Guide to the Thomas (Tom) M. King Papers MSS.2000.11.30
Jennifer E. Johnson
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
2006
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: Thomas (Tom) M. King Papers
creator:
King, Thomas M., 1940-
Identifier/Call Number: MSS.2000.11.30
Physical Description:
4 boxes
(2 linear feet)
Date (inclusive): 1971-2006
Abstract: The Thomas M. King Papers includes materials related to King's historic preservation work in San Jose, perticularly as it
relates to the San Jose Survey of Historic and Archaeological Sites; and various edited manuscripts of King's published work
History of San Jose Quakers, West Coast Friends: based on Joel Bean's diaries in Iowa and California.
Language of Material: English
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in three series: Series I. Historic Preservation Work, which is arranged alphabetically by subject
and format; Series II. San Jose Survey of Historical and Archaeological Sites, which is arranged alphabetically by name of
neighborhood; and Series III. San Jose Quakers Manuscripts, which is arranged chronologically.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright has not been assigned to the San Jose 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 as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader. Copyright restrictions
also apply to digital reproductions of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational
purposes.
Preferred Citation
Thomas (Tom) M. King papers, MSS-2000-11-30, San Jose State University Library Special Collections and Archives.
Biographical History
Tom M. King was born in Colusa County, California in 1940. King moved to San Jose in 1971, where he became involved in historic
preservation. In 1974, he received his Master's Degree in Historic Urban Geography from San Jose State University. King's
interest in historic preservation led him to coordinate and conduct the San Jose Survey of Historic & Archaeological Sites
(SJSHAS) between 1973 and 1974. King's efforts resulted in the first comprehensive inventory of historic places completed
in San Jose. He later completed a similar survey of the city of Campbell while working for the Campbell City Historical Museum.
King founded the Victorian Preservation Association of Santa Clara in 1974; organized and operated annual historic downtown
bus tours at the San Jose Tapestry in Talent Festivals from 1976-1990; served as President of the Luther Burbank Neighborhood
Community Council; served on the board of the Preservation Action Council of San Jose for ten years; worked with the San Jose
Historic Landmark Commission; and acted as an advisor to Santa Clara County Supervisor Rod Diridon. King also taught high
school in the local area, as well as worked as a professional tour guide.
Scope and Contents
This collection documents King's personal and professional commitment to historic preservation in San Jose from 1971 to 1995.
The bulk of the collection relates to the San Jose Survey of Historic & Archaeological Sites (SJSHAS), a city-sponsored project
undertaken by King from 1972-1974. This project resulted in the first complete inventory of historic buildings in San Jose,
and included detailed records of buildings and homes by planning district. King began advocating this project while pursuing
his graduate studies at San Jose State University. He coordinated and administered the operation of the SJSHAS survey and
organized a volunteer staff. Other materials in this collection include details of King's various activities with other historic
preservation organizations throughout the San Jose area.
King's collection also includes various edited manuscript copies of his work on San Jose Quakers History. Topics covered in
the manuscripts include the history of the first Quakers in San Jose, the move and influence of the Bean's family to San Jose,
and the San Jose Society of Friends meetings. These manuscripts led to the publishing of King's book on the subject of San
Jose Quakers.
Related Materials
Rugeroni, Carla.
A Description of the Classification Scheme for the Records of the San Jose Visual Inventory of Historic and Archaeological
Sites.
Thesis #498. 1974.
King, Thomas M.
History of San Jose Quakers, west coast Friends : based on Joel Bean's diaries in Iowa and California. San Bernardino, CA: [publisher not identified], 2012.
Processing Information
Processing completed by Jennifer E. Johnson, 2006. EAD encoding by Jennifer E. Johnson, 2006. Reviewed by Danelle Moon, 2006.
Accruals were added to Series I by Stephanie Watson, July 2016. Accurals were added to Series II and Series III was created
by Samira Habibi in April 2017.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
In November of 2000, Tom M. King donated his papers related to the San Jose Survey of Historic & Archaeological Sites to San
Jose State University. In 2007, he donated additonal materials related to the Survey. In 2008, he donated copies of his manuscript
History of San Jose Quakers, West Coast Friends: based on based on Joel Bean's diaries in Iowa and California.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Architecture -- California -- San Jose -- Inventories
Historic Buildings -- California -- San Jose -- Inventories
Historic preservation -- California -- San Jose
San Jose (Calif.) -- Buildings, structures, etc. -- Inventories
Historic Landmarks Commission (San Jose, Calif.)
Quakers -- California -- San Jose.
Bean, Joel, 1825-1914.
Society of Friends -- California -- San Jose.
King, Thomas M., 1940-
Series I. Historic Preservation Work
1971-1995 (bulk 1972-1974)
Scope and Contents
This Series documents the various contributions King made to several other local historic preservation projects, in addition
to the San Jose Survey of Historic & Archaeological Sites. It chronicles King's work in the field, which yielded San Jose's
first comprehensive historic property inventory, annual tours of San Jose's historic downtown, and organized campaigns to
save local landmarks. The contents in this series document King's desire to bring awareness to the issue of historic preservation.
