Guide to the Annexation of Willow Glen Records,1927-1936
The machine readable finding aid for this collection was created by Diana Kohnke and reviewed by Stacy Mueller.
San José Public Library, California Room
San José Public Library
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
California Room
150 East San Fernando Street
San José, CA 95112
Phone: (408) 808-2167
Email: cal.sjpl@sjlibrary.org
URL: http://www.sjlibrary.org/research/special/ca/
© 2009
California Room, San José Public Library. All rights reserved.
Guide to the City of Willow Glen Records,1927-1936
CR-2010-01-04
California Room, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
- Contact Information
-
California Room
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
150 East San Fernando Street
San José, CA 95112
Phone: (408) 808-2167
Email: cal.sjpl@sjlibrary.org
URL: http://www.sjlibrary.org/research/special/ca/
- Date Completed:
- January 14, 2010
- Processed and encoded by:
- Diana Kohnke
© 2008 San José Public Library, California Room. All rights reserved.
Collection Summary
Title: City of Willow Glen Records
Date (inclusive): 1927-1936
Collection number: CR-2010-01-04
Creator:
Willow Glen (San Jose, Calif.)
Collector:
San Jose (Calif.)
Collection Size:
3 boxes
1.25 linear feet
Repository:
San José Public Library, California Room
Abstract: This collection is comprised of correspondence, financials, reports, ordinances, resolutions, petitions, and other documents
relating to the City of Willow Glen when it was an independently incorporated city in Santa Clara County. The records have
been kept by the City of San José.
Physical location:
California Room's Vault 4
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Although San José Public Library's California Room does physcially own all archival materials in its possession, it does not
necessarily own the intellectual property rights (copyright) associated with all items (Title 17, Chapter 2, Section 202,
"Ownership of copyright as distinct from ownership of material object). Publishing materials from our holdings requires written
permission from the San José Public Library, along with proper credit given to our institution. For permission to publish
or reproduce, please contact the Lead Librarian of the California Room. Users may reproduce materials for teaching, research,
and private study in accordance with fair use on the condition that they give proper credit to the California Room, San José
Public Library.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item],City of Willow Glen Records, California Room, San José Public Library
Acquisition Information
This collection was transferred by the San José City Clerk's office to the California Room, San José Public Library in 2007.
Processing Information
Processing and guide prepared by Diana Kohnke. Guide encoded by Diana Kohnke, 2010.
Biographical History
The independent incorporated city of Willow Glen lasted for only nine years: from 1927 until 1936. Today it is part of San
Jose, California and is considered to be one of its "heritage neighborhoods" as there are numerous significant and historical
architectural examples still extant. For example, the Roberto-Suñol Adobe as well as an array of Victorian-era homes that
dot the neighborhood.
Prior to its incorporation, Willow Glen was one of the best farming areas near the pueblo of San José, California. Wheat,
barley, potatoes, onions, hops, beans, corn, strawberries, citrus, and tobacco were all cultivated in the area. Later it would
provide food crops for the 49ners during the California Gold Rush. Due to its fertile farmland, Willow Glen attracted farmers
from all over the world and by 1900 it had its own school district, a post office, stores, and other local businesses. The
main crop by the mid-1880s was fruit production.
The impetus to incorporate Willow Glen stemmed from a proposal by the Southern Pacific Railroad to track through the middle
of Willow Glen. Residents fought for incorporation in order to prevent the railroad from establishing a route through the
community without first making a formal request to the town council. On September 8, 1927 Willow Glen was classified as "a
sixth-class city under California statutues, the smallest classification allowed." The railroad fought back, taking it all
the way to the United States Supreme Court, but they were unable to stop Willow Glen from incorporation.
The city of Willow Glen was short lived. Consolidation with the city of San José became a viable option due to Willow Glen's
lack of an integrated sewer system. Most residential homes in Willow Glen had their own septic tanks. The Mattoon Act - a
special surtax levied by the state legislature on each property owner with a septic system - coupled with stringent restrictions
on dumping into local creeks made consolidation with San Jose appear to a majority of residents as the answer. To the residents
of Willow Glen there appeared to be only two choices: build a sewage system in Willow Glen or become annexed to San José and
connect with its sewer system. Two critical elections were held. The first was a vote to issue bonds to pay for a new sewer
system which fell short of the two-thirds majority. Then in September of 1936 a second election was held and voters decided
to annex to the city of San José.
Bibliography
Halberstadt, April Hope.
The Willow Glen Neighborhood: Then and Now.San Jose, California: Renasci, 1997.
Scope and Content
This collection consists of materials relating to the functioning of the city of Willow Glen between 1927 through 1936. This
collection consists of one series: Administrative Files, 1927-1936. It contains correspondence, financials, city council ordinances,
city council resolutions, miscellaneous documents, petitions, and documents relting to improvement projects. This collection
is incomplete and does not contain the full range of resolutions, ordinances, financials, correspondence, etc.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index similar items in the Library of Congress.
Subjects
Annexation (Municipal government)--California--Santa Clara County.
City councils--California.
Ordinances, Municipal.
Resolutions, Legislative.
Willow Glen (San Jose, Calif.).
Box 1
Series I.
Administrative Files,
1927-1936
Physical Description:
40 folders
Scope and Content Note
This series is arranged alphabetically by format, and chronologically by date.
Box 1, Folder 1
Affidavits of Posting,
1930-1932
Box 1, Folder 2
Affidavits of Publication,
1931-1932
Box 1, Folder 3
Bonds and Proposals,
1928,
1931
1936
Box 1, Folder 4
Certificate of Consolidation of Willow Glen,
1936
Box 1, Folder 5
Construction Requirements and Blueprints for Willow Street West,
circa 1933
Box 1, Folder 6
Correspondence,
1933-1936
Box 1, Folder 7
District II [subgrade, improvement, and Resolution],
circa 1930
Box 1, Folder 9
Miscellaneous Documents,
1931-1936
Box 1, Folder 10
Nomination Papers for City Council,
1934
Box 1, Folder 14
Ordinances [no.20 through no. 32],
1929
Box 1, Folder 15
Ordinances [no.33 through no. 43],
1929
Box 1, Folder 18
Ordinances [no. 51, no. 52],
1931
Box 2, Folders 23-25
Petitions,
1928-1936
undated
Box 2, Folder 23
Petitions,
1928-1931
undated
Box 2, Folder 29
Resolutions [no. 43 through no. 68],
1930
Box 3, Folder 30
Resolutions [no. 69 through no. 76 1/2,
1930
Box 3, Folder 31
Resolutions [ no. 77 through no. 92],
1931
Box 3, Folder 32
Resolutions [ no. 94 through no. 110,
1931
Box 3, Folder 33
Resolutions [ no. 111 through no. 122],
1931
Box 3, Folder 34
Resolutions [ no.123 through no.139 ],
1931
Box 3, Folder 40
Sequoia Subdivision Documents,
1935
