Guide to the San José State University Amateur Radio Club Collection MSS-05-02-2022
Samantha Garcia
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
January 2024
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
San José State University
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0028
special.collections@sjsu.edu
Note
Processed by Samantha Garcia
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Title: San José State University Amateur Radio Club Collection
Identifier/Call Number: MSS-05-02-2022
Physical Description:
2 Box
(0.69 linear feet)
Date (inclusive): 1939-2023, bulk 2000-2023
Abstract: A small collection of mixed materials from San José State University's Amateur Radio Club from 1939 to 2022. This collection
includes materials related to the club's activities such as an amateur radio station log book, an attendance sheet, and QSL
cards. Also included are a 1960s radio manual, a club branded item, and World War II era headphones. A guide containing the
chronological order of Amateur Radio Club mentions in the San José State University newspaper archives and yearbook publications,
and a timeline of club officers have also been incorporated into the collection.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged alphabetically.
Biographical / Historical
Founded under the San Jose State Teachers College, the San José State University Amateur Radio Club began in 1927 when the
United States Department of Commerce published an "Amateur Radio Stations of the United States" manual in which the call signal
of the school was listed as W6YL. The club would not become more active and recognized as a student organization until 1929.
For over 15 years of the club's existence, the club operated under the mentorship of Professor of Radio Harry Engwicht. In
the 1930s, the club provided a messaging service to students and faculty whose families were in other cities, states, or countries.
The service was free and allowed club members to improve their radio operating abilities. Over the years, members improved
their equipment and skills which increased the distance they could send messages. Members eventually developed the ability
to establish communications between headquarters within the United States and intercept messages. When the San José State
football team had away games, the club would sometimes announce play-by-play reports by communicating with local amateur radio
operators in the area of the games.
During World War II, the club's activities were interrupted because of restrictions on amateur radio broadcasting. The club
entered a period of inactivity between 1944-1945. The club was reactivated in 1946, but had difficulty maintaining the same
level of activity as before the war. The club began offering help to people interested in earning their amateur radio license
by preparing them for the Federal Communication Commission's licensing exam.
During the 1950s, the club operated closely with another school organization named the Institute of Radio Engineers which
was also being advised by Harry Engwicht. The club began assisting emergency workers in locating the places of emergencies
and providing communication services to the American Red Cross. In the 1980s, the families of some San José State University's
students and faculty were affected by catastrophic earthquakes. The club was able to contact the families to check on their
wellbeing when telephone communications were disrupted.
As of 2023, the club remains in operation under the call signal W6YL. It is one of the university's oldest student organizations.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright has been assigned to San José State University Special Collections & Archives. All requests for permission to publish
or quote from materials must be submitted in writing to the Director of Special Collections & Archives. Permission for publication
is given on behalf of 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
San José State University Amateur Radio Club Collection, MSS-05-02-2022, San José State University Library, Special Collections
& Archives
Processing Information
Processed by Samantha Garcia in January 2024
Content Description
This collection includes materials used by members of the Amateur Radio Club while the school was named San José State College
and after the school was renamed to San José State University. Also included are documentation of the organization's mentions
in the school's student-run newspapers and yearbooks and a timeline of club officers that were created to provide more context
about the club's activities. The material within this collection ranges between the years 1939-2023, with the bulk of the
material ranging from 2000-2023. The materials ranging from 1939-1960 include a pair of World War II-era headphones and a
radio manual from the 1960s. The materials from 2000-2023 include a blank club attendance sheet, a club branded pocket protector,
an Amateur Radio Station Log Book with entries by the club from 2003-2010, and blank and completed QSL cards used by the club
in 2022. The timeline of club officers and of club mentions in the school's newspapers and yearbooks were created in 2023.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
San José State University -- Students
Student activities -- San José State University
San Jose State Teachers College
San Jose State College
Amateur radio stations
Ham radio
Amateur radio stations -- California.
Box 1, Folder 1
Amateur Radio Station Log Book - W6YL
September 2003 - September 2010
Box 1, Folder 2
ARC Attendance Sheet - Blank
circa 2000-2022
Box 1, Folder 3
ARC Branded Item - Pocket Protector
circa 2000s
Box 1, folder 5
State College Times/Spartan Daily and La Torre - ARC Mentions
2023
Box 1, folder 6
Timeline of Club Officers
2023
Box 1, Folder 7
W6YL - Blank QSL Cards
undated
Box 1, Folder 8
W6YL - Completed QSL Cards
February 2022 - March 2022
Box 2, Item 1
World War II Era Headphones
circa 1939-1945
