Guide to the San Jose State Normal School Diploma and Certificate Collection MSS-2019-10-04
Jacob Rabinowitz
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Fall 2019
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: San Jose State Normal School Diploma and Certificate Collection
Identifier/Call Number: MSS-2019-10-04
Physical Description:
1 flat file drawers
Physical Description:
23 folders
Date (inclusive): 1877-1904
Abstract: This collection contains diplomas and certificates belonging to graduates of the San Jose State Normal School spanning the
late 1800s to the early 1900s; formats include paper as well as parchment. These materials were created by the Normal School,
the State of California Educational Department, the Board of Education, and the Department of Public Instruction.
Content Description
This collection consists of diplomas and certificates belonging to students who attended the San Jose State Normal School
in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Materials include: Normal School, State of California Educational Department, Board of
Education, and Department of Public Instruction certificates and diplomas awarded to Normal School alumni. Also included are:
a Normal School Browning Literary Club certificate, a Louisiana Purchase Exposition silver medal award for a Normal School
exhibition, an 1880s lithograph of the first Normal School building, and the Normal School 1885 graduating class' roster photograph
with graduation program pamphlet. Brief biographical information on Normal School graduates in this collection was gathered
from the Alumni Records (Handwritten Journals) in the San Jose State Normal School Records, MSS-2010-04-01, San Jose State
University Library Special Collections & Archives.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged chronologically.
Biographical / Historical
In 1857 the San Francisco Board of Education established Minns' Evening Normal School for current and prospective teachers
in the city. Named after its principal, George W. Minns, the institution was formally established as the first California
State Normal School by the State Legislature in 1862. A decade later, the Legislature voted to move the Normal School to San
Jose, and the school relocated to its new home on Washington Square prior to the fall term of 1872. After a fire destroyed
the Normal School building in 1880, the Legislature authorized $200,000 to construct a new building on the same site. Completed
in 1881, the building was commonly referred to as the Second State Normal School. After several names and curriculum changes,
Minns' Normal School is now San Jose State University, offering more than 134 bachelor's and master's degrees with 110 concentrations,
and is recognized as one of the top public universities granting such degrees in the West.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
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.
Preferred Citation
San Jose State Normal School Diploma and Certificate Collection, MSS-2019-10-04, San Jose State University Library, Special
Collections & Archives
Processing Information
Processed by Jacob Rabinowitz, Fall 2019
Related Materials
San José State Normal School Records, MSS-2010-04-01, San Jose State University Library Special Collections & Archives.
San José State University Artifacts and Memorabilia Collection, MSS-2011-09-19, San José State University Library Special
Collections & Archives.
San José State University Student Memorabilia Collection, MSS-2011-06-23, San José State University Library Special Collections
& Archives.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Diplomas -- San Jose State Normal School
Diplomas -- California. Department of Public Instruction
Diplomas -- California. State Board of Education
Awards -- Louisiana Purchase Exposition (1904 : Saint Louis, Mo.)
San Jose State Normal School -- History
San José State Normal School -- Memorabilia
San José State University. Library. Special Collections.
drawer 01-16, Folder 1
Normal School Diploma – Samuel A. Brown
1877
Biographical / Historical
Teaching experience: Taught in Napa County, six months, Lake County, Six months, Tulare County, six months.
Special: Left teaching in August 1878 to study medicine, he is now a practicing physician.
drawer 01-16, Folder 2
Normal School Second Grade Certificate – Iantha A. Kelso
1877
Biographical / Historical
Teaching experience: Has taught for about 25 years and is teaching at San Leandro
Special: she has twin sons
drawer 01-16, Folder 3
Normal School Elementary Diploma – Iantha A. Kelso
1877
drawer 01-16, Folder 4
Normal School Diploma – Iantha Kelso
1878
drawer 01-16, Folder 5
Normal School Elementary Diploma – Sarah A.J. Locke
1879
drawer 01-16, Folder 6
Normal School Diploma – Sarah A.J. Locke
1880
Biographical / Historical
Teaching experience: Taught in Ferndale (Port Kenyon) Humboldt County two years: not taught since December 1884. Married December
25, 1882. Six Children.
drawer 01-16, Folder 7
Normal School Diploma – Flora A. McFarland
1882
Biographical / Historical
Teaching experience: taught one year.
Other work: married E.B. Zumwalt in 1883. One child.
drawer 01-16, Folder 8
Normal School Diploma – Edward E. Thomas
1882
Biographical / Historical
Teaching experience: taught principally in Santa Clara county for five years.
Other work: left teaching to grow fruit in 1888
drawer 01-16, Folder 9
Normal School Diploma – Regina Weinshank
1882
Biographical / Historical
Teaching experience: Taught in Los Angeles County
drawer 01-16, Folder 10
State of California State Educational Diploma – Mrs. Ianthe A. Cooke
1883
drawer 01-16, Folder 11
Normal School Graduating Class Photo Roster, Nellie A. Wyckoff Diploma, Graduation Program Pamphlet
1885
drawer 01-16, Folder 12
Normal School Diploma – Susie W. Rucker
1886
drawer 01-16, Folder 13
Normal School Diploma – Fannie A. Cottle
1887
Biographical / Historical
Teaching record:
1888, 1 year, Merced, CA.
Stopped teaching because of ill health. Twin sister of Suzie Cottle 1884
drawer 01-16, Folder 14
Normal School Diploma – Ida M. Coyle
1888
Biographical / Historical
Teaching record:
1888-1890 Fresno County
1890-1892 Santa Clara County
1908-1911 Santa Clara County
1914-1916 Lindsey California
1893 Married – Mrs. Ida M. Kersell
drawer 01-16, Folder 15
California State Normal School, San Jose Building Lithograph
1880s
drawer 01-16, Folder 16
Normal School Diploma – Katie R. Smith
1890
Biographical / Historical
Teaching record:
1890-1891 Opened school at Stokes Valley District, Tulare County
1891-1892 teaching in Wilson District near Morson, Tulare County
1892-1894 Primary department of Diruba Public Schools
1894 Coves District – Tulare County
1899-1905 Nevada County – Principal of Evergreen School.
Santa Clara County 1906
Other work:
1909-1910 touring Europe
1911-1922 Principal Mayfield School Santa Clara County
1923-1939 Grant School San Jose California
1944 President Golden Grads
Special: Americanization
drawer 01-16, Folder 17
Normal School Diploma – Mattie B. Cameron
1893
Biographical / Historical
1893-1895 taught in Grayson, Stanislaus County. Married Dec. 1897
drawer 01-16, Folder 18
Normal School Diploma – Kate R. Smith
1896
drawer 01-16, Folder 19
State of California State Board of Education Certificate of Qualification – Mrs. Iantha A. Cooke
1898
drawer 01-16, Folder 20
Normal School Diploma – Mrs. Iantha A. Cooke
1898
drawer 01-16, Folder 21
Normal School Browning Literary Club Certificate – Mary F. Sullivan
1902
Biographical / Historical
Taught 1902-1908 Santa Cruz County
drawer 01-16, Folder 22
State of California Department of Public Instruction Grammar School Life Diploma – Mrs. Alice W. McIntosh
1904
drawer 01-16, Folder 23
Louisiana Purchase Exposition – International Jury of Awards – Normal School Exhibition Silver Medal Award
1904
