The Bohnett Family Papers contain materials from the estate of Joan Evans Bohnett, a San José State University alumnus (Class of 1966), whose grandfather was an advisor to Presidents MacQuarrie and Wahlquist. Materials include newspaper clippings, newsletters, Tower Lists, faculty awards, programs, a Sigma Phi Epsilon journal, a School of Business annual report, a book of poems, student handbooks and student activities calendars, and other items of campus memorabilia from the 1960s and 1970s. The bulk of the content is from 1950-1970.

Joan Evans Bohnett (June 13, 1942-Feb 21, 2020) was born to Ruth Evans Bohnett and John (Jack) Bohnett, along with her sister, Barbara Lou Bohnett. Ruth Evans Bohnett was born to Ivadelle (Bevens) Bohnett and Lewis Dan (L.D.) Bohnett, who was active in law and politics, as well as a member of the Board of Directors of San José State University for 43 years until his death in 1970. Raised in San José, Joan Evans Bohnett graduated from San José State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education on August 31, 1966, with Barbara Lou Bohnett following suit, graduating with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Art on September 1, 1967. During her time at San José State University, Joan was involved in the Beta Theta Chapter of the sorority Gamma Phi Beta. Joan Evans Bohnett also attended a SpartaCamp in 1961, which, at the time, was a leadership camp facilitated by San José State University. After graduating, Joan Evans Bohnett spent the bulk of her career as a teacher at Fremont School District, teaching history to her students for more than three decades until her retirement in 2003. Organizations that Joan Evans Bohnett was active in include the Preservation Action Council of San José (PAC*SJ), History San José, the California Pioneers of Santa Clara County, the San Jose Woman's Club, and the Master Gardeners. As a consummate historian known for her love of history and her personal heritage, in 1995, Joan Evans Bohnett started the process of restoring the 1919 home in the Palm Haven neighborhood of San José that she inherited from her grandparents, Ivadelle (Bevens) Bohnett and Lewis Dan (L.D.) Bohnett, who purchased the home and its surrounding acreage in 1923 from George and Dorothy Sainsbury, and lived there until their deaths in 1970. The home was granted San José City Landmark status in 2008.

1 Box (1 linear feet)

Copyright has not been 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 and 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.

Collection is open for research.