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Guide to the H. Brett Melendy Oral History Collection
MSS-2010-10-06
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Title: H. Brett Melendy Oral History Collection
Dates: 1965-1991
Collection number: MSS-2010-10-06
Collector:
San José State University
Creator:
Melendy, H. Brett (1924-2008)
Collection Size:
7 boxes,
8.33 linear feet
Repository:
San José State University. Library.
San José, California 95192-0028
Abstract: The H. Brett Melendy Oral History Collection documents the experiences of various university administrators and faculty through
oral history interviews. The interviewees include SJSU Presidents Jack Bunzel, Robert D. Clark, Gail Fullerton, and John T.
Wahlquist, as well other university administrators and faculty members such as Dwight Bentel, Hobart Burns, William G. Sweeny,
O.C. Williams, Mildred Winters, and others. The collection consists of audio tapes and transcriptions, correspondence, typed
and handwritten notes, and related files on specific departments and programs. The H. Brett Melendy Oral History Collection
(1965-1991) is arranged into three series: Series I, Oral History Audio Tapes and Transcriptions, 1982-1991; Series II, San
José State University Presidents Oral Histories, 1983-1991; and Series III, Correspondence and Research Materials, 1965-1984.
Physical location: Vault 1, Range 24A
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.
H. Brett Melendy Oral History Collection, MSS-2010-10-06, San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives.
Collection processed by Robert Donahue. Finding aid EAD encoded by Robert Donahue. Reviewed by Danelle Moon.
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.
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.
Bunzel, John. John H. Bunzel, President 1970-1978,
San José State University: An Oral History. San José, California: San José, 1987.
Guide to the San José State College Presidential Office Administrative Records 1899-1970 (bulk 1950-1970), Collection No. MSS-2009-04-01. San José State University Archives Collection.
http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt8t1nf3qh/
Guide to the San José State University Academic Senate Records 1952-2002 (bulk 1970-1999), Collection No. MSS-2009-03-07. San José State University Archives Collection.
http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt5k4034vh/
Guide to the San José State University President's Office, Gail Fullerton Records 1950-1994 (bulk 1978-1991), Collection No. MSS-2009-04-03. San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives.
http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt096nd8b1/
Guide to the San José State University President's Office, John Bunzel Records 1963-1984 (bulk 1970-1978), Collection No. MSS-2009-06-01. San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives.
http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt6x0nf447/
San José State University Faculty Papers of H. Brett Melendy, MSS-2009-05-01, San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives.
Scope and Content of Collection
The H. Brett Melendy Oral History Collection documents the experiences of various university administrators and faculty through
oral history interviews. The interviewees include SJSU Presidents Jack Bunzel, Robert D. Clark, Gail Fullerton, and John T.
Wahlquist, as well other university administrators and faculty members such as Dwight Bentel, Hobart Burns, William G. Sweeny,
O.C. Williams, Mildred Winters, and others. The collection consists of audio tapes and transcriptions, correspondence, typed
and handwritten notes, and related files on specific departments and programs.
The H. Brett Melendy Oral History Collection (1965-1991) is arranged into three series: Series I, Oral History Audio Tapes
and Transcriptions, 1982-1991; Series II, San José State University Presidents Oral Histories, 1983-1991; and Series III,
Correspondence and Research Materials, 1965-1984.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Melendy, H. Brett (1924-2008)
San José State University -- University Archivist -- History
San José State Teachers College -- History
San José State College -- History
California State University, San José -- History
San José State University -- History
Education, Higher -- California -- San José