San José State University

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.

From the guide to the San José State University Reports Collection, 1919-1997, 1950-1980, (San José State University. Library.)

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 Staté 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.

Charles W. Childs, after graduating from the San Francisco State Normal School, began teaching history at San José State Normal School in 1877. Under the progressive Childs, the school's curriculum expanded from a three-year to a four-year program and saw the inauguration of the modern discipline of history. Upon his retirement, Childs was succeeded by Agnes E. Howe, who funded a well-received local history program and in 1901 achieved the separation of history and geography into two disciplines. During World War I, enrollment numbers for history courses dropped drastically, and only two teachers remained to instruct the students. However, the discipline survived due to a renewed enthusiasm for local history and was quickly revived after the end of the war. In 1921, the San José State Normal School became San José State Teachers College, and the history curriculum was extended to ten courses in the first year. In the second year, the discipline of history offered a four-year bachelor's degree under the guidance of the newly established Social Sciences Department. During the years of Thomas W. MacQuarrie, the sixteenth president of the college, the discipline of history underwent manifold changes. After the uncertain times of the 1930s and World War II, enrollment quickly rose at the college. The end of the war brought a heightened interest in history, leading to new ideas and inspiration for changes to the curriculum and the department, which were implemented over the course of the next decade. In 1957, under the presidency of John T. Wahlquist, the long-awaited separation of the Department of History, Economics, and Geography into individual departments was approved. During the 1960s and 1970s, enrollment in the department increased steadily. In 1971 the History Department played a major role in establishing the Sourisseau Academy for State and Local History on campus. After its peak year in 1972, the department saw declining numbers in enrollment for the remainder of the 1970s, and the same concerns were faced in the 1980s. Currently, San José State University's History Department offers a great variety of programs for both undergraduate and graduate studies, including a minor in Jewish Studies and courses in the interdisciplinary field of Public History.

From the guide to the San José State University History Department Records, 1962-1982, (San José State University. Library.)

Organizational/Biographical 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.

From the guide to the Spartan Daily Negatives Collection, 1960-1970, (SJSU Special Collections & Archives)

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.

From the guide to the San José State University Associated Students Records, 1948-2006, (San José State University. Library.)

Biographical History

Paul Wilkins Kendall was born in Baldwin City, Kansas in 1898. Kendall attended the United States Military Academy at West Point and graduated in 1918 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry. From 1918 to 1919 Kendall attended the Infantry School of Arms at Fort Benning, Georgia. Kendal was assigned to the 27th Infantry Unit after graduating and was sent to Russia during the Siberian Intervention where he received the Distinguished Service Cross in 1920. Kendal went on to several different postings in the 1920s and 1930s in the U.S. and abroad. Kendall graduated from the Command & General Staff College in 1936 and in the 1940's served in a staff assignment at the Office of the Chief of Staff of the United States Army at Washington, D.C. At the start of World War II Kendall was assigned as Chief of Staff for the 85th Infantry Division. He then served as Assistant Division Commander of the 84th Infantry Division, receiving promotion to Brigadier General.

From September 1944 to July 1945 Kendall was commander of the "Blue Devils" of the 88th Infantry Division, receiving promotion to Major General. The division's second World War II commander, he led the 88th Infantry during its assault through Italy, including the capture of Vicenza and Verona. During the Korean War Kendall commanded I Corps and was promoted to Lieutenant General in 1952. Kendall continued to serve in the military as Deputy Commanding General in Manila, Philippines and in 1954 as Commander of the Allied Land Forces Southeastern Europe in Izmir, Turkey. Kendall retired from the military in 1955 and moved to Palo Alto, California where he died in 1983.

From the guide to the Paul W. Kendall Papers, 1917-1963, 1939-1950, (San José State University. Library.)

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.

Student publications have been an essential part of campus life at San José State University since its founding. The first student paper was The Acorn, which debuted in 1867. This publication was followed by The Class Paper in 1880, The Normal Index in 1885, and The Normal Pennant in 1898. The Quill, a student literary journal, was initially published in 1925, followed by El Portal in 1932 and Reed Magazine in 1948, which is still published annually.

