SJSU Special Collections & Archives acquires, preserves, arranges, describes, and provides access to its rich, diverse holdings of rare and unique books, manuscript collections, institutional records, and other primary sources to support the diverse teaching and research needs of students, faculty, staff, and the larger SJSU community. The Department is the central repository for the history of San José State University and has a large collection of university, faculty, and student publications, administrative records, photographs, and ephemera. Of particular interest are materials of archival value pertaining to California State Politics, Social Activism, Chicano History and Culture, Women’s Studies, LGBTQ Studies, California and U.S. History, and other holdings of local, regional, and national significance.
New exhibit!
Politics and Progress in the South Bay, September 12 - December 19, 2024. 5th Floor Foyer, SJSU King Library, SJSU Special Collections & Archives.
“Politics and Progress in the South Bay” highlights over a dozen collections of Political Papers in SJSU Special Collections & Archives. Correspondence, photographs, memorabilia, artifacts, and campaign materials are among the selections of primary sources from the papers of Norman Mineta, Blanca Alvarado, Ken Yeager, Dianne McKenna, Mike Honda, Janet Gray Hayes and other political luminaries who have left an indelible mark on the region and country.
Many firsts among political representatives – the first Japanese-American cabinet member, the first woman elected mayor of San José, the first openly gay elected official in Santa Clara County – began here, and this exhibition is designed to illuminate the cultural progress forged by their accomplishments.
Please join us for the reception!
Thursday, September 19, 2024 | 4:30-6:30 p.m. | King Library Rm. 225 (2nd floor) or via Zoom. Please register here.
2nd Annual SJSU Archival Film Festival: Politics & Progress on Campus
The SJSU King Library's Special Collections & Archives is pleased to present the 2nd Annual SJSU Archival Film Festival on October 16, 2024 from 1:00 - 4:30 p.m. in the fifth floor Schiro Room.
Join us for popcorn and purposeful conversation with politicians, political experts, classmates, and colleagues about films documenting the political alliances and student-led movements that have shaped our campus. This year’s films will complement the Special Collections & Archives’ “Politics and Progress” exhibit.
This event will be livestreamed, but in-person seating is limited. To reserve your seat, please register here.
We invite you to explore our new exhibit “Black Spartans (1907-1948).” “Black Spartans” is a first look at an ongoing research project in SJSU Special Collections & Archives to discover documentation of Black experiences in university history. Learn the stories of the earliest Black SJSU students through 19 individual digital portraits created by student artist Yeab Kebede, ‘22 Digital Media Arts.
Black students have been a central part of SJSU’s history – as scholars, athletes, artists, and activists – yet there has not been enough intentional effort to document these experiences and accomplishments and make them available to researchers. “Black Spartans” will serve to highlight some of these obscured stories, and identify the people, organizations, and events we hope to seek more information and records about.
The physical exhibit is now closed, but you can still visit virtually.