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San José State University Jewish Studies Program Records
MSS-2019-11-04
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Title: San José State University Jewish Studies Program Records
Identifier/Call Number: MSS-2019-11-04
Physical Description:
1 Box
(0.417 linear feet)
Date (inclusive): 1971-2019
Abstract: The San José State University Jewish Studies Program Records contain materials documenting the creation of the Jewish Studies
Program and its various courses, programs, and events; the receiving of grants from organizations and foundations; and the
reporting of the Jewish Studies Program in the press. Materials in this collection include program reports, course descriptions,
correspondence, flyers, pamphlets, meeting agendas, press clippings, philanthropic organization documentation, budget worksheets,
mailing lists, and student grades. The bulk of the content was created in 1971-1983.
The San José State University Jewish Studies Program Records, 1971-2019 (bulk 1971-1983), documents the creation of the Jewish
Studies Program and its various courses, events, and programs, as well as documentation of grants received from various foundations
and organizations. Materials in this collection include program reports, course descriptions, correspondence, flyers, pamphlets,
meeting agendas, press clippings, philanthropic organization documentation, budget worksheets, mailing lists, and student
grades.
Below is a rough breakdown of the different eras categorized by Coordinator of the Jewish Studies Program, based on the materials
in this collection:
1971-1980: Dr. Robert Levinson
1980-1983: Dr. Aaron Goldman
1983-YYYY: Barbara Dubbens
YYYY-YYYY: Michael Katz
1993-2006: Dr. David Mesher
2006-2014: Dr. Victoria Harrison
2014-2018: Dr. Jonathan Roth (Interim Coordinator)
2018-2019: Ignat Ayzenberg
This collection is arranged into six series: Series I. Annual Reports, 1976-2017; Series II. Correspondence and Administrative
Files, 1971-2019; Series III. Course Development, 1975-2007; Series IV. Events and Programs, 1979-2019; Series V. Foundations,
Organizations, and Grants, 1972-2019; and Series VI. Press and Publicity, 1973-1980. They are organized in chronological order.
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
José, 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 José 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.
The San José State University Jewish Studies Program, primarily residing in the History Department, was established in September
1975 by San José State University History Professor Dr. Robert Levinson, who served as the program's first Coordinator. Over
its years of operation, several individuals from various departments have held the post of Coordinator. After Dr. Robert Levinson
got involved in an auto accident in 1980, eventually passing away due to his injuries, San José State University History Professor
Dr. Aaron Goldman took over as Coordinator, followed by San José State University History Professor Dr. Barbara Dubbens. Although
this collection contains no documents involving Michael Katz from the Philosophy and English Departments, he also served as
Coordinator. From the years 1993-2006, San José State University English Professor and Jewish Literature scholar Dr. David
Mesher served as Coordinator. In 2006, Dr. Jonathan Roth hired Victoria Harrison to serve as Coordinator, who maintained the
post until 2014. With the post of Coordinator vacant, the Jewish Studies Program was moved to the Geography Department along
with the Global Studies Program, but shortly returned to the History Department. Shortly after, Dr. Jonathan Roth stepped
in as Interim Coordinator, until in 2018, Ignat Ayzenberg was hired. Since its establishment, the Jewish Studies Program has
offered a Minor to students, with its courses coming from different departments that have a focus on Jewish Studies content.
Additionally, the Jewish Studies Program aims to support Jewish Life and Scholarship on campus through various activities
and events.
Collection is open for research.
Copyright is assigned to the San José State University 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 & Archives. Copyright restrictions may apply to digital reproductions of the
original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.
University Archives Collection
Record Group: 6.3.6.3
San José State University Jewish Studies Program Records, MSS-2019-11-04, San José State University Library, Special Collections
& Archives
Collection processed by Christine Thuy Minh Nguyen, 2022.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
San José State University
San José State University -- Department of History
Education, Higher -- California -- San Jose