Collection context
Summary
- Abstract:
- The Alberto F. Porta Papers consist of correspondence, clippings, manuscripts, architectural drawings, and prints and negatives of drawings. The materials, in both English and Italian, reflect Porta's career as an architect in Guatemala and San Francisco, and a professor at Santa Clara College. Included in the collection are materials on weather forecasting, earthquake predictions, and his invention of a helicoidal aeroplane.
- Extent:
- 2 Linear Feet 1 box; 1 half box; 2 custom boxes
- Language:
- English .
- Preferred citation:
-
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Alberto F. Porta Papers, PP-Porta, [Identification of item],[box number], [folder number], Santa Clara University Library, Archives and Special Collecitons.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
Alberto Francisco Porta, born in Mondovi, Italy in 1853, was a civil engineer and architect trained at the University of Turin Through Jesuit connections, Porta was hired at Santa Clara College in 1907 to teach Mechanics, Descriptive Geometry, and Architectural, Mechanical, Figure and Topographical Drawing. He remained at Santa Clara from 1907-1914. As a teacher, he has been described as a colorful professor devoted to the institution.
The Alberto F. Porta Papers consist of correspondence, clippings, manuscripts, architectural drawings, and prints and negatives of drawings. The materials, in both English and Italian, reflect Porta's career as an architect in Guatemala and San Francisco, and a professor at Santa Clara College. Included in the collection are materials on weather forecasting, earthquake predictions, and his invention of a helicoidal aeroplane.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Alberto Francisco Porta, born in Mondovi, Italy in 1853, was a civil engineer and architect trained at the University of Turin. In 1894, at the request of the Guatemala government to serve as architect for the reconstruction of structures damaged by earthquakes and revolutions, Porta moved his family to Quesaltenango, Guatemala. The request to come to Guatemala was handled through the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). In Quesaltenango, Porta worked on rebuilding bridges and buildings.
Santa Clara University was founded in 1851 by the Society of Jesus as Santa Clara College and is California's oldest operating institution of higher learning. It was established on the grounds of Mission Santa Clara de Asìs, the eighth of the original 21 California missions. The college originally operated as a preparatory school and did not offer courses of collegiate rank until 1853. The institution became known as the University of Santa Clara in 1912, when the schools of engineering and law were added. For 110 years, Santa Clara University was an all-male school. In 1961, women were accepted as undergraduates and Santa Clara University became the first coeducational Catholic university in California. The number of students and faculty tripled over the next decade and the university began the largest building program in school history with eight residence halls, a student union, and an athletic stadium. In the early 1970s, the Board of Trustees voted to limit the size of the undergraduate population, an action that was intended to preserve the character and ensure the quality of the university for generations to come. In 1985, the university adopted Santa Clara University as its official name. Bibliography: Santa Clara University. "About SCU – History." www.scu.edu/about/history.cfm (Accessed Nov. 23, 2010) McKevitt, Gerald, S.J. The University of Santa Clara: A History, 1851-1977. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 1979.
- Processing information:
-
This collection was processed by a previous archivist. No information is known to exist about the original order of materials or processing decisions.
- Arrangement:
-
Materials are arranged by subject.
- Physical location:
- This collection is located in Santa Clara University Library's Archives & Special Collections.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
The collection is open for research. There are no restrictions.
- Terms of access:
-
Materials in Archives & Special Collections may be subject to copyright. All requests for permission to publish from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the specialcollections@scu.edu. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Archives & Special Collections as the owner of the physical materials, and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained. Copyright restrictions also apply to digital reproductions of the original materials.
- Preferred citation:
-
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Alberto F. Porta Papers, PP-Porta, [Identification of item],[box number], [folder number], Santa Clara University Library, Archives and Special Collecitons.
- Location of this collection:
-
Dept. of Archives & Special Collections, University Library,500 El Camino RealSanta Clara, CA 95053-0500, US
- Contact:
- (408) 554-5530