Collection Guide
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Guide to the Santa Clara Valley Local History Collection R.G. 102
R.G. 102
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Archives & Special Collections, Santa Clara University Library
Title: Santa Clara Valley Local History Collection
creator:
Santa Clara University (Calif.)
creator:
Spearman, Arthur D.
Identifier/Call Number: R.G. 102
Physical Description:
6.9 linear feet
(10 boxes, 2 items)
Date (inclusive): 1847-2006 (bulk 1890-1960)
Abstract: The Santa Clara Valley Local History Collection, 1847-2006 (bulk 1890-1960) documents the history of the Santa Clara Valley
after the arrival of European and overland settlers. The records consist of Chamber of Commerce publications promoting the
Santa Clara Valley as an idyllic place to live, work and visit; writings, reminiscences, photographs and ephemera documenting
the prominent pioneer and
Californio families of the Santa Clara Valley; and printed materials documenting some of the county’s historic landmarks, businesses,
organizations and religious institutions. The collection also includes a small selection of materials from San Francisco and
other neighboring communities. The collection is arranged into six series: Series I. Businesses & Organizations, 1847-1968;
Series II. 1906 Earthquake, 1906-2006 (bulk 1906); Series III. People & Places, 1896-1995 (bulk 1915-1975); Series IV. Promotional
Materials & Souvenirs, 1872-1978 (bulk 1872-1959); Series V. Religious Institutions, 1864-1989 (bulk 1891-1969); and Series
VI. Writings & Remembrances, 1886-1992 (bulk 1890-1960).
Physical Location: This collection is located in Santa Clara University Library's Archives & Special Collections.
Language of Material: English
Container: data_value_missing_ae467897c391c25fb6569b9fed2fbeb5
The collection is open for research. There are no restrictions.
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 University Archivist. 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.
Santa Clara Valley Local History Collection, Record Group 102, Santa Clara University Library, Archives & Special Collections.
Collection processed and encoded by Shannon Hartman in 2016. Reviewed by Erin Louthen. Folder-level descriptive information
added by Daniela Baez in 2018.
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.
The collection is arranged into six series: Series I. Businesses & Organizations, 1847-1968; Series II. 1906 Earthquake, 1906-2006
(bulk 1906); Series III. People & Places, 1896-1995 (bulk 1915-1975); Series IV. Promotional Materials & Souvenirs, 1872-1978
(bulk 1872-1959); Series V. Religious Institutions, 1864-1989 (bulk 1891-1969); and Series VI. Writings & Remembrances, 1886-1992
(bulk 1890-1960).
Scope and Content of the Collection
The Santa Clara Valley Local History Collection, 1847-2006 (bulk 1890-1960) documents the history of the Santa Clara Valley
after the arrival of European and overland settlers. The records consist of Chamber of Commerce publications promoting the
Santa Clara Valley as an idyllic place to live, work and visit; writings, reminiscences, photographs and ephemera documenting
the prominent pioneer and
Californio families of the Santa Clara Valley; and printed materials documenting some of the county’s historic landmarks, businesses,
organizations and religious institutions. The collection also includes a small selection of materials from San Francisco and
other neighboring communities.
Note: Many of the materials in this collection are believed to be research files assembled by Arthur D. Spearman, S.J., who
served as the university's unofficial archivist in the mid-twentieth century.
Inventory of Papers of Arthur Dunning Spearman, S.J., 1899-1977:
http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/tf6r29n8f2/
Additional oversize materials are housed in Santa Clara University Library, Archives and Special Collections, Map Drawer 27
and include lithographs, photographs, train schedules, posters and newspapers depicting the history of the Santa Clara Valley.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Santa Clara (Calif.) -- History, Local
San Jose (Calif.) -- History, Local
Santa Clara County (Calif.) -- History, Local
Santa Clara Valley (Santa Clara County, Calif.) -- History, Local