Descriptive Summary
Administration Information
History
Scope and Content
Indexing Terms
Related Material
Descriptive Summary
Title: California State University Archives Oral History Project Collection,
Dates: 1987-2001
Collection Number: CSU 020
Creator:
California State University Historical Archives
Extent:
25 boxes
13.5 linear ft
Repository:
California State University Historical Archives
California State University, Dominguez Hills
Archives & Special Collection
University Library, Room G-145
1000 E. Victoria Street
Carson, California 90747
Phone: (310) 243-3013
URL: http://archives.csudh.edu/
Abstract:
Transcripts and cassette tapes of oral history interviews with various individuals involved in the formation of the California
State University system.
Language: Collection material is in English
Administration Information
Access
There are no access restrictions on this collection.
Publication Rights
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives
and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical
materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Preferred Citation
[Title of item], California State University Archives Oral History Project Collection, Courtesy of the Department of Archives
and Special Collections. University Library. California State University, Dominguez Hills.
Acquisition Information
Materials in this collection were transferred by the Chancellor’s Office, California State University and collected by archives
staff. It is a growing collection.
Processing Information
Processed during 2004-2006 CSU System-wide Archives Processing Project.
History
The California State University System, formally established in 1960 by the Donahoe Higher Education Act. It is the nation’s
largest university system, with 23 campuses and seven off-campus centers, more than 400,000 students and 42,000 faculty and
staff. The CSU is one of three public higher education systems in the state of California (the others are the University of
California and the California Community College System). Since 1961 more than 2 million alumni have received a bachelor's,
master's, and doctoral (Ph.D. and Ed.D) degrees from the university system. It offers more than 1,800 degree programs in some
240-subject areas.
Today's California State University system is the direct descendant of the California State Normal School (now, San Jose State
University) established by the California Legislature on May 2, 1862. By 1895 there were four State Normal schools. In 1921,
the schools were re-named the State Teacher’s Schools. In 1935 the colleges were re-named the California State Colleges and
were run by the State Department of Education. With the master plan created along with the Donohue Act, the California State
Colleges were placed under control of the CSC Board of Trustees. In 1972 the system was renamed the California State Colleges
and Universities. The term "Colleges" was dropped in 1982.
Responsibility for the California State University is vested in the Board of Trustees, whose members are appointed by the
Governor of the State of California. The Trustees appoint the Chancellor, who is the chief executive officer of the system,
and the Presidents, who are the chief executive officers of their respective campuses. The Academic Senate of the California
State University, made up of elected representatives of the faculty from each campus, recommends academic policy to the Board
of Trustees through the Chancellor. Chancellors of the system include Buell Gallagher (1961-1962); Glenn S. Dumke (1962-1982);
W. Ann Reynolds (1982-1990); Ellis E. McCune [Acting] (1990-1991); Barry Munitz (1991-1998); Charles B. Reed (1998- ).
Scope and Content
Transcripts, cassette tapes, correspondence and other materials relating to oral history interviews with various individuals
involved in the formation of the California State University system. Interviews were conducted during Phase 1 (1988) and Phase
II (1998-2001). Phase I interviewees include Louis Heilbron, Glenn Dumke, Dorothy Knoell, Donald Leiffer, Theodore Miriam,
Charles Luckman, Arnold Joyal, William Coblentz, Donald Gerth, John Richardson, Harry Brakebill, Arthur Hall, Dean McHenry,
Harry Harmon, Mansel Keene, Lois R. Feldheym, William Langsdorf, David Hart, Walter Stiern, Raymond Rydell, Robert E. Kennedy,
Leo Cain, Leonard Mathy, John Pfau, Alfred Ruffo, Donald Muchmore, Nicholas Hardeman, Ralph Prater, Edmund G. Brown, James
Enoch, Hector Lee, Ambrose Nichols, Lyman Glenning and Robert Wert. Individuals interviewed include Phase II include Kathleen
Carlson, Norman Epstein, Harold Goldwhite, Judson Grenier, James Jensen, Clark Kerr, Ellis McCune, Alfred E. Alquist, Milton
Dobkin, David Elliott, Robert Kully, Eugene Lee, W. Ann Reynolds, Jack Smart, Anthony Vitti and Louis Messner, Subjects include
the formation and operation of the CSU. Many individual oral history were bound and were disseminated to various CSU libraries.
Indexing Terms
Subjects
Education, higher
Personal Names
Leiffer, Donald
Miriam, Theodore
Coblentz, William
Richardson, John
Brakebill, Harry
Hall, Arthur
McHenry, Dean
Keene, Mansel C.
Feldheym, Lois R.
Hart,David
Rydell, Raymond
Kennedy, Robert E
Mathy, Leonard
Pfau, John
Muchmore, Donald
Hardeman, Nicholas
Prater, Ralph
Enoch, James
Lee, Hector
Nichols, Ambrose
Glenning, Lyman
Wert, Robert
Carlson, Kathleen
Epstein, Norman
Goldwhite, Harold
Grenier, Judson
Jensen, James
Dobkin, Milton
Elliott, David
Kully, Robert
Lee, Eugene
Smart, Jack
Vitti, Anthony
Messner, Louis
Dumke, Glenn S.
Reynolds, W. Ann
Heilbron, Louis H.
Knoell, Dorothy M.
Luckman, Charles, 1909-
Joyal, Arnold Edward, 1902-
Gerth, Donald R.
Harmon, Harry
Langsdorf, William Bell, 1909-
Stiern, Walter W., 1914-1988
Cain, Leo F.
Ruffo, Alfredo
Brown, Edmund G. (Edmund Gerald), 1905-1996
Kerr, Clark, 1911-
McCune, Ellis.
Alquist, Alfred E.
Corporate Names
California State University
Related Material
CSU Reports Collection, CSU Chancellor's Office Collection