Santa Clara University (Calif.)

History

Santa Clara University, founded in 1851 by the Society of Jesus as Santa Clara College, is California's oldest institution of higher learning. It was established on the site of the Mission Santa Clara de Asis, the eighth of the original 21 California missions.

History

Mission Santa Clara de Asis was founded in 1777, the eighth of the original 21 California Missions. Santa Clara University, founded in 1851 by the Society of Jesus as Santa Clara College, was established on the site of Mission Santa Clara de Asis. It is California's oldest institution of higher learning.

History

From its founding in 1851 to the present, Santa Clara University has had a tradition of awarding students for academic excellence, outstanding oratorical and literary skills, and service to the community. The medals and awards in this collection reflect this tradition of rewarding excellence.

Biography

Alberto Francisco Porta, born in Mondovi, Italy in 1853, was a civil engineer and architect trained at the University of Turin. In 1894, at the request of the Guatemala government to serve as architect for the reconstruction of structures damaged by earthquakes and revolutions, Porta moved his family to Quesaltenango, Guatemala. The request to come to Guatemala was handled through the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). In Quesaltenango, Porta worked on rebuilding bridges and buildings.

Due to political unrest and natural disasters, including earthquakes and the eruption of the volcano, Santa Maria, the Porta family immigrated to San Jose, California in 1901 with the help of Jesuit friends. Porta first came to San Jose alone to find work, then sent for his family. Through Jesuit connections, Porta was hired at Santa Clara College in 1907 to teach Mechanics, Descriptive Geometry, and Architectural, Mechanical, Figure and Topographical Drawing. He remained at Santa Clara from 1907-1914. As a teacher, he has been described as a colorful professor devoted to the institution.

In 1914, Porta left Santa Clara, moved his family to San Francisco, and opened his own architect business. While in San Francisco, he published a newsletter on weather prediction entitled "Institute of Planetary Sciences." He soon became ill with cancer of the liver and died in 1923.