Guide to the San José State University Faculty Wives Club Records
MSS.2010.03.02
Jeannette Eaton
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 Faculty Wives Club Records
Identifier/Call Number: MSS-2010-03-02
Physical Description:
14.0 boxes
(12.503 linear feet)
Date (inclusive): 1929-2015
Abstract: The San José State University Faculty Wives Club Records, 1929-2015, document the history of the club over a 60-year period.
The collection consists of meeting minutes, financial records, newsletters, and membership rosters.
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 Jose State University Faculty Wives Club Records, MSS-2010-03-02 , San José State University Library Special Collections
& Archives.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Jeannette Eaton. Finding aid EAD encoded by Jeannette Eaton. Reviewed by Danelle Moon and Erin Louthen.
Accruals and Series V. added to collection by Dana V. Lema, September 2017.
September 2017 - Additon to collection and editing of Finding Aid by Dana V. Lema
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 San José State University Faculty Wives Club organized in the late 1940s as a means of fostering friendship among the
wives of SJSU faculty members. The Faculty Wives Club began by hosting monthly events and activities for its members, such
as fashion shows, cooking, and handcrafting. In addition, club members also participated in fundraising efforts for student
scholarships. Today, the Faculty Wives Club continues to award three student scholarships of $2,000 each annually.
Scope and Content of Collection
The San José State University Faculty Wives Club Records, 1929-2015, documents the history of the club over a 60-year period.
The collection consists of meeting minutes, financial records, newsletters, and rosters. In addition, the collection includes
scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, member biographies, photographs, and University Dames Club materials.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into five series: Series I. Administrative Files, 1938-2015; Series II. Subject Files, 1956-1991;
Series III. Scrapbooks and Publicity Materials, 1929-2007; Series IV. University Dames Club Materials, 1960-1974 and Series
V. Ephemera, 1953.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
San José State University -- Funds and scholarships
San José State University -- History
California State University, San José -- History
Education, Higher -- California -- San Jose
Women -- Societies and clubs
San José State Teachers College -- History
San José State University -- University Dames Club -- History
San José State University -- Faculty Wives Club -- History
San Jose State College -- History
Series I: Administrative Files
1938-2015
Physical Description: 4.0 boxes
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series consists of Faculty Wives Club administrative records, including membership documents, newsletters, and financial
records. The materials document special events focused on community service, cultural awareness, and philanthropy to promote
student advancement.
Arrangement
This series is arranged by format.
Box 1
Scholarship Information, Miscellaneous Administrative Documents, Meeting Reports of Sections, Financial Records
1938-2015
Box 1, Folder 1
Life Membership Certificates
Box 1, Folder 2
Scholarship Records
1998-2015
Box 1, Folder 3
Treasurer's Reports
2011-2015
Box 1, Folder 4
Update Newsletters
2007-2010
Box 1, Folder 5
Update Newsletters
2011-2015
Box 2
Meeting Minutes, Reports and Financial Records
1956-2010
Box 3
Membership Rosters, Membership Directories, Garden Club Records, New Comers Listings, and Handicraft Section Reports
1950-2011
Series II: Subject Files
1956-1991
Physical Description: 2.0 boxes
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series consists of Faculty Wives Club member biographies, newspaper clippings, photographs, scholarship information,
and the publication
Reminiscing with Faculty Wives of San José State College (1956), written by Evelyn Bell Settles, Chairman of the Faculty Wives Club History Committee.
Arrangement
This series is arranged by format.
Box 5
Member Biographies and History, Newspaper Clippings, Photographs, Autobiography of Lifetime Members, Two Collections of Member
Recipes
1955-1991
Box 6
Publications of "Reminiscing with Faculty Members of San Jose State College"
1956
Series III: Scrapbooks and Publicity Materials
1929-2007
Physical Description: 6.0 boxes
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series consists of Faculty Wives Club scrapbooks and publicity materials focused primarily on community service, cultural
awareness, and philanthropy. Fundraising events such as bake sales, fashion shows, and silent auctions are well documented
in this series. These events supported student scholarships.
Arrangement
This series is arranged by format.
Box 7-11
Scrapbooks and Publicity Materials
1929-2007
Series IV: University Dames Club Materials
1960-1974
Physical Description: 1.0 boxes
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series consists of University Dames Club administrative records, meeting minutes, financial records, scrapbooks, and
publicity materials. The University Dames represents a group of wives of male students at San Jose State University that became
the protégées of Faculty Wives. The University Dames and Faculty Wives co-sponsored many like minded events and activities.
Arrangement
This series is arranged by format.
Box 12
University Dames Club Materials
1960-1974
Box 13, box 14
Silver Tea Set donated to University President's Office
1953
