Guide to the San José State University Student Memorabilia Collection
MSS.2011.06.23
Sonia Miller; Collection processed by Sonia Miller. Finding aid EAD encoded by Rosalinda Gonzales. Reviewed by Danelle Moon.
Updated by Grace Song and Natalie Sanchez, March 2016.
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
San José State University
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0028
special.collections@sjsu.edu
© 2009 Trustees of the California State University. All rights reserved.
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Title: San José State University Student Memorabilia Collection
creator:
CSU San Jose
Identifier/Call Number: MSS-2011-06-23
Physical Description:
3 boxes
(2.04 linear feet)
Date (inclusive): 1881-1975
Abstract: The San José State University Student Memorabilia Collection documents the academic and social experiences of students who
attended the college from the days when it was the Normal School to the present name of San Jose Staté University. The bulk
of the collection is comprised of school catalogs, certificates/diplomas, report cards, teacher curriculum cards, and faculty
correspondence. Other formats include event booklets, dance cards, newspaper clippings, yearbooks, scrapbooks, photographs,
and magazines.
Access
The collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright has been assigned to the San José State University Library 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.
Preferred Citation
San José State University Student Memorabilia Collection, MSS-2011-06-23, San José State University Library Special Collections
& Archives.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Sonia Miller. Finding aid EAD encoded by Rosalinda Gonzales. Reviewed by Danelle Moon. Accruals added
in March 2016 by Grace Song and Natalie Sanchez.
Organizational History
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
Jose 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.
Scope and Content
The San José State University Student Memorabilia Collection, 1881-1975, documents student life at the school throughout its
different eras as the Normal School, the Teachers College, San Jose State College, CSU San Jose, and finally, San Jose State
University. The bulk of the collection is comprised of memorabilia documenting students' academic records such as: school
catalogues, certificates/diplomas, report cards, teacher exercises cards, and faculty correspondence. Student life on campus
is also documented through event booklets, dance cards, newspaper clippings, yearbooks, and other miscellaneous memorabilia
such as scrapbooks, photographs, and magazines.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into four series and is delineated chronologically by the various name changes of the college:
Series I: San Jose Normal School; Series II: San Jose Teachers College; Series III: San Jose State College; and Series IV:
CSU San Jose and San Jose State University.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
California State University, San José -- History
San Jose State Normal School -- History
San Jose State College -- History
Greek societies -- California -- San Jose
Education, Higher -- California -- San Jose
San José State University -- History
San José State Teachers College -- History
San José State Normal School Memorabilia -- History
San Jose State Normal School -- Memorabilia,
Students -- Societies
Students -- Social life and customs
San José State University -- Students
Series I: San Jose Normal School
Scope and Contents
Folders contain all material pertinent to student activities that occurred during the San Jose State Normal School era, and
the materials span the years 1881 to 1920. This part of the collection is comprised of a variety of objects and documents
including: 1. Documents and objects related to students' academic life, such as: certificates, report cards, teacher training
report cards and graduating exercises. 2. Documents and objects related to students' social life on campus, such as: event
booklets, dance cards, photographs, yearbooks, journals, music books/sheets, school magazines and newspaper clips, school
catalogues, handbooks, and reunion books. 3. Other miscellaneous student memorabilia, such as: class papers, student class
work and a calendar.
Arrangement
Files are arranged chronologically and alphabetically.
Box 1, Folder 1
Catalogues/Handbooks
1881-1920
Box 1, Folder 3
Class Papers/Graduating Exercises
1881-1920
Box 1, Folder 4-6
Miscellaneous Memorabilia
1881-1920
Box 3, Folder 1
Music Sheet/Book/Chapel Song
1881-1920
Box 1, Folder 7
Music Sheets/Books/Chapel Songs
1881-1920
Box 1, Folder 8
Newspaper Clippings
1881-1920
Box 1, Folder 11
School Magazines
1881-1920
Box 1, Folder 12
Social Events/Dance Cards
1881-1920
Box 1, Folder 13
Remnant of Old Song Book
1882-1885
Box 1, Folder 14
Scrapbooks/Reunion Books, etc.
circa 1889-1914
Box 1, Folder 15
Class of 1891 Commencement Souvenir
1891 June
Box 1, Folder 16
Class of 1894 Pin (Belle Christmas)
1894
Box 1, Folder 17
Miscellaneous Memorabilia (Gift from Gertrude Waterman)
circa 1900
Box 3, Folder 2
State Normal School Calendar
1900
Box 1, Folder 18
Normal Pennant and Senior Year Book
1908, 1910
Series II: San Jose State Teachers College
Scope and Contents
Much of the contents are comprised of a variety of material donated by William Joseph Cagnes including: graduation certificates,
citizen certificates, and State of California Diplomas. Other items of note include a folder of letters of prominent educators
and clippings from the Western Journal. There is also a general teaching credential certificate from the Christmas family,
once belonging to Geraldine Christmas. The materials span the years 1921 to 1934.
Arrangement
The series is arranged alphabetically and chronologically by date and format.
Box 1, Folder 19
Certificates/Citizenship Certificates
1921-1934
Box 1, Folder 21
Correspondence
1921-1934, 1935-1971
Box 1, Folder 22
Midterm in Philosophy
1921-1934
Box 1, Folder 23
School Magazine
1921-1934
Box 1, Folder 24
Directory of Students and Faculty
1933-1934
Box 1, Folder 25
General Elementary School Credential (Geraldine Christmas)
1935 June
Series III: San Jose State College
Scope and Contents
The series is comprised of a variety of material that documents student life during the period from 1935 to 1971. Examples
include student publications such as Sparta Life, Reed Magazine, El Toro, the Platter, and the student yearbook, La Torre.
Other items of interest include dance cards, and a variety of newspaper clippings documenting Greek life, student engagements
and marriages. In addition there are faculty correspondence and miscellaneous samples of student essays and a script.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged alphabetically and chronologically and by format.
Box 1, Folder 29
Miscellaneous Memorabilia
1935-1971
Box 1, Folder 30
Newspaper Clippings
1935-1971
Box 1, Folder 32
School Magazines
1935-1971
Box 1, Folder 33
Social Events/Dance Cards
1935-1971
Box 1, Folder 35
San Jose State College 1862 Artwork
c. 1947
Box 2, Folder 1
Library Access and Associated Students Membership Cards
1945-1948
Box 2, Folder 2
Spardi Gras Booklets
1946, 1948
Box 2, Folder 3
San Jose State College Calendar
1948
Box 2, Folder 4-6
Sara Anne Thompson's Scrapbook
1953-1957
Box 2, Folder 7
Karolyn Hubbel Ramos, Gamma Phi Beta Photographs
circa 1969-1972
Box 3, Folder 3
Sparta Life Magazine
1967
Series IV: CSU San Jose and San Jose State University
Arrangement
The items are arranged chronologically by date.
Scope and Contents
This series contains materials relating to reflecting student life on campus in the early 1970s. The university was called
CSU San Jose briefly from 1972-1973. In 1974 the name changed to its present title San Jose State University. Materials relating
to student anti-war protests and organizing, an Associated Students membership card, and a group photo of students with some
names mentioned are included in this series.
Box 2, Folder 10
CSU San Jose Associated Students Membership Card
1972
Box 2, Folder 11
San Jose State University Students Group Photo
1975