Documenting such topics as athletics, student organizations, and social and intellectual activities, SJSU student publications have featured original works such as plays, poetry, short stories, and essays, as well as news reporting and publicity for campus events. Publication formats include literary, feature, and humor magazines, a daily newspaper, club and organization newsletters, and guidebooks on a variety of topics. In addition, many of the publications cover national and international issues, as well as offering a local view of the student population by featuring in-depth profiles of individual students.

Other prominent SJSU student publications include the feature magazine Lyke (1946-1965), the school yearbook La Torre (1911-1965), and the official campus newspaper, the Spartan Daily (1934-present), which continues to publish a daily issue throughout the academic school year.

From the guide to the San José State University Student Publications Collection, 1880-2004, 1960-1990, (San José State University. Library.)

Biography / Administrative 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.

From the guide to the San Jose State College Songs and Music Collection, 1876-1882, 1942-1945, (San José State University. Library.)

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.

Early accounts indicate that the San José State Normal School football program organized as early as 1893, with the first intercollegiate game taking place in 1895. The YMCA defeated the Normal School 18-0 in 1893, when male enrollment numbered about 40. Over the years, the Spartan football program has become a major establishment at SJSU. The Spartans became a powerhouse in the 1930s and 1940s, winning eight conference championships over an 18-year span. In addition, the San José State football team had just arrived in Hawaii when Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941. The team subsequently volunteered to assist the Honolulu Police Department maintain order on the island, as there was fear of an invasion by Japanese armed forces. San José State University's first bowl game was in 1947, when the team defeated Utah State 20-0 in the Raisin Bowl. The SJSU football team's most recent bowl game was in 2006, when they defeated the University of New Mexico at the New Mexico Bowl, 20-12. In 2004, SJSU installed the Jeff Garcia Hall of Champions near Spartan Stadium in San José. The Hall of Champions includes the memorabilia of SJSU Hall of Fame athletes and coaches such as Bill Walsh, the three-time Super Bowl winning coach for the San Francisco 49ers and former player and coach of the San José State University Spartans. SJSU celebrated its intercollegiate centennial in 1995, and is a Division I member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, participating in the Western Athletic Conference.

From the guide to the San José State University Football Programs Collection, 1934-2004, 1947-1962, (San José State University. Library.)

Biographical History

Born in Eureka, California, H. Brett Melendy (1924-2008) spent most of his life in California and Hawaii. He received his Master of Arts in Education in 1948 and his Doctorate in History in 1952 from Stanford University. During this time, he also taught high school in Fresno, California. Melendy began his academic career as a history professor at San José State College in 1955. He served in several positions including: Academic Council Faculty Chair; Associate Academic Vice President; Dean of Undergraduate Studies; History Department Chair; History Professor; Interim Academic Vice President; and University Archivist. Melendy also spent some of his academic career as an administrator and history professor in the Hawaiian University system in the 1970s. Melendy's published works include Chinese and Japanese Americans (1984) ; Asians in America: Filipinos, Koreans, and East Indians (1977) ; and The Governors of California: Peter H. Burnett to Edmund G. Brown (1965), as well as numerous scholarly articles.

In 1983 Melendy was appointed as the University Archivist from 1983-1987 on a half-time basis, while also maintaining half-time responsibilities as the Director of the Engineering Institute in the Engineering Department. In this role, Melendy organized and conducted oral history interviews of select San José State University administrators and faculty. In 1987 the University Archivist position was eliminated. From 1987 to 1994, Melendy continued to work in the History and Engineering Departments, and in 1993 he was awarded Professor Emeritus status.

From the guide to the H. Brett Melendy Oral History Collection, 1965-1991, (San José State University. Library.)

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.

