Guide to the San José State University Student Organizations Records
MSS.2009.03.09
Alicia Deadrick and Kimberly Koshiyama
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 Student Organizations Records
Identifier/Call Number: MSS.2009.03.09
Physical Description:
12 boxes
(11.76 linear feet)
Date (inclusive): 1916-2011
Abstract: The San José State University Student Organization Records, 1916-2011, document various student body organizations over a
70-year period, such as the Associated Students, the Black Masque Honor Society, the Spartan Programs Committee, and various
Panhellenic and honorary fraternities and sororities. The records consist of newspaper clippings, photographs, correspondence,
flyers, programs, scrapbooks, handwritten scrolls, and meeting minutes.
Access
The collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright is assigned to the San José State University Special Collections and 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 givenon behalf of the Special Collections and 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 Organization Records, MSS-2009-03-09, San José State University Library Special Collections
& Archives.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Alicia Deadrick and Kimberly Koshiyama. EAD finding aid encoded by Robert Donahue and Kimberly Koshiyama.
Reviewed by Danelle Moon and Erin Louthen.
Accruals were added to Series II, and collection housing was consolidated, by Stephanie Watson, June 2016.
Accruals were added to Series II and IV (in Box 12) by Dana V. Lema in February 2018.
Accurals were added to Series II by Eilene Lueck in April 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 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.
San José State University has been home to numerous student organizations throughout its 150-year history. SJSU student clubs
range from social groups to Greek letter societies, honor societies to academic and major-related clubs, and service and human
rights organizations. The Philomathean society is the oldest documented club on campus, with evidence of its existence prior
to 1876. Many of the initial Normal School and San José State Teachers College student organizations were related to literary
studies, oratory, and Christian missionary work. Panhellenic Greek societies were also present on campus during the nineteenth
century, including Chi Epsilon, Kappa Delta, Iota Phi, and Alpha Rho. In addition, an early form of student government, referred
to as the Student Body, was established on campus in 1898; it was subsequently renamed Associated Students in 1923. As of
2010, San José State University maintains over 300 active student clubs and organizations, including the service co-ed fraternity
Alpha Phi Omega, the Akbayan Pilipino American Organization, the History Club, the Badminton Club, and the Longboarding Club.
Related Material
San José State University Associated Students Records, MSS-2009-08-01, San José State University Library Special Collections
& Archives.
San José State University Archives Scrapook Collection, MSS-2010-03-04, San José State University Library Special Collections
& Archives.
Scope and Content of Collection
The San José State University Student Organization Records, 1916-2011 (bulk 1930-1940), document various student body organizations
over a 70-year period, such as the Associated Students, the Black Masque Honor Society, the Spartan Programs Committee, and
various Panhellenic and honorary fraternities and sororities. The records consist of newspaper clippings, photographs, correspondence,
flyers, programs, scrapbooks, handwritten scrolls, and meeting minutes.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into four series: Series I. Publications and Minutes; Series II. Greek Letter Societies; Series
III. Honor Societies; and Series IV. Other Student Organizations Materials.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
College students -- California -- San José -- Societies, etc.
California State University, San José -- History
Students -- Societies, etc.
San José State Teachers College -- History
San Joseé State Normal School -- History
San José State University -- Student Organizations -- History
San José State University -- History
Greek letter societies -- California -- San José
Education, Higher -- California -- San José
San Jose State College
Series I: Publications and Minutes Series I:
1926-1975
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series consists of publications, advertisements, fliers, handbooks, and meeting minutes of various SJSU student body
organizations, including the Associated Students, the Black Masque Honor Society, Model United Nations of the Pacific West
at San Jose State College, the Spartan Programs Committee, and various Panhellenic and honorary fraternities and sororities.
Arrangement
This series is arranged alphabetically by student organization.
Box 1
Publications and Minutes
1926-1975
Series II: Greek Letter Societies Series II:
1916-2009 (bulk 1930-1960)
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series documents Greek letter societies at SJSU, and includes materials such as Ero Sophian alumni books, Alpha Phi Omega
announcements, an Omega Nu journal publication, a booklet celebrating Alpha Lambda Delta's fifty-year anniversary in 1974,
Iota Sigma Phi correspondence, Episilon Phi Tau fraternity programs, a 1992 Theta Chi memory book and a plaque commemorating
the founding of the Tao Delta Phi fraternity in 1916.
Arrangement
This series is arranged chronologically by date.
Separated Materials
Framed item stored with other framed items in Vault 1. Wooden Tao Delta Phi plaque stored in Box 12 with rest of collection.
Box 2, Box 12
Fraternities and Sororities
1916-1992, 2009
Box 3
Ero Sophian Society
1947-1973, 2005
Box 4
Miscellaneous Societies
1931-1968
The National Order of Omega San Jose State University Chapter Establishment Frame
April 5, 1979
Series III: Honor Societies Series III:
1930s-1970s (bulk 1930-1940)
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series documents honor societies at SJSU, and includes materials such as the Beta Phi Mu Constitution, Delta Nu Theta/Home
Economics Honor Society meeting minutes, handwritten scrolls of the Ista Delta Phi constitution, and Iota Delta Phi invitations
to a 1968 Open House event.
Arrangement
This series is arranged chronologically by date.
Box 5
Delta Nu Theta/Home Economics Honor Society
1930-1949
Box 7
Miscellaneous Honor Societies
1940-1979
Series IV: Other Student Organization Materials Series IV:
1936-2011 (bulk 1957-1967)
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series documents various student organizations at SJSU, and includes materials such as a program for the Vietnamese Scholarship
League from 1968, "Religion in Life" week pamphlets created by the College Religious Council in 1956; an English as a Foreign
Language Club scrapbook from 1963; English Club scrapbooks and Phelan Contest and Awards records; an article about the O.K.
Girls organization; and a flyer written by the Black Student Union announcing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination in
1968.
Arrangement
This series is arranged by organization.
Box 9
Other Student Organizations Scrapbooks
Box 10
Foreign Students Organizations
Box 11
Black Masque Honor Society and English Club Materials
1930-2011
Box 12
Alumni Association
2002-2003
