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White (J. Benton) Papers
MSS-2019-06-03
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Title: J. Benton White Papers
Identifier/Call Number: MSS-2019-06-03
Physical Description:
2 boxes
(.83 linear feet)
Date (inclusive): 1940-2019
Date (bulk): 1967-1971
Abstract: J. Benton White (d. 1931- ) was the first ombudsman on racial issues at San José State University. His position was created
in 1967 by President Robert D. Clark in response to racial conflict and discrimination on campus, and was the first of its
kind at a college or university in the United States. The bulk of the papers are correspondence, news clippings and reports
from 1967-1971.
Physical Description: Good
The collection is arranged in two series: I. Subject Files; II. Office Files. Folders in the first series have been alphabetized
by title and materials have been kept in original order. Folders in the second series have been alphabetized by format and
materials have been arranged chronologically; undated materials have been arranged alphabetically by title.
The J. Benton White Papers consist primarily correspondence, news clippings, some photographs and reports that White created
and collected in his position as SJSU ombudsman for race relations from 1967-1969. Accrual on Jan 2023 added files belonging
to J. Benton White outside of his ombudsman position, such as his religious activities and a menu.
White was included in discussions of racial discrimination on campus, especially against black and Mexican-American students.
The papers reflect the activities of the civil rights movement on the SJS College campus, especially regarding housing discrimination.
A major topic of interest documented in the papers is the decision of SJS College and Stanford athletes to wear black armbands
in football games against Brigham Young University in 1969 to protest discrimination against black people by the Church of
Latter-day Saints. The papers also address administration of the Economic Opportunity Program (EOP), which was created to
support minority and economically disadvantaged students succeed in college.
J. Benton White (d. 1931- ) grew up in Alabama and studied theology at Emory University and Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary.
He began serving as a chaplain for the Air Force in the late 1950s, before moving to the Wesley Foundation, the United Methodist
campus ministry, at the University of Nebraska. In 1961, he came to California to direct the Wesley Foundation at San José
State College and became active in the civil rights movement on campus. President Robert D. Clark in the fall of 1967 chose
White to be the first ombudsman, a position created in response to racial discrimination and conflict. It was the first of
its kind at a college or university in the United States and became a model for similar roles at other institutions in the
late 1960s and early 1970s.
After serving as ombudsman for two years, White became the assistant to the interim president of SJS College, Hobert Burns
in 1969. He founded the Religious Studies program in 1970 and worked as SJSU faculty until his retirement in 1992. He has
written several academic books in the field of religious studies, published a novel and continues to be active in the United
Methodist Church.
Collection is open for research.
Copyright has not been assigned to San José State University Library 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.
J. Benton White Papers, MSS-2019-06-03, San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives
Collection processed by Monica Keane, June 2019. Accrual added and finding aid updated by Christine Thuy Minh Nguyen, January
2023.
San José State University Oral History Project Collection
San José State University Faculty Papers of H. Brett Melendy
H. Brett Melendy Oral History Collection
University Archives Collection
Record Group 6.2.23
Subjects and Indexing Terms
San José State University
Ombudspersons
Race discrimination -- California -- San Jose