San José State University yearbooks, student handbooks and other event-related materials document a range of campus celebrations and events that took place between 1925-2007. Noteworthy campus events at SJSU include the Spartan Revelries (1930s-1960s), Spardi Gras (1929-1950) and Homecoming Week (1948-present). Spartan Revelries was an all-student college musical event written, produced, and presented entirely by students, and all students on campus were eligible to participate in its production. Another longstanding event in SJSU's past was Spardi Gras. According to the 1926 campus yearbook La Torre, Spardi Gras (or Hobo Day on Washington's Birthday) was "a gala occasion of play, sport, and merrymaking, which met with unprecedented participation by the entire student body, and was later authorized by the Executive Board as an annual event because of its great success." Homecoming Week is still celebrated today on the SJSU campus, and includes events for students and alumni such as a movie festival and a bonfire, and culminates with the annual Homecoming football game in Spartan Stadium. Other significant events covered in this collection include the university's Centennial Celebration in 1957, and the Sesquicentennial Celebration (150th Anniversary) in 2007.

From the guide to the San José State University Campus Events Collection, 1925-2007, 1950-1970, (San José State University Library)

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.

The San Jose State University Aeronautics Department began in the 1936-1937 school year. At the time it was called the Civil Pilot Training program and was sponsored by the U.S. government in anticipation of World War II. During World War II, the Aeronautics Department was used extensively for training pilots for the war and several of the instructors who taught after 1945 had been involved in aviation. In 1945, the Civil Pilot Training program became the Aeronautics Department and was located in the basement of the San Jose State College Physics Building as part of the Engineering and Mathematics Program. The Aeronautics Department was renamed the Aviation Department in 1988 and in 2001 again was renamed the Aviation and Technology Department.

From the guide to the San José State University Aviation Department Records, 1938-1994, 1951-1976, (San José State University. Library.)

Biography / Administrative 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 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.

From the guide to the San Jose State College World War I and World War II Collection, 1914-1949, 1942-1948, (San José State University. Library.)

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.

San José State University President Thomas W. MacQuarrie (1927-1952) created the engineering program in 1945, with Dr. Ralph J. Smith serving as the department head. Thomas E. Leonard and S. Brooks Walton were hired as the first engineering teachers in 1946, and initial coursework included construction, production, and food processing. Engineering instruction began in the laboratories located in the basement of the Science Building. The program moved to Quonset huts in the late 1940s, and remained there until the Engineering Building was completed in 1954. The decade of the 1950s represented a period of tremendous growth for the program. In 1956, the State Board of Education and the State Department of Education approved programs preparing students for work in specific fields of engineering, including civil, electrical, industrial, general, mechanical process and metallurgy. In addition, graduate courses in engineering were granted accreditation status at the university in 1964. The Engineering Department experienced another era of growth in the 1980s, including the construction of a new Engineering Building which featured state-of-the-art equipment and laboratory facilities. In 1985, the Engineering Department offered eight engineering and two aeronautics programs for students. Today, each of the eight engineering majors offered at the university, including chemical, civil, electrical, industrial, computer science, mechanical, and materials engineering are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition, SJSU's College of Engineering was ranked 12th among engineering programs for master's-level institutions in U.S. News and World Report's "America's Best Colleges 2009," and is the top provider of engineers to Silicon Valley companies.

From the guide to the San José State University Engineering Department Records, 1946-1973, 1950-1965, (San José State University. Library.)

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.

From the guide to the San José State University Scrapbook Collection, 1884-1999, 1931-1971, (San José State University. Library.)

Organizational History

The East Palo Alto Women's Club Records document the history and accomplishments of the organization from 1917-1995 (bulk dates 1922-1955). Starting in 1893 as the Mother's Club, they formally incorporated on June 20, 1894 as the Woman's Club of Palo Alto with 24 members. The main objectives of the Club focused on self-improvement, mutual aide, and community work. During their formative years, club women played a significant role in city government through fund-raising efforts and demands for municipal services. Between the years 1893-1896, the club founded the first reading room and library in the city, and they contributed to the founding of the first elementary school.

Prior to California women receiving the vote in 1911, Palo Alto Club women proposed two sewer bonds and they worked to beautify the city with trees. Following the suffrage victory, the Club expanded its membership and focused on civic and philanthropic activities, as well as organized a variety of educational and cultural events. The club provided a social outlet for club members through a variety of programs, including plays and musical celebrations. Today the club continues to provide leadership in philanthropy and is affiliated with the State and the National Federation of Women's Clubs.

From the guide to the East Palo Alto Women's Club Records, 1917-1995, 1922-1955, (Repository Unknown)

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.

