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San Jose State Normal School Principals and Early Presidents Records
MSS-2009-02-01  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Access
  • Publication Rights
  • Preferred Citation
  • Processing Information
  • Project Information
  • Organizational History
  • Scope and Content of Collection
  • Arrangement
  • References

  • Language of Material: English
    Contributing Institution: SJSU Special Collections & Archives
    Title: San Jose State Normal School Principals and Early Presidents Records
    Identifier/Call Number: MSS-2009-02-01
    Physical Description: 4.0 boxes (2.58 linear feet)
    Date (bulk): Bulk, 1907-1915
    Date (inclusive): 1862-1915 1907-1915
    Abstract: The San Jose State Normal School Principals and Early Presidents Records(1862-1915)[bulk 1907-1915], document the early history of the Normal School from 1862-1915. The collection consists of correspondence ledgers, general correspondence, and also includes a diary written by Principal Ahira Holmes in 1862. The diary details the formation of the first State Normal School, and describes the growth of the student body as well as other historically significant events of the early days of the Normal School. The collection is arranged into two series: Series I. Correspondence, 1872-1915; and Series II. Ahira Holmes Diary, 1862.

    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 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

    San Jose State Normal School Principals and Early Presidents Records, MSS-2009-02-01, San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives.

    Processing Information

    Collection processed by Elizabeth Lopez. Finding aid EAD encoded by Elizabeth Lopez and Lynn Sheehy. Reviewed by Danelle Moon and Erin Louthen.

    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 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 of Collection

    The San Jose State Normal School Principals and Early Presidents Records consist of general correspondence from the early principals and presidents including: Charles H. Allen, Principal (1873-89); President James McNaughton (1899-1900) and President Morris E. Dailey (1900-1918). The correspondence include a petition to elect Principal Allen to membership in the San Jose State Normal School faculty, papers concerning President McNaughton, presidential correspondence ledgers and general correspondence. Most historically significant is a diary written by Principal Ahira Holmes (1862-1865) which details the formation of the first State Normal School. It describes the growth of the student body and other important events of the early days of the Normal School, such as the school's first graduating class, a catalog of the school's library holdings, incoming students' rosters, student body statistics, and so forth.

    Arrangement

    The collection is arranged into two series: Series I. Correspondence, 1872-1915; and Series II. Ahira Holmes Diary, 1862.

    References

    Gilbert, Benjamin F., and Burdick, Charles. 1980. Washington Square, 1857-1979: The History of San José State University. San José, California: San José State University.San José State University. About SJSU. http://www.sjsu.edu/about_sjsu/ .Walsh, James P. 2003. San José State University: An Interpretive History, 1950-2000. San José, California: San José State University.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Education, Higher -- California -- San José
    Allen, Charles H.
    California State Normal School -- History
    California State Normal School -- Presidents -- Correspondence
    Dailey, Morris E.
    Holmes, Ahira
    McNaughton, James
    Minns' Evening Normal School -- History
    Minns' Evening Normal School -- Presidents -- Correspondence
    San José State Normal School -- History
    San José State Normal School -- Presidents -- Correspondence