Guide to the Sarah Locke Family Collection
SJSU Library Special Collections & Archives
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
© 2010
Trustees of the California State University. All rights reserved.
Guide to the Sarah Locke Family Collection
Collection number: MSS-2008-06-01
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
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
Finding aid funded by the generous support of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).
- Date Completed:
- 2010
- Encoded by:
- Silke Higgins and Rosalinda Gonzales
© 2010 Trustees of the California State University. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Sarah Locke Family Collection
Dates: 1865-2004
Bulk Dates: 1879-1948
Collection number: MSS-2008-06-01
Creator:
Michael Locke Ettington
Creator:
Mildred Smith
Collection Size:
4 boxes,
6.17 linear feet
Repository:
San José State University. Library.
San José, California 95192-0028
Abstract: The Sarah Locke Family Collection, 1865-2004 (bulk 1879-1948), is a small collection documenting the life of San Jose Normal
School graduate Sarah Locke (1879, 1880) and her family. The collection consists of a few books, journals and notes of Sarah
Locke (1876, 1879), and a transcription of her diary recording a trip to Yosemite in June of 1879. In addition, there are
a few original photographs and collection of digital images of Sarah Locke's ancestors and descendents, and a family genealogy
report (2004) that includes the pedigree chart for Sarah Locke and a list of her descendants. The collection also includes
a few personal items collected by Shirley Orpha Smith, granddaughter of Sarah Locke Smith. Shirley Orpha Smith completed her
B.A. in 1947 and 1948 she received an Occupational Therapy Certificate from San Jose State College.In addition to the donation
by Michael Locke Ettington, the Sarah Locke Family Collection also includes a black silk dress that belonged to Sarah Locke
and small a box of memorabilia. Mildred Smith, Sarah Locke's daughter donated these materials to the San Jose State University
Library in the 1960s. This collection is arranged into three series: Series I: Family Papers and Photographs, 1845-2006; Series
II: Sarah Locke Memorabilia, 1880-1969; Series III: Silk Dress, circa 1880.
Physical location: Vault 1, Ranges 20B and 32A
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Access
The collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright is assigned to the San José State University Library 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 as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the
copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader. Copyright restrictions also apply to digital
reproductions of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.
Preferred Citation
Sarah Locke Family Collection, MSS-2008-06-01, San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives.
Project Information
This finding aid was created as part of the Survey and Cataloging Project, a two-year San Jose 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.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Danelle Moon and Silke Higgins. Finding aid EAD encoded by Silke Higgins and Rosalinda Gonzales. Reviewed
by Danelle Moon and Erin Louthen.
Biographical History
Sarah Locke Smith was born Sarah Anne Jane Locke on August 5th, 1860, in Lockeford, California (San Joaquin County). Her parents
were George Shepley Locke and Susan Lucretia Hammond. Sarah attended the San Jose Normal School in San Jose, California, where
she received an elementary education degree in 1879, and May of 1880 she received a secondary education degree, graduating
in twenty-first class. During her time at the Normal School, Sarah's interests included botany and poetry. Between the years
1880-1882, Sarah taught in Humboldt County. On December 25, 1882, she married William Thomas Smith, and later the couple moved
to Ferndale, California. They had six children, three boys and three girls: Elmer William Smith, 1883; Harry James Smith,
1885; Warren Locke Smith, 1886; Ethel Smith, 1888; Mildred Smith 1891; and Gertrude Smith, 1898. Sarah Locke died on June
19th, 1939 in Ferndale, California.
Shirley Orpha Smith, daughter of Warren Locke Smith, was born December 31, 1924. She completed her B.A. in 1947 and received
her Occupational Therapy Certificate from San Jose State College in 1948.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Sarah Locke Family Papers is a small collection documenting the life of San Jose State Normal School graduate Sarah Locke
(1879, 1880). The bulk of this collection was donated to San Jose State University Special Collections & Archives by the great
grandson of Sarah Locke Smith, Michael Locke Ettington. The collection primarily documents Sarah Locke's experiences while
attending San Jose State Normal School, and includes a few books, journals and notes (1876, 1879), a transcription of her
diary recording a trip to Yosemite in June of 1879. In addition, there are a few original photographs and a collection of
digital images that depict Sarah Locke's ancestors and descendents, and a family genealogy report (2004) that includes the
pedigree chart for Sarah Locke and a list of her descendants.