From the guide to the San José State University Student Organization Records, 1920-2011, 1930-1940, (San José State University. Library.)

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.

Centered in the heart of San José and Silicon Valley, San José State University's College of Business has been serving the business educational needs of the local community and the global marketplace since 1928. Initially known as the School of Business, undergraduate and graduate programs at the College are accredited by AACSB International. Less than 5% of business programs worldwide have earned this distinguished hallmark of excellence in business education. AACSB standards relate to curriculum, faculty resources, admissions, degree requirements, computer facilities, financial resources and intellectual climate. The College of Business is also accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the California State Board of Education. In addition, the university's Donald and Sally Lucas Graduate School of Business is home to seven graduate programs offered by the College: four Masters of Business Administration, a Master of Science in Accountancy, a Master of Science in Taxation, and a Master of Science in Transportation Management.

From the guide to the San José State University School of Business Records, 1952-1976, 1960-1970, (San José State University. Library.)

Organizational History

ARIS (AIDS Resources, Information & Services), a now defunct organization, was a volunteer non-profit organization founded in 1986 with the mission "to provide HIV/AIDS prevention and support services to the people of Santa Clara County." ARIS focused on the practical realities of the day-to-day needs of persons living with HIV or AIDS, as well as their emotional health and wellness. ARIS provided a variety of services that included weekly emotional support groups, transportation services, practical assistance through a monthly food basket program that included nutritional supplements, housing assistance including a 24-hour residential care facility and multiple housing locations throughout the county, and HIV prevention and community education through community outreach. These services were available to persons with AIDS or HIV-positive status residing in Santa Clara County as well as their families and loved ones. The services and programs of ARIS were not limited to the HIV-positive community, but they also provided Santa Clara County with public outreach, preventative-oriented educatoinal sessions to the public about the realities of HIV & AIDS during a period rife with misinformation.

ARIS voluntarily dissolved in 2003 after difficulties with budget cuts, decreasing individual and commercial donations, as well as the sudden death of ARIS Founder, Bob Clayton, in September of that year.

From the guide to the AIDS Resources, Information & Services (ARIS) Records, 1986-2003, 1990-2001, (San José State University. Library.)

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 Art Department originated in 1911, when a one-year course leading to an elementary diploma in art was instituted by the San José State Teachers College. Inspired by Calthea Vivian, the head of the Art Department from 1911-1916, students began to take advantage of the course work offered. Soon after, under the new department head Ruth W. Turner, the department expanded to include a two-year course leading to a secondary diploma. Turner was succeeded by Dr. Marques E. Reitzel, under whose guidance the Art Department gained its reputation as one of the finest in the West. During Reitzel's time, the faculty was enlarged and the curriculum expanded to include course offerings in commercial art and interior design. In 1956, Dr. Reitzel was succeeded by Dr. French, a San José State University graduate, author, and painter. In 1957, the department consisted of 30 professors, making it the "largest group of artist-educators between San Francisco and Los Angeles." The establishment of a graduate program further increased the number of students, and led to many graduates entering the fields of commercial art and interior design, as well as winning important fellowships in fine arts.

During the 1950s and 1960s, the Art Department won numerous awards for painting, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry, silver craft, and weaving at exhibitions on the local, regional, and national levels. Plans for a new campus building, located behind the Music Building, originally included lecture halls, laboratory and activity rooms as well as an art gallery. The Art Building was later expanded to include the Visual Resource Center, numerous shops for wood, glass, machine, metal, spray, and welding work, along with facilities for jewelry and small metal work, photography, foundry, glass and print making. Current students can choose from a great variety of Art Department undergraduate and graduate programs. In recent years, the work of Art Department students and graduates has been included in the Whitney Museum of American Art Biennial Exhibition, and has also won awards in the National Housewares Competition as well as international film and animation festivals. Today the School of Art and Design has the largest number of full time students enrolled, surpassing the college of Business and Engineering.

From the guide to the San José State University Art Department Records, 1942-1963, 1951-1959, (San José State University. Library.)

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.

From the guide to the San José State University Archives Directories, Guides & Handbooks Collection, 1920-1997, 1941-1976, (San José State University Library.)

