Collection Guide
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San José State University Office of the President, Jon Whitmore Records
MSS.2010.09.09
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Title: San José State University Office of the President, Jon Whitmore Records
creator:
San José State University Office of the President
creator:
Whitmore, Jon, 1945-
Identifier/Call Number: MSS.2010.09.09
Physical Description:
1.0 Box
(0.2 Linear Feet)
Date (inclusive): 2008-2010
Abstract: This collection consists of printed copies of the speeches, many of them revised by hand, and some hand-written notes are
attached to the speeches. Three DVD copies of Whitmore's Fall 2008 Welcome Address are also included.
The collection is open for research.
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 also apply to digital reproductions of the
original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.
San José State University Office of the President, Jon Whitmore Records, MSS-2010-09-09, San José State University Library
Special Collections & Archives.
Collection processed by Tom Hewitt. Finding aid EAD encoded by Tom Hewitt. Reviewed by Danelle Moon. Series II added and finding
aid updated by Dana V. Lema in November 2017.
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 Jose 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.
Jon Whitmore served as the President of San José State University from 2008-2010. Prior to his appointment, he was president
of Texas Tech University for five years, where he also held a professorship in theatre. From 1996 to 2003, he served as provost
and professor of theatre arts at the University of Iowa, and was dean of the College of Fine Arts at the University of Texas
at Austin from 1990 to 1996. Before that he served as dean, Faculty of Arts and Letters, and as a professor of theatre at
the State University of New York at Buffalo. Whitmore was affiliated with West Virginia University from 1974 to 1985, where
he served as interim dean for the College of Creative Arts, interim director of the Creative Arts Center, faculty member,
and assistant to the president. He holds a doctoral degree in theatre history from the University of California, Santa Barbara,
and master's and bachelor's degrees in speech from Washington State University. In September of 2010 Whitmore left SJSU to
become C.E.O. of ACT, Inc., a college entrance-exam company.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Office of the President is the highest administrative office for the campus, reporting to the California State University
(CSU) Chancellor and Board of Trustees, respectively. As such, the Office of the President records document the overall policies,
practices and procedures of the daily operation of the campus, as well as the interaction with other CSU campuses and with
the CSU administration. The San José State University Office of the President, Jon Whitmore Records contain the remarks, speeches,
and addresses delivered by this president during his tenure from 2008 to 2010. President Whitmore spoke to SJSU students,
faculty, employees, alumni, and others on multiple occasions to promote college attendance and campus diversity, commemorate
distinguished individuals, and discuss issues such as CSU budget cuts and environment-conscious university initiatives. The
records of this collection consist of printed copies of the speeches, many of them revised by hand, and some hand-written
notes are attached to the speeches. Three DVD copies of Whitmore's Fall 2008 Welcome Address are also included.
This collection is arranged in two series: Series I. Speeches, Remarks, and Addresses, 2008 - 2010; and Series II. Awards
& Recognition.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
College presidents -- California -- San Jose
San José State University President's Office -- Records and correspondence
San José State University President's Office -- History
San José State University -- History
California State University, San José -- History
Education, Higher -- California -- San Jose
San José State University Office of the President
Whitmore, Jon, 1945-
Whitmore, Jon, 1945-