Guide to the Bohnett Family Papers MSS-2020-11-13
Christine Thuy Minh Nguyen
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
December 2022
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: Bohnett Family Papers
Identifier/Call Number: MSS-2020-11-13
Physical Description:
1 Box
(1 linear feet)
Date (inclusive): 1929-1979
Date (bulk): 1950-1970
Physical Description: Items are all in good condition.
Abstract: 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.
Content Description
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 Lewis Dan (L.D.) Bohnett's
Advisory Board Binder as well as an empty San Jose State College binder; commencement programs and related correspondence;
letters and postcards; California State Colleges faculty awards; a Gamma Phi Beta membership list; newspaper clippings; newsletters;
Tower Lists; programs; a Sigma Phi Epsilon journal; a School of Business annual report; a book of poems titled Discover America
published by San José Studies; and new student (freshmen) handbooks, activities calendars, and sticker. The bulk of the content
is from 1950-1970.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by format and in alphabetical order by folder title. The materials within the folders are arranged
chronologically.
Biographical / Historical
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.
Conditions Governing Use
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.
Preferred Citation
Bohnett Family Papers, MSS-2020-11-13, San José State University Library, Special Collections & Archives
Processing Information
Collection processed by Christine Thuy Minh Nguyen in 2022.
General
Record Group: 6.6.10
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Separated Materials
The Indian Tribes of the United States, authored by D'arcy McNickle and published by the Oxford University Press, was separated from this collection and placed
in the Special Collections book stacks.
Related Materials
Bohnett-Evans Family Papers, BANC MSS 99/388 c, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
San José State University Student Memorabilia Collection, MSS-2011-06-23
San José State University Office of the President, John T. Wahlquist Records, MSS-2009-04-04
San José State University Artifacts and Memorabilia Collection, MSS-2011-09-19
Subjects and Indexing Terms
San José State University -- History
Education, Higher -- California -- San José
San José State Teachers College -- History
San Jose State College -- History
Curia, Patricia
San José State University. Library. Special Collections & Archives
Box 1
Advisory Board Binder
1966-1968
Box 1, Folders 1-2
Commencement Programs, Correspondence
1938, 1957, 1964-1967
Box 1, Folder 3
Correspondence
1960, 1963, 1966
Box 1
Empty San Jose State College Binder
Box 1, Folder 5
Gamma Phi Beta Membership List
Box 1, Folder 6
Newsletters
1934-1937, 1960-1970
Scope and Contents
Newsletters such as the Alumni Bulletin, The Columns, San Jose State College Campus Digest, The Spartan, and San Jose State
College Reports.
Box 1, Folder 7
Press
1929-1964
Scope and Contents
Newspaper clippings from local newspapers such as the San Jose News, the San Jose Mercury News, the San Jose Mercury Herald,
and the Spartan Daily discussing news centered around San José State University (previously known as San Jose State College
and San Jose Teachers College).
Box 1, Folder 8
Programs
1936-1937, 1957-1962
Scope and Contents
Programs from San José State University and its affiliated organizations such as the Theta Chi Fraternity, Sparta Sings, the
San Jose State College Panhellenic Council, and the San Jose State College Patrons Association.
Box 1, Folders 9-10
Publications
1963-1976
Scope and Contents
Tower Lists, which were publications by the fraternity Tau Delta Phi showcasing student reviews of San José State University
professors; a 1976 special issue of the San José Studies publication published by San José State University and the Fine Arts
Commission of the City of San José as a book titled Discover America, which showcases student poems, some of which have been
awarded in the National Bicentennial Poetry Awards; and a Sigma Phi Epsilon journal.
Box 1, Folder 11
School of Business Annual Report
1969-1970
Box 1, Folder 13
Student Handbooks, Activities Calendars, Sticker
1957-1965