Organazational 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 1960s political environment ushered in a new era social reform and high hopes for social progress. The election of John F. Kennedy offered the promise of a "New Frontier," which inspired a variety of social movements that promoted civil rights, women's liberation, identity politics, and anti-war. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 reaffirmed the struggles of the civil rights movement. Despite these gains a growing disillusionment followed with assassinations of political leaders that included Martin Luther King Jr., Robert Kennedy, and Malcolm X, the escalation of the Vietnam War, violent police repression, and political corruption.

College campuses became the center point for a variety of militant protests and demonstrations opposing the Vietnam War, the military draft, and recruitment by Dow Chemical and the ROTC. It has been estimated that two million men and women engaged in campus protests. By the 1970s student protest escalated with the killings at Kent State and Jackson State followed by mass protests at over 760 college campuses including a protest at San José University.

Events at state colleges mirrored other college campuses. Demonstrations occurred relating to the 1967 Dow Chemical campus recruitment, ROTC recruitment on campus, the 1968-1969 faculty strike regarding labor organization, and response to use of excessive force against demonstrators by local police. Other social protests at SJSU focused on racial discrimination on campus, housing discrimination, and fair treatment of African American and Hispanic students. San Jose State became internationally known as result of the 1968 Olympic Games, where track stars Tommy Smith and John Carlos raised their fists in solidarity with black power militants and the Black Panther Party. Prior to this event, the black student population had experienced extreme discrimination on campus and in housing. Faculty member Harry Edwards and the United Black Students for Action organized protests against institutional racism. President Clark worked to eliminate racial discrimination on campus by creating an ombudsman to address all discrimination concerns. He was one of the few college presidents at the time willing to work with the student population and to enforce new policies that prohibited racial discrimination in athletics, student clubs and Greek societies, and in housing.

From the guide to the San José State University Civil Rights and Campus Protest Collection, 1967-1990, 1968-1970, (San José State University. Library.)

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 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.

The San José State University New College program (1968-1981) was a four-year liberal arts course of study created to "tear down the walls between disciplines" with its experimental approach to higher education. Founded by SJSU faculty members Jack Pierce (Anthropology), Jack Douglas (Library), and Harold (Hal) DeBey (Chemistry/New College Provost from 1968-1977), New College faculty included artists, writers, and social scientists. The major objectives of New College were "to offer society's urgent need for wise, creative and responsible citizens prepared to participate actively in a self-governing community, to offer a clear alternative to the impersonality found in large colleges and universities, to bring students and professors together in the common pursuit of truth, and to introduce students to some of the decision-making processes involved in the creation of a curriculum." In addition, New College promoted the ideology of "allowing students to pursue individual paths of study free of rigidly structured requirements," as well as the concept of "supporting, guiding and encouraging the idealism of young people who are aware of the world's complex problems and who wish to dedicate themselves to their amelioration."

The first two years of a New College student's coursework was devoted to the study of humankind, with general education classes in three broad areas: in the Humanities and the Arts, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Natural Sciences and Technology. Course topics included "man's image of himself," "man and his natural environment," and "the discussion of man's future" in direct relation to global concerns such as human and natural resources conservation, population issues, and war and peace. In upper division study, New College students and faculty worked together to design a curriculum based on a combination of seminars, independent study, and courses from other departments in order to meet individual study objectives. Students also spent part of their time in community activities, and were encouraged to live in a special co-educational dormitory on campus to foster "informal discussions between students and faculty," and to create "an opportunity for varied and unusual friendships across cultural and social barriers."

Although at the time, New College was considered a successful alternative to traditional higher education, declining enrollment in the late 1970's and diminishing fiscal resources in early 1980's ended support for continuing the program and in 1980 New College officially closed.

From the guide to the San José State University New College Records, 1968-1998, 1972-1978, (San José State University. Library.)

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 Industrial Arts Department has a long-standing history at San José State University. The San José State College Bulletin for the 1941-1942 school year described the department's primary goal to be the preparation of teachers of industrial arts for elementary and secondary school positions. Special emphasis was placed on training for general shop teaching, as well as the training of students with trade experience for positions that mandated highly specialized instructors. Degree options included a Bachelor of Arts with a major in the field of Industrial Arts, as well as a secondary teaching credential, and a limited credential based on previous experience. During the 1960-1961 semester break, the Industrial Arts Department moved to its new, two-million dollar building on the corner of Ninth and San Fernando Street. The new facility provided ample space and was equipped with the latest advancements in technology.