In addition, the collection includes a few personal items collected by Shirley Orpha Smith, granddaughter of Sarah Locke Smith.
Shirley Orpha Smith completed her B.A. in 1947 and in 1948 she received an Occupational Therapy Certificate from San Jose
State College.
In addition to the donation by Michael Locke Ettington, the collection also includes a black silk dress that belonged to Sarah
Locke and small a box of memorabilia. Midlred Smith, Sarah Locke's daughter donated these materials to the San Jose State
University Library in the 1969.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into three series: Series I: Family Papers and Photographs, 1845-2006; Series II: Sarah Locke
Memorabilia, 1880-1969; Series III: Silk Dress, circa 1880.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
San Jose State University -- History.
San Jose State Normal School -- History.
San Jose State teachers College -- History.
San Jose State College -- History.
California State University, San Jose -- History.
Education, Higher -- California -- San Jose.
Teachers colleges -- California -- San Jose.
Student life and customs.
Memorabilia.
Clothing & dress -- 1880-1890.
Related Material
San Jose State Normal School Principals and Early Presidents Records, MSS-2009-02-01, San Jose State University Library Special
Collections & Archives.
Collection Contents
Series I:
Family Papers and Photographs, 1845-2004
1914-1918
Physical Description: 1 Box, 11 Folders
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series documents the history of San Jose State Normal School graduate Sarah Locke Smith (1879, 1880) and San Jose State
College (SJSC) graduate, Shirley Orpha Smith (1947). It also includes photographs of Sarah and her husband William, as well
as their ancestors and descendents from the 1860s to 1948, and a family genealogy report from 2004. The collection of family
photographs documents Sarah Locke Smith and William T. Smith and their immediate family. In addition, there are two small
photographic books, and a class photograph of Shirley Orpha Smith's 1947 graduation from San Jose State College, as well as
a few SJSC occupational therapy student patches and a hat.
Note that Michael Locke Ettington allowed the department to digitize a small family photo album, but he has retained the original
artifact. The digital images are represented in the King Library Special Collections Digital Library at http://digitalcollections.sjlibrary.org/.
Arrangement
This series of family papers is arranged chronologically by date and format.
The materials related to Sarah Locke Smith are located in folders 1-7, and the materials documenting Shirley Orpha Smith are
contained in folders 8-10.
Folder 3
Journals/notes
[1876, 1879]
Folder 4-6
Photographs/CDR
[1865-1936]
Folder 7
Postcard of Tower Hall
[1936]
Folder 8
Copy Diploma
[1947-1948]
Folder 9
Photographs of Shirley Smith
[1947-1948]
Folder 10
School Patches/Cap
[1947-1948]
Folder 11
Locke Family Genealogy
[2004]
Series II:
Memorabilia
1880-1969
Physical Description: 1 Box
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series contains a framed photograph of Sarah Locke that depicts her wearing the black silk dress contained in Series
III. In addition, this series includes a companion autograph book signed by Sarah Locke's class mates, several copies of the
1880 California State Normal School Commencement Program listing Sarah Locke as a graduate, and an essay written by Sarah
Locke titled "Is it Worthwhile," discussing the merits of Normal School education. Of special note is a 1969 letter from Mildred
Smith, daughter of Sarah Locke, which details aspects of Sarah Locke's personal and professional life as a teacher.
Box 2
Sarah Locke Memorabilia
[1880-1969]
Series III:
Silk Dress
Circa 1880
Physical Description: 2 boxes
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series contains the black silk dress that Sarah Locke wore during her 1880 commencement ceremony. The dress was donated
to San Jose State Normal School by her daughter Mildred Smith.
Box 3-4
Sarah Locke's Black Silk Dress
[Circa 1880]
