Guide to the San José State University Office of the President, J. Handel Evans Records
SJSU Library Special Collections & Archives
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
San José State University
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0028
Phone: (408) 808-2062
Fax: (408) 808-2063
Email: special.collections@sjsu.edu
URL: http://library.sjsu.edu/sjsu-special-collections/sjsu-special-collections-and-archives
© 2009
Trustees of the California State University. All rights reserved.
Guide to the San José State University Office of the President, J. Handel Evans Records
Collection number: MSS-2009-07-01
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
San José State University
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0028
Phone: (408) 808-2062
Fax: (408) 808-2063
Email: special.collections@sjsu.edu
URL: http://library.sjsu.edu/sjsu-special-collections/sjsu-special-collections-and-archives
Finding aid funded by the generous support of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).
- Processed by:
- Robert Donahue
- Date Completed:
- 2009
- Encoded by:
- Mary Ellen Petrich
© 2009 Trustees of the California State University. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: San José State University Office of the President, J. Handel Evans Records
Dates: 1986-1994
Bulk Dates: 1991-1994
Collection number: MSS-2009-07-01
Creator:
San José State University. Office of the President
Collection Size:
44 boxes
(55.25 linear feet)
Repository:
San José State University. Library.
San José, California 95192-0028
Abstract: 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 Office of the President, J. Handel Evans Records, 1986-1994 (bulk 1991-1994), document Evans'
tenure as acting university president (1991-1994). The records consist of administrative files, correspondence, records of
the development of the CSU, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) campus, located on the former grounds of military base Fort Ord, as well
as records relating to the San Carlos Street closure on the SJSU campus. This collection is arranged into three series: Series
I. Administrative Records, 1991-1994; Series II. Fort Ord/CSU, Monterey Bay (CSUMB), 1988-1994; and Series III. San Carlos
Street Closure, 1986-1994.
Physical location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Access
The collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright is assigned to the San José State University 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 Office of the President, J. Handel Evans Records, MSS-2009-07-01, San José State University Library
Special Collections & Archives.
Processing History
Collection processed by Robert Donahue. Finding aid EAD encoded by Mary Ellen Petrich. 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
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.
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.
J. Handel Evans (1991-1994) served under SJSU President Gail Fullerton (1978-1991) as vice-president from 1978-1991. Following
President Fullerton's retirement, Evans was appointed acting university president, a position he held from 1991 to 1994. During
his tenure, Evans concentrated on advancing the university's influence beyond established relationships by building on town
and gown opportunities. Evans also played a key role in the development of the CSU, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) campus, located on
the former grounds of military base Fort Ord. Acting-President Evans left San José State University in 1994 to become a vice-chancellor
for the CSU system. From 1995 to 2001, he served as the planning president for CSU, Channel Islands in Ventura County.
Bibliography
Gilbert, Benjamin F, and Charles Burdick.
Washington Square, 1857-1979: The History of San José State University. San José: San José State University, 1980.
Walsh, James P.
San José State University: An Interpretive History, 1950-2000. San José: San José State University, 2003.
Related Material
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 SJSU Office of the President, J. Handel Evans Records, 1986-1994 (bulk 1991-1994), document Evans'
tenure as acting university president (1991-1994). The records consist of administrative files, correspondence, records of
the development of the CSU, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) campus, located on the former grounds of military base Fort Ord, as well
as records relating to the San Carlos Street closure on the SJSU campus.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into three series: Series I. Administrative Records, 1991-1994; Series II. Fort Ord/CSU, Monterey
Bay (CSUMB), 1988-1994; and Series III. San Carlos Street Closure, 1986-1994.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Evans, J. Handel
San José State University -- President's Office -- History
San José State University -- President's Office -- Records and correspondence
California State University, San José -- History
California State University, Monterey Bay -- History
San José State University -- History
San José State College -- History
Education, Higher -- California -- San José
San Carlos Street (San Jose, Calif.)
Series I:
Administrative Records
1991-1994
Physical Description: 39 boxes
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series consists of the administrative records of Acting President J. Handel Evans (1991-1994). As acting president, Evans
had multiple responsibilities related to the management of the campus, including admissions, budgetary concerns, outreach,
sports, various task forces, and participation as a member of the Academic Senate.
Arrangement
This series is arranged chronologically by date range.
Box 2
Correspondence with Chancellor
1991-1992
Boxes 5-27
Administrative Files
1991-1994
Box 28
Administrative Files, SJSU Foundation
1991-1995
Box 29
Sports and Organizations' Events
1992
Box 30
Services and Offices of Education
1992-1993
Box 31
Admissions and Records
1992-1993
Box 32
President's Task Force, Administrative Files
1992-1994
Box 34
Board and Committee Meetings
1993
Box 35
Administrative and Services
1993
Box 36
University Management
1993
Box 37
Administrative Files, Academic Senate
1993-1994
Series II:
Fort ORD/CSU, Monterey Bay (CSUMB)
1988-1994
Physical Description: 4 boxes
Series Scope and Content Summary
The Fort Ord military base, located in Monterey Bay, was marked for closure in 1991 after decades of service. Acting President
Evans (1991-1994) played a significant role in developing a new college in the CSU system on this site. As result, the CSU,
Monterey Bay (CSUMB) campus opened in July 1994.
Arrangement
This series is arranged chronologically by date range.
Box 43
Creation of CSUMB at Fort Ord
1991-1994
Series III:
San Carlos Street Closure
1986-1994
Physical Description: 1 box
Series Scope and Content Summary
Acting President Evans (1991-1994) continued the work of his predecessor, President Gail Fullerton (1978-1991), to complete
the street closure of San Carlos Street which originally ran through the university, bisecting the campus in half. The San
José City Council initially wanted to downgrade San Carlos Street to a smaller road, but President Fullerton and then-Executive
Vice President J. Handel Evans persuaded the Council to close the portion of the road running through campus. The project
began in 1994 and was completed in 1996. Today, San Carlos Street is a decorated walkway through the campus, with the street
existing in two segments on either side of San José State University.
Arrangement
This series is arranged chronologically by date range.
Box 44
San Carlos Street Closure
1986-1994