In 1966, the Industrial Arts Department came under the umbrella of the Division of Sciences and Applied Arts. While the department's main focus remained unchanged, degree options were extended to include majors of Bachelor of Vocational Education, Business and Industry, and Industrial Design. Additionally, a Master of Arts degree was offered with four graduate program majors, leading to specializations in industrial arts teaching, business and industry careers, industrial design, and supervision or administration in industrial education. Today, the Industrial Arts Department is part of San José State University's School of Art and Design. The department strengths lie in combining traditional training with computer-based professional skills, as well as providing education in integrative design theory and related knowledge. Over the last 30 years, due to its location in Silicon Valley, the program has contributed to the development of the Bay Area as a major international center of Industrial Design.

From the guide to the San José State University Industrial Arts Department Collection, 1942-1980, 1960-1964, (San José State University. Library.)

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 history of the San José State University Theater Arts Department is well documented by former professors Hugh Gillis and Robert Jenkins. According to Gillis and Jenkins, while some of the first main stage plays on campus can be traced to the years 1898 and 1899, it was not until 1927 that the Speech Arts Department was formally founded by Dr. Thomas MacQuarrie, the sixteenth president of the college. Initially chaired by Virginia Sanderson, the small department rapidly evolved. In 1936, the Speech Arts Department, at that time headed by Elizabeth Jenks, was divided into two separate areas of speech and drama, which resulted in growing enrollment numbers, especially after an upper division course for Radio Speaking was added to the curriculum. After World War II, the Speech and Drama Department reached new heights with professionally arranged main stage plays, which were sold to the public as an entire season. In the late 1940s a curriculum for Radio and Television was added, and the 1950s saw the addition of a Master of Arts degree in Drama. The department is now known as the San José State University TV-Radio-Film-Theatre Department, offering students a skilled learning environment that consistently arranges well-received productions, as well as providing news and entertainment via its own campus radio station (KSJS-FM).

From the guide to the San José State University Theater Arts Collection, 1900-1988, 1950-1957, (San José State University. Library.)

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 SJSU University Budget Office operates within the Division of Administration and Finance, under the direction of the Associate Vice President for Finance. A key element of the university's organizational structure, the Budget Office provides budget-related information to campus administrators, individual departmental staff, governmental regulatory agencies such as the California State University (CSU) Chancellor's Office and the State Controller's Office, as well as non-governmental regulatory agencies such as the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Various duties of the Division of Administration and Finance include analyzing and investigating CSU budget and financial information, reconciling budgets with the CSU Chancellor's Office, developing and implementing budget processes, and coordinating the implementation of new and updated campus student fees.

From the guide to the San José State University and California State University Budget Office Records, 1945-1989, 1960-1975, (San José State University. Library.)

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 Humanities Department was created to provide students with an integrated perspective on Western civilization. This perspective has since been expanded to a wider global view in response to developments in technology, world culture and communications. Humanities courses integrate history, literature, philosophy, religion, politics, music and art. The department offers a curriculum that covers the "human experience in aesthetic, creative, literary, and religious realms as well as cultural traditions in major world areas." Students thus develop analytical and expressive skills, the ability to read, write, and think clearly, along with an appreciation of the arts and letters and their role in shaping modern society. Upon graduation, Humanities students pursue a wide variety of occupations, including law, journalism, librarianship, teaching, public service, social work and public relations.

From the guide to the San José State University Humanities Department Publications, 1965-1996, (San José State University. Library.)

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.