It includes: clippings, correspondence, inventories, maps, photographs, reports, and university coursework.
Arrangement
This series is arranged alphabetically by subject and format. Contents within folders are arranged chronologically.
Box 1, Folder 1
Biographical Data
after 1971
Box 1, Folder 2
Clippings & Promotional Materials
circa 1975-1977
Box 1, Folder 4
Meeting Documentation
1974-1995
Box 1, Folder 5
Project Documentation: Historic Bus Tours
1972-1990
Box 1, Folder 6
Project Documentation: Murphy Building
circa 1973-1976
Box 1, Folder 7
University Coursework
1972-1974
Box 1, Folder 8
City Government Proceedings
1973-1974
Box 1, Folder 9
Clippings & Promotional Materials
circa 1973-1974
Box 1, Folder 13
Planning Documentation
circa 1973
Box 1, Folder 14-15
Planning Documentation
1972-1974
Box 1, Folder 16
Planning Documentation
1974
Box 1, Folder 17
Planning Documentation
1995
Box 1, Folder 18
Progress Reports
1973-1974
Box 1, Folder 19
Publishing Materials
1974-1975
Box 1, Folder 20
Survey Evaluation Forms (blank)
after 1974
drawer 05-07, Folder 1
Measured Drawings of First Street, between Santa Clara and San Fernando streets
approximately 1990
Physical Description: Drawings by R. Gause.
Series II. San Jose Survey of Historic & Archaeological Sites
1973-1977
bulk
Scope and Contents
This Series relates to the San Jose Survey of Historic & Archaeological Sites (SJSHAS), a city-sponsored project undertaken
by King from 1972-1974. The SJSHAS Survey Results comprise subseries 1 and 2, and are arranged by San Jose planning area districts.
This portion of the collection contains detailed information about each property surveyed, including photographs, architectural
information, and ratings. Subseries 3, 4, and 5 includes index cards and slides of the buildings documented in the SJSHAS
Survey, as well as slides of other historic buildings in other Bay Area towns, such as Campbell, Novato and Oakland. Subseries
4 and 5 are arranged alphabetically by survey areas. Included among the slides are places and events outside of the survey
area, but related to the survey.
Subseries 1. Survey Results - Central San Jose
1973-1974
Box 1, Folder 25
Cook - Branham Addition
1973
Box 1, Folder 29
Lick - Goodyear Tracts
1973
Box 2, Folder 1
Original Survey - Central A
1973
Subseries 2. Survey Results - Greater San Jose
1973-1974
Subseries 3. Photo Index Cards
Subseries 4. Slides - Inner San Jose
Box 3, Folder 6
East Side and Reed Addition
1974
Box 3, Folder 8
Hyde Park - North
1975-1977
Box 3, Folder 12
Original Survey #1
1974-1976
Box 3, Folder 13
Original Survey #2
1972-1977
Box 3, folder 14
Original Survey #3
1972-1977
Box 3, Folder 15
Original Survey #4
1973-1976
Box 3, Folder 17
Original Survey # 6 SJSU
1972, 1975
Box 3, Folder 18
San Jose City Air Photos
1971, 1974
Box 3, Folder 20
Vendum- Ryland and Sunol-Los Coches
1974-1975
Box 3, Folder 21
Western Addition
1972-1977
Subseries 5. Slides - Outer San Jose
Box 3, Folder 27
California State Landmarks
1972-1976
Box 3, Folder 30
Carnegie Library
1978-1981
Box 3, Folder 31
Carnegie Library Reopening
1981
Box 3, Folder 32
Downtown San Jose
1972-1973
box 3, Folder 34
Highways and Streets
1972-1974
Box 3, Folder 35
Inventory Forms and Historic Division Maps
1972, 1974
Box 3, Folder 41
San Francisco and Oakland Landmarks
1972-1973
Box 3, Folder 42
San Jose Demolition
1972-1973
Box 3, Folder 43
San Jose Demolition of Murphy Building
1972-1976
Box 3, Folder 44
San Jose Museum
1976-1977
Box 3, Folder 45
Vietnam Demonstration
1972
Series III. San Jose Quakers Manuscripts
Scope and Contents
This series is comprised of various edited copies of King's manuscript
History of San Jose Quakers, West Coast Friends: based on Joel Bean's diaries in Iowa and California. King had reviewers edit and comment on his manuscripts in 2001 and 2002, copies of which are in this series.
Arrangement
This series is arranged chronologically.
Box 4, Folder 1
2001-2002: Edited by Larry Wolf (1 of 2)
Box 4, Folder 2
2001-2002: Edited by Larry Wolf (2 of 2)
Box 4, Folder 3
2001-2003: Edited by Amy Southwick
