Guide to the San José State University Campus Buildings Records
MSS-2010-02-03
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
© 2010
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: San José State University Campus Buildings Records
Identifier/Call Number: MSS-2010-02-03
Physical Description:
8 boxes
(4.71 linear feet)
Date (inclusive): 1903-1999, 2019
Abstract: The San José State University Campus Buildings Records, 1903-1999, 2019 (bulk 1960-1995), document the history of major campus
buildings and landmarks, including Tower Hall, Spartan Memorial Chapel, the Scheller House, Dwight Bentel Hall and other departmental
buildings. The records consist of building reports, specifications and evaluations, brochures, committee papers, negatives,
newspaper clippings, and photographs.
Access
The collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright is 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 Campus Buildings Records, MSS-2010-02-03, San José State University Library Special Collections
& Archives.
Processing History
Collection processed by R. Schuyler Selden. Finding aid EAD encoded by Silke Higgins. Reviewed by Danelle Moon and Erin Louthen.
Accurals added to boxes 2 and 6 by Eilene Lueck in 2023.
Project Information
This finding aid was created as part of the Survey and Cataloging Project, a two-year San José State University Library grant
project funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. The project began in 2008.The Project Director
is Danelle Moon. The Project Archivist is Erin Louthen.
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
José, 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.
Since laying the cornerstone for the San José State Normal School in 1870, the SJSU campus has expanded several times throughout
its 150-year history. Tower Hall, the centerpiece of the university, was constructed in 1910 to replace a previous building
damaged in the 1906 earthquake. The oldest structure on campus, Tower Hall was spared demolition in the 1960s and has been
renovated twice, once in 1966 and again in 2007. From the late 1920s through the 1950s, under the direction of President Thomas
W. MacQuarrie, many buildings were constructed on the SJSU campus, including the Education Building, Spartan Stadium, the
Science Building, the Student Union, and the Spartan Memorial Chapel. The campus experienced another era of major renovation
and expansion in the early 2000s, including the construction of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, as well as the renovation
of Clark Hall and Morris Dailey Auditorium. Today, all aspects of the maintenance, planning and sustainability of SJSU's campus
buildings are managed by the Division of Facilities Development and Operations (FD&O).
Related Material
California and San José State University Master Plan for Higher Education Records, MSS-2009-03-01, San José State University
Library Special Collections & Archives.
Scope and Content
The San José State University Campus Buildings Records, 1903-1999, 2019 (bulk 1960-1995), document the history of major campus
buildings and landmarks, including Tower Hall, Spartan Memorial Chapel, the Scheller House, Dwight Bentel Hall and other departmental
buildings. The records consist of building reports, specifications and evaluations, brochures, committee papers, negatives,
newspaper clippings, and photographs. Of particular note are three audio cassettes in Series II. dating from April 1983 that
contain the recording of the dedication by SJSU President Gail Fullerton of the re-named Richard B. Lewis Instructional Resource
Center (I.R.C.). that is located in Dudley Moorehead Hall (DMH).
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into two series: Series I. Campus Buildings and Landmarks, 1906-1999, 2019 (bulk 1960-1995); and
Series II. Campus Buildings History and General San José History, 1903-1999 (bulk 1960-1999).
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Historic Buildings -- California -- San José.
College buildings -- California -- San José.
California State University, San José -- History.
San José State Normal School -- History.
San José (Calif.) -- History.
San José State University -- History.
San José State Teachers College -- History.
Series I: Campus Buildings and Landmarks Series I:
1906-1999, 2019 (bulk 1960-1995)
Physical Description: 6.0 boxes
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series contains information about the construction and renovation of various campus buildings, including Tower Hall,
Spartan Memorial Chapel, the Scheller House, Dwight Bentel Hall and the Engineering Building. The materials in this series
consist of building reports, specifications and evaluations, brochures, committee records, newspaper clippings, and photographs.
Arrangement
This series is arranged by subject.
Box 2
Spartan Memorial Chapel
1944-1952
Box 3
Aeronautics Building, Campus Photographs, Social Sciences Building
1906-1978
Box 4
Engineering Building (Project 88)
1954-1985
Box 5
Dwight Bentel Hall, Spartan Memorial Chapel Committee Meeting Minutes
1980-1996
Box 6
Scheller House
1980-1995, 2019
Series II: Campus Buildings History and General San José History Series II:
1903-1999 (bulk 1960-1999)
Physical Description: 1.0 boxes
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series contains information about various campus buildings, as well as general historical information about the City
of San José. Comprised primarily of newspaper clippings, this series includes topics such as campus dormitories, fraternity
and sorority houses, departmental buildings, and Washington Square. Of particular note are three audio cassettes dating from
April 1983 that contain the recording of the dedication by SJSU President Gail Fullerton of the re-named Richard B. Lewis
Instructional Resource Center (I.R.C.). that is located in Dudley Moorehead Hall (DMH). This series also includes aerial photographs
of the campus.
Arrangement
This series is arranged by alphabetically by subject.
Box 7
Campus Buildings History and General San José History
1903-1999
Box 8
Building Index and Floor Plans
1972-1981
Acquisition
Materials were located in binder labeled "Operator's Manual." Building plans donated by Phil Braverman, Technology Classroom
support, IRC.
Campus Map
August 15, 1969
Drawing of Central Classroom Building
1995
Drawing of the Front of Normal School Building
Tower Hall Photo with Children