Since laying the cornerstone for the San José State Normal School in 1870, the SJSU campus has expanded several times throughout its 150-year history. Tower Hall, the centerpiece of the university, was constructed in 1910 to replace a previous building damaged in the 1906 earthquake. The oldest structure on campus, Tower Hall was spared demolition in the 1960s and has been renovated twice, once in 1966 and again in 2007. From the late 1920s through the 1950s, under the direction of President Thomas W. MacQuarrie, many buildings were constructed on the SJSU campus, including the Education Building, Spartan Stadium, the Science Building, the Student Union, and the Spartan Memorial Chapel. The campus experienced another era of major renovation and expansion in the early 2000s, including the construction of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, as well as the renovation of Clark Hall and Morris Dailey Auditorium. Today, all aspects of the maintenance, planning and sustainability of SJSU's campus buildings are managed by the Division of Facilities Development and Operations (FD&O).

From the guide to the San José State University Campus Buildings Records, 1903-1999, 1960-1995, (San José State University. Library.)

Organizational History

The Santa Clara Center for Occupational Health (SCCOSH) grew from the efforts of three women's health and labor rights organizers - Robin Baker, Amanda Hawes, and Pat Lamborn - who had come to focus on the Silicon Valley's largely unrepresented working-class minorities in the late 1970s. The three met sometime in 1977 at the Pacific Studies Center in Mountain View, where a small group had been meeting intermittently to discuss occupational health. Not long after, Baker, Hawes, and Lamborn together applied for and received a workers training grant from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which they used to fund the Project on Health and Safety in Electronics (PHASE, 1978-1980).

During the three years covered by the initial federal grant, PHASE produced a series of occupational hazards factsheets for electronics workers (See Series III). First introduced in 1979, the program also included a multilingual telephone consultation service for electronics workers. While not a program to organize workers, PHASE efforts to raise awareness of occupational hazards resulted in open conflict with many Silicon Valley electronics companies. In 1979 the three women established a sister group to PHASE, the Electronics Committee on Safety and Health (ECOSH), to undertake more direct worker organizing while PHASE remained focused on voluntary educational programming. SCCOSH became the overarching agency for these two groups, PHASE and ECOSH, formally established on July 19, 1979, with a five-member Governing Board of Robyn Baker, Amanda Hawes, Pat Lamborn, Mark Fee, and Andy Rowland. SCCOSH expanded its governing board to seven members in 1980, and again to nine members in 1981.

In April of 1979, PHASE employees began staffing an "Electronics Hazard" telephone hotline for workers concerned about chemicals encountered in the workplace. In addition to chemicals encountered in industrial occupations, SCCOSH outreach addressed potential health hazards for office laborers, including the combined psychological and physiological effects of working for long periods at video display terminals (VDTs, or computer monitors).

The Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (SVTC) developed from a SCCOSH project into a wide-ranging, independent nonprofit organization. Ted Smith (1945-), attorney and activist founded the SVTC in 1982 in response to the suspicion that leaks at manufacturing sites for IBM and Fairchild Electronics were causing health issues in nearby Silicon Valley homes. The SVTC is a San José, California-based research and advocacy group that promotes safe environmental practices in the high tech industry. SVTC is composed of high tech workers, community members, law enforcement, emergency workers and environmentalists. They aim to educate the masses on best practices for computer recycling and promote corporate social responsibility on subjects ranging from nanotechnology, solar, and consumer e-waste.

Smith is currently the Senior Strategist of SVTC, and is co-founder and coordinator of the International Campaign for Responsible Technology (ICRT), and international network committed to the development of sustainable and non-polluting technologies. He also serves as the steering committee chair of the Computer TakeBack Campaign, an organization focused on promoting life-cycle producer responsibility in high-tech electronics. He co-edited the book Challenging The Chip: Labor Rights and Environmental Justice in the Global Electronics Industry (2006). Smith has been recognized by the Dalai Lama for his environmental leadership. (See Series IX)

From the guide to the Santa Clara Center for Occupational Health (SCCOSH) and Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (SVTC) Records, 1978-2002, 1982-1995, (San José State University. Library.)

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 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.

From the guide to the San José State Normal School and San Jose State Teachers College Course Catalogs Collection, 1872-1935, (San José State University. Library.)

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.

Robert D. Clark was the first president screened and nominated by a representative faculty group at San José State University. Clark was born in Nebraska in 1910, and graduated from Pasadena College in 1931 with a B.A. in English. He taught at Pasadena College while attending the University of Southern California where he earned his M.A. in 1935 and his PhD. in 1946.

