The record group consists of 26 cubic feet of textual records from the State Colleges, California State Colleges, California State University and Colleges, and The California State University created between 1957-1996. The records contain bill analysis, reports, memoranda, correspondence, press clippings, and subject files. The collection benefits researchers interested in California's public higher education.

The California State University originated from the Donahoe Act (SB33, Chapter 49, Statues of 1960) authored by State Senator George Miller, which enacted certain suggestions from the California Master Plan for Higher Education: 1960-1975 (Master Plan). The act united the State Colleges into the California State Colleges as a public trust, created the California State Colleges Board of Trustees, and moved authority over the nineteen state colleges from the State Board of Education to the Board of Trustees. Even though the Master Plan recommended legislative independence similar to the University of California Board of Regents, the Board of Trustees reported to the legislature on budget allocation and various state agencies concerning such topics as employment and campus expansion. Despite this restriction, the Trustees centralized the diverse and independent campuses into a unified system.

26 cubic feet of textual records

For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives collections.

Collection is open for research.