Guide to the San José State University Office of the President, Robert L. Caret Records
SJSU Library Special Collections & Archives
© 2009
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
San José State University
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0028
Phone: (408) 808-2062
Fax: (408) 808-2063
Email: special.collections@sjsu.edu
URL: http://library.sjsu.edu/sjsu-special-collections/sjsu-special-collections-and-archives
Trustees of the California State University. All rights reserved.
Guide to the San José State University Office of the President, Robert L. Caret Records
Collection number: MSS-2009-07-02
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
San José State University
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0087
Phone: (408) 808-2062
Fax: (408) 808-2063
Email: special.collections@sjsu.edu
URL: http://library.sjsu.edu/sjsu-special-collections/sjsu-special-collections-and-archives
Finding aid funded by the generous support of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).
- Processed by:
- Thomas Stamps
- Date Completed:
- 2009
- Encoded by:
- Mary Ellen Petrich
© 2009 Trustees of the California State University. All rights reserved.
Title: San José State University Office of the President, Robert L. Caret Records
Dates: 1962-2002
Bulk Dates: 1994-1999
Collection number: MSS-2009-07-02
Creator:
San José State University. Office of the President
Collection Size:
3 boxes
(4.13 linear feet)
Repository:
San José State University. Library.
San José, California 95192-0028
Abstract: 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. The Office of the President, Robert L. Caret Records, 1962-2002 (bulk 1994-1999), document his inauguration
in 1995, as well as the role he played in the reinstatement of the ROTC and AFROTC programs at the university in 1997. The
records consist of newspaper clippings, contracts, correspondence, datebooks, photographs, and publications. This collection
is arranged into two series: Series I. Professional Activities and Publicity, 1962-2002 (bulk 1994-1998); and Series II. ROTC
Subject Files, 1984-1999 (bulk 1994-1997).
Physical location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
The collection is open for research.
Copyright is assigned to the San José State University Special Collections & Archives. All requests for permission to publish
or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Special Collections. Permission for publication
is given on behalf of the Special Collections & Archives. Copyright restrictions may apply to digital reproductions of the
original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.
San José State University Office of the President, Robert L. Caret Records, MSS-2009-07-02, San José State University Library
Special Collections & Archives.
Collection processed by Thomas Stamps. Finding aid EAD encoded by Mary Ellen Petrich. Reviewed by Danelle Moon and Erin Louthen.
This finding aid was created as part of the Survey and Cataloging Project, a two-year San José State University Library grant project funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. The project began in 2008. The Project Director is Danelle Moon. The Project Archivist is Erin Louthen.
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.
Robert L. Caret assumed the responsibilities as president of San José State University on February 6, 1995. Dr. Caret previously
held the position of provost and executive vice president at Towson State University in Maryland. He received his bachelor's
degree in Chemistry and Mathematics from Suffolk University in 1969, and a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University
of New Hampshire in 1974. We wrote five textbooks on chemistry, and co-authored the book,
Myths and Realities in Higher Education Administration (1990). While president of San José State (1995-2003), Caret played a major role in acquiring funds for the university, and
brought a vision for SJSU as the metropolitan university of Silicon Valley. Working side by side with former San José Mayor
Susan Hammer, Caret also initiated a partnership with the City of San José to create the jointly designed, constructed and
managed Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, which opened in 2003.
Gilbert, Benjamin F., and Burdick, Charles.
Washington Square, 1857-1979: The History of San José State University. San José, California: San José State University, 1980.
San José State University.
About SJSU.
http://www.sjsu.edu/about_sjsu/
San José State University.
About SJSU: SJSU Presidents.
http://www.sjsu.edu/about_sjsu/history/presidents/
Walsh, James P.
San José State University: An Interpretive History, 1950-2000. San José, California: San José State University, 2003.
Susan Hammer Papers. SJSU Special Collections & Archives.
http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt6r29r199/
Scope and Content of Collection
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. The President's Office, Robert L. Caret Records 1962-2002 (bulk 1994-1999) document his inauguration
in 1995 as well as the role he played in the reinstatement of the ROTC and AFROTC programs at the university in 1997. The
records consist of newspaper clippings, contracts, correspondence, datebooks, photographs, and publications.
This collection is arranged into two series: Series I. Professional Activities and Publicity, 1962-2002 (bulk 1994-1998);
and Series II. ROTC Subject Files, 1984-1999 (bulk 1994-1997).
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Caret, Robert L.
San José State University. President's Office -- History
San José State University. President's Office -- Records and correspondence
California State University, San José -- History
San José State University -- History
United States. Army. Reserve Officers' Training Corps
United States. Air Force ROTC
Education, Higher -- California -- San José
Collection Contents
Series I: Professional Activities and Publicity 1962-2002 ( bulk 1994-1998)
Physical Description: 2 boxes
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series documents the inauguration of President Caret (1995-2003) as well as his involvement on the Board of Directors
for organizations such as the Mathematics, Engineering, and Science Achievement (M.E.S.A.) program and the San José Repertory
Theatre. The series also contains bulletins and correspondence, family and professional photographs, as well as photographs
of previous SJSU presidents.
This series is arranged by format.
Box 1
Newspaper Clippings, Periodicals and Photographs 1962-2002
Box 2
Newsletters and Correspondence 1994-1998
Series II: ROTC Subject Files 1984-1999 (bulk 1994-1997)
Physical Description: 1 box
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series documents the disassociation of San José State University from the ROTC and AFROTC programs in 1994, as well as
the role President Caret played in the reinstatement of the programs at the university in 1997. The series contains correspondence,
newspaper clippings, contracts, and other legal documents.
This series is arranged chronologically by date within each folder.
Box 3
Newspaper Clippings, Contracts, and Correspondence 1984-1999