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Michael Mingoia, design director, measures a glass case in the exhibit of the 150th aniversary of San Jose State University located at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Joint Library on the second floor on Tuesday.

150th anniversary opens with exhibit

By: Kyle Hansen

Posted: 1/24/07

A yearlong celebration of San Jose State University's 150-year history kicks off this week with the opening of a new historical exhibit and a gala reception.

The exhibit, located on the second floor of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library, will be free and open to the public following the gala on Jan. 26, and will remain open until Dec. 15.

Events are planned throughout the year to commemorate the University's sesquicentennial. The theme of the celebration is "Where tradition meets tomorrow."

"We thought, 'Wouldn't it be nice to have an exhibit for people to learn about our history?'" said Jennifer Cauble, the associate vice president of the marketing and communications department. "People do not know about it. We wanted a way to celebrate our history but also to look to the future."

Cauble is the chair of the 150th Celebration Committee and has overseen the planning of the exhibit.

"We are really trying to help people to understand and raise awareness in the community and pride on campus," she said. "It is interesting to learn about other students and it creates pride in the school."

"There is a legacy of learning and a legacy of impact here," Cauble said. "You start to recognize as a student that there is more to it than you might think."

The exhibit includes items such as a drum that belonged to alumnus "Krazy" George Henderson, best known as the inventor of the wave. Other items include a calculator from the 1940s and a bowl ring from the Spartan's victory in the 1990 California Raisin Bowl.

There are also photographs and other paper items, including diplomas, books written by students and a photograph of Brig. Gen. Anthony Jackson, who graduated in 1971 and is currently serving as the Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command.

"It was really neat to learn about San Jose State history," said Amy Starnes, a hospitality management major who is doing an internship with the marketing and communications department and helped to put the exhibit together. "I never knew that the school has such a rich history before this project."

The gala is being held on Friday evening as a fundraiser for the university library. About 400 people are expected to participate in the event that will feature SJSU President Don Kassing and San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed.

NBC11 meteorologist John Farley, who is also a SJSU alumnus, will be doing his weather forecast from the event.

The gala will also feature period dancers and the opening of the new historical exhibit. Tickets to the gala are $75, but beginning Saturday the exhibit will be free and open to the public.

Some of the pieces in the exhibit are from the university's special collections. Other items are on loan from alumni and other people in the community.

"We have really been on this kind of hunt," Cauble said. "We asked department heads and alumni if they had anything interesting."

Large blue banners have been hung around the campus as part of this year's commemoration.

"I figured out that the anniversary was this year when I saw the signs," said Sara Bruzzone, a sophomore majoring in business administration.

"It is always important to know the background of where you are and where you are living," she said. "We have been here for 150 years, it is pretty important."

Also in connection with the anniversary, discover downtown San Jose cards were sent out with students' VTA passes before the semester began. Students can visit the downtown association's Web site to find participating businesses where they can show the card for special discounts.

"Hopefully with us sending them out to all the students, it will get the students out shopping and dining downtown, which is good for everyone," said Starnes, who helped get the cards to students.

SJSU was founded in San Francisco as Minns' Evening Normal School in 1857, according to the SJSU Web site timeline. The school was originally created to train public school teachers. Shortly after becoming a state school in the 1860s, the school relocated to Washington Square, in what is now downtown San Jose.

The university is the oldest institution of higher learning on the west coast. It was also the first school in what would become the California State University system, the largest university system in the country.

More information about the SJSU, its history, and an interactive timeline can be found at http://www.sjsu.edu/150th. Students and alumni are being asked to contribute their stories and memories of the university on the Web site. The Web site also has a calendar that is continually being updated as more events are planned for later this year.

The library will be closed all day Jan. 26 in preparation for the gala and exhibit.