SJSU Digital Collections contains materials held by SJSU Special Collections and the Beethoven and Steinbeck Centers.
Search the
OAC for SJSU Special Collections & Archives content:
Search the digital collections of SJPL's California Room.
Search Calisphere for primary sources.
San Jose State University has the distinction of being the oldest public institution of higher education on the West Coast. The early history of SJSU began in 1857 in San Francisco with the formation of the Minns’ Evening Normal School. In 1862 an act of the California State Legislature led to the formation of the first California State Normal School, and in 1870 the campus moved from San Francisco to San Jose. The history of SJSU spans over 150 years and the university archive records provide a wealth of primary resources related to the early formation of the normal school and the transformation from a small teachers college to become a large university.
As the oldest public institution of higher education on the West Coast and the first campus of the CSU system—the nation's largest system of higher education—these records document the birth of higher education in California and teacher education in the West.
Students will find a diversity of research topics including topics on the Civil Rights Movement on campus, social justice, the Vietnam War, equity in education and housing, new education programs in women and ethnic studies, athletics, and activities related to student life from 1862 to the present.
When researching the history of San Jose State University, keep in mind the name of the institution during specific years:
1857-1861 Minns' Evening Normal School
1862-1886 California State Normal School
1887-1920 San Jose State Normal School
1921-1934 San Jose State Teachers College
1935-1971 San Jose State College
1972-1973 CSU San Jose
1974-- San Jose State University