Guide to the San José State University Jewish Studies Program Records MSS-2019-11-04

Christine Thuy Minh Nguyen
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
November 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: 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.

Content Description

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

Arrangement

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.

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 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.

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

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

Preferred Citation

San José State University Jewish Studies Program Records, MSS-2019-11-04, San José State University Library, Special Collections & Archives

Processing Information

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

 

Series I. Annual Reports 1976-2017

Box 1, Folder 1

Annual Reports 1976-1979, 1981, 2017

 

Series II. Correspondence and Administrative Files 1971-2019

Box 1, Folder 2

Correspondence and Memos 1971-1983, 1999

Box 1, Folder 3

Administrative Files 1978-2014

Box 1, Folder 4

Correspondence, Memos, and Flyers 2012-2019

 

Series III. Course Development 1975-2007

Box 1, Folder 5

Jewish Studies Program Development 1975-1980, 2019

Box 1, Folder 6

Hebrew for High School Course Development 2007-2008

 

Series IV. Events and Programs 1979-2019

Box 1, Folder 7

Events, Programs, and Flyers 1979-2018

Box 1, Folder 8

Robert Levinson Memorial Lecture 1983-2019

 

Series V. Foundations, Organizations, and Grants 1972-2019

Box 1, Folder 9

B'nai B'rith Hillel Foundation 1972

Box 1, Folder 10

Jewish Chatauqua Society 1972-1980

Box 1, Folder 11

The Hebrew Culture Foundation 1977-1983

Box 1, Folder 12

Hillel of Silicon Valley 1978-2018

Box 1, Folder 13

Jewish Federation of Greater San Jose 1983-2019

Box 1, Folder 14

Rabbi Joseph Gitin Jewish Studies Program 2006-2009

Box 1, Folder 15

Koret Foundation 2008-2009

Box 1, Folder 16

Posen Foundation Grant 2008-2010

 

Series VI. Press and Publicity 1973-1980

Box 1, Folder 17

Press and Publicity 1973-1980