Clark served as president of San José State University from 1964-1969, a period characterized by student unrest, racial tension, and state budget cuts in higher education. During his tenure, Clark emphasized academic excellence, aesthetic beauty, and the institutional improvement of the campus. Clark's vision was reflected through campus projects such as the creation of the experimental interdisciplinary school New College (1968-1980), the renovation of Tower Hall, and the acquisition of the Marine Laboratory facility at Moss Landing.

Despite the unrest and violence of the 1960s, Clark moved the college forward as a stronger institution, while at the same time showing great empathy for student protests during the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War. Clark's presidency contributed much to the university's curriculum development and set an example for mutual cooperation and community relations. In 1969, Clark resigned from SJSU and accepted a position as president of the University of Oregon, a position he held until his retirement in 1975.

From the guide to the San José State University Office of the President, Robert D. Clark Records, 1953-1969, 1964-1969, (San José State University. Library.)

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 dollars 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.

In 1996, SJSU President Robert L. Caret and San José Mayor Susan Hammer began early discussions to build a joint library, and in 1998 the two entities signed an operating agreement. Complex planning efforts began in 1999 and in 2003 the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library opened to the public. The completion of the 475,000-square foot library--the largest library to be built at one time west of the Mississippi--under budget and on schedule became known as "the miracle on Fourth Street." The amount of planning and productivity to carry out this innovative venture required multiple layers of collaboration, fund-raising, and support from a diverse community of users.

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library provides combined services for the campus community of 30,000 students, SJSU faculty and staff, and to the larger community population of close to one million people. The merger has enhanced access and discovery to a wealth of resources, from books, e-books, databases, audiovisual materials, and primary sources to an expansive public art collection. The library opened in 2003 despite initial opposition from some university faculty and members of the community at large. Today the library serves as a gateway from K-12 to higher education, and has become the cornerstone for life-long learning in the region.

From the guide to the San José State University and the San José Public Library System Joint Library Project Records, 1994-2005, 1998-2000, (San José State University. Library.)

Personal History

Geraldine McGrady Jones (1892-1952) was born in San Francisco and five years later moved with her family to Los Gatos. She attended the San Jose Normal School where she graduated in 1914, after which she worked as a school teacher at the Wright's Station School in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It was there that she met her husband William 'Billy' Jones who worked as an engineer for the Union Pacific railroad. The couple lived in converted boxcars for the first several years of their marriage and eventually settled in Los Gatos where they raised their four children Betty,Geraldine, Robert and Neal. Geraldine Jones recorded vignettes of her family life in the form of short stories and poems, several of theses poems honor her sons' sacrifices and commitment in World War II; both were killed in the war. Following World War II, Geraldine Jones worked as an aid in the San Jose Hospital and the Dibble Hospital in Menlo Park.

William 'Billy' Jones became a popular local figure after installing a small gauge railroad called 'the Wildcat Railroad' in 1943, on his Los Gatos property. The railroad became a popular amusement for local children. The popularity of this small gauge railroad attracted the attention of Walt Disney who later consulted with Billy Jones during the construction of the train system in Disneyland in Anaheim California. The Billy Jones Railroad remains a popular attraction in the Vasona Regional Park.

From the guide to the Geraldine McGrady Jones Collection, 1870-1947, 1900-1930, (San José State University. Library.)

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.

Established in 1933, the San Jose State College Patrons Association was a division of the California Congress of Parents and Teachers, The college-level equivalent of the Parent-Teacher Association (P.T.A.). The San Jose State College Patrons Association fostered educational and social events for San Jose State College students, maintained close relations with the College administration and faculty to promote student welfare on campus, and sponsored a wide variety of campus activities and events, including annual dinners and potluck luncheons. The Student Emergency Fund and the Welfare Fund were the two major projects of the Patrons. In 1954, the SJSC Patrons Association withdrew from the P.T.A. and became a free-standing club on campus. New by-laws were created, but the Association retained its original philosophical tenet of being continually dedicated to the support and welfare of San Jose State College students.

From the guide to the San José State College Patrons Association Collection, 1933-1966, (San José State University. Library.)