San Joaquin County). Her parents
were George Shepley Locke and Susan Lucretia Hammond. Sarah attended the California State Normal School in San Jose, where
she received an elementary education degree in 1879, and May of 1880 she received a secondary education degree, graduating
in twenty-first class. During her time at the Normal School, Sarah's interests included botany and poetry. Between the years
1880-1882, Sarah taught in Humboldt County. On December 25, 1882, she married William Thomas Smith, and later the couple moved
to Ferndale, California. They had six children, three boys and three girls: Elmer William Smith, 1883; Harry James Smith,
1885; Warren Locke Smith, 1886; Ethel Smith, 1888; Mildred Smith 1891; and Gertrude Smith, 1898. Sarah Locke died on June
19th, 1939 in Ferndale, California.
Shirley Orpha Smith, daughter of Warren Locke Smith, was born December 31, 1924. She completed her B.A. in 1947 and received
her Occupational Therapy Certificate from San Jose State College in 1948.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Sarah Locke Family Papers is a small collection documenting the life of California State Normal School, San Jose, graduate
Sarah Locke (1879, 1880). The bulk of this collection was donated to San Jose State University Special Collections & Archives
by the great grandson of Sarah Locke Smith, Michael Locke Ettington. The collection primarily documents Sarah Locke's experiences
while attending California State Normal School, San Jose, and includes a few books, journals and notes (1876, 1879), a transcription
of her diary recording a trip to Yosemite in June of 1879. In addition, there are a few original photographs and a collection
of digital images that depict Sarah Locke's ancestors and descendents, and a family genealogy report (2004) that includes
the pedigree chart for Sarah Locke and a list of her descendants.
In addition, the collection includes a few personal items collected by Shirley Orpha Smith, granddaughter of Sarah Locke
Smith. Shirley Orpha Smith completed her B.A. in 1947 and in 1948 she received an Occupational Therapy Certificate from San
Jose State College.
In addition to the donation by Michael Locke Ettington, the collection also includes a black silk dress that belonged to
Sarah Locke and small a box of memorabilia. Midlred Smith, Sarah Locke's daughter donated these materials to the San Jose
State University Library in the 1969.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into three series: Series I: Family Papers and Photographs, 1845-2006; Series II: Sarah Locke
Memorabilia, 1880-1969; Series III: Silk Dress, circa 1880.
Related Material
San Jose State Normal School Principals and Early Presidents Records, MSS-2009-02-01, San Jose State University Library Special
Collections & Archives.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
California State Normal School -- San Jose -- Students
San Jose State College -- Students
Locke, Sarah -- Clothing and dress
Locke, Sarah -- Souvenirs (Keepsakes)
Ettington, Michael Locke
Smith, Mildred
Smith, Sarah Locke, 1860-1939
Family Papers and Photographs Series I:
1865-2004
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series documents the history of San Jose State Normal School graduate Sarah Locke Smith (1879, 1880) and San Jose State
College (SJSC) graduate, Shirley Orpha Smith (1947). It also includes photographs of Sarah and her husband William, as well
as their ancestors and descendents from the 1860s to 1948, and a family genealogy report from 2004. The collection of family
photographs documents Sarah Locke Smith and William T. Smith and their immediate family. In addition, there are two small
photographic books, and a class photograph of Shirley Orpha Smith's 1947 graduation from San Jose State College, as well as
a few SJSC occupational therapy student patches and a hat.
Note that Michael Locke Ettington allowed the department to digitize a small family photo album, but he has retained the
original artifact. The digital images are represented in the King Library Special Collections Digital Library at http://digitalcollections.sjlibrary.org/.
Arrangement
This series is arranged in two sub-series: Sarah Locke Papers and Shirley Orpha Smith. The materials related to Sarah Locke
Smith are located in folders 1-7, and the materials documenting Shirley Orpha Smith are contained in folders 8-10.
Sarah Locke Papers
1865-1936
Box 1, Folder 1
"A Popular California Flora" (Book)
1880
Box 1, Folder 2
Historical Sketch of the State Normal School at San Jose, California" (Book)
1889
Box 1, Folder 3
Journals and Notes
1876, 1879
Box 1, Folder 4
Photographs on CDR
1865-1936
Box 1, Folder 5
Sarah Locke-Smith and Family Photographs
circa 1865-1930
Box 1, Folder 6
Sarah Locke-Smith Photographs
1879-1936
Box 1, Folder 7
Postcard of Tower Hall
1936
Shirley Orpha Smith Papers
1947-2004
Box 1, Folder 9
Graduation and Miscellaneous Photographs of Shirley Smith
1947-1948
Box 1, Folder 10
Occupational Therapy School Patches and Cap
1947-1948
Box 1, Folder 11
Locke Family Genealogy
2004
Memorabilia Series II:
1880-1969
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series contains a framed photograph of Sarah Locke that depicts her wearing the black silk dress contained in Series
III. In addition, this series includes a companion autograph book signed by Sarah Locke's class mates, several copies of the
1880 California State Normal School Commencement Program listing Sarah Locke as a graduate, and an essay written by Sarah
Locke titled "Is it Worthwhile," discussing the merits of Normal School education. Of special note is a 1969 letter from Mildred
Smith, daughter of Sarah Locke, which details aspects of Sarah Locke's personal and professional life as a teacher.
Box 2
Framed Photograph of Sarah Locke
circa 1880
Box 2
Autograph Book
circa 1880
Box 2
California State Normal School Commencement Program
1880
Box 2
"Is it Worthwhile" Essay
1880
Box 2
Letter from Mildred Smith
1969
Box 2
San Jose Normal School Index Record Card
1880-1906
Silk Dress Series III:
circa 1880
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series contains the black silk dress that Sarah Locke wore during her 1880 commencement ceremony. The dress was donated
to San Jose State Normal School by her daughter Mildred Smith.
Box 3-4
Sarah Locke's Black Silk Dress
circa 1880
