Search results | SJSU Digital Collections

#	Title	Creator	Description	Date
1	Aubrey Minter	SJSU Special Collections & Archives	Aubrey Minter attended San Jose State College from 1940-1944. He was a football halfback, baseball player, and novice boxer. Minter was a member of the football team when they traveled to Hawaii in November 1941 to play against both University of Hawaii and Willamette University. The trip was violently interrupted by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and Minter and his teammates spent the weeks after the attack assisting the local police and engaging in the work of digging trenches,... Show moreAubrey Minter attended San Jose State College from 1940-1944. He was a football halfback, baseball player, and novice boxer. Minter was a member of the football team when they traveled to Hawaii in November 1941 to play against both University of Hawaii and Willamette University. The trip was violently interrupted by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and Minter and his teammates spent the weeks after the attack assisting the local police and engaging in the work of digging trenches, installing barbed wire, and patrolling to ensure the safety of the island’s inhabitants. Minter and his teammates' experience is detailed in the book “Scrimmage for War: A Story of Pearl Harbor, Football, and WWII.” Show less	2022
2	Don Presley	SJSU Special Collections & Archives	Don Presley attended San Jose State College from 1937-1940. Presley was active in several sports, including football, heavyweight boxing, and track and field. In 1938, Presley and fellow Black students William Lewis and Lloyd Thomas performed the “Truckin’” dance craze of the time as part of the Spartan Revue. That year he and his dance partner also won “Leading Campus Dancers” at the Press Club contest at the Student Union. In 1939, he lettered in Varsity Football. After graduation, Presley... Show moreDon Presley attended San Jose State College from 1937-1940. Presley was active in several sports, including football, heavyweight boxing, and track and field. In 1938, Presley and fellow Black students William Lewis and Lloyd Thomas performed the “Truckin’” dance craze of the time as part of the Spartan Revue. That year he and his dance partner also won “Leading Campus Dancers” at the Press Club contest at the Student Union. In 1939, he lettered in Varsity Football. After graduation, Presley had a short career as a professional heavyweight boxer, from 1940-1941. Show less	2022
3	Douglas Kinnard	SJSU Special Collections & Archives	Douglas Kinnard attended San Jose State College from 1934-1935. At SJSC, he was active in sports including shotput and track. He was also a member of Phi Mu Alpha, a men’s music honor fraternity, and directed the Little Symphony Orchestra in a student recital. After leaving SJSC, he returned in 1939 to perform as a bass player as part of Johnny Cooper’s Orchestra.	2022
4	Edward Homer Soulds	SJSU Special Collections & Archives	Edward Homer Soulds attended San Jose State College from 1941-1942. He competed in several sports, including football, boxing, and wrestling. In 1941, Soulds was honored with a Service Award for wrestling. In World War II, he was a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps, and went on to become a Lieutenant Colonel during further service. Soulds is the author of the book “Black Shavetail in Whitey’s Army” which describes his 20 years in the military and his experiences with racism while serving... Show moreEdward Homer Soulds attended San Jose State College from 1941-1942. He competed in several sports, including football, boxing, and wrestling. In 1941, Soulds was honored with a Service Award for wrestling. In World War II, he was a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps, and went on to become a Lieutenant Colonel during further service. Soulds is the author of the book “Black Shavetail in Whitey’s Army” which describes his 20 years in the military and his experiences with racism while serving his country. He went on to work for the California Youth Authority and California Human Resources Development. Show less	2022
5	Ernie Allen	SJSU Special Collections & Archives	Ernie Allen attended San Jose State College from 1940-1941. Allen was born in Oakland on November 1, 1918. He was a member of the basketball teams at Oakland Technical High School, Marin Junior College, and San Jose State. Allen was active in civil rights causes, and was the plaintiff in the 1953 lawsuit that ended racial segregation in the Oakland Fire Department. For 43 years, he ran Supreme Poultry and Grocery in East Oakland, which was one of the only Black-owned groceries in the Oakland... Show moreErnie Allen attended San Jose State College from 1940-1941. Allen was born in Oakland on November 1, 1918. He was a member of the basketball teams at Oakland Technical High School, Marin Junior College, and San Jose State. Allen was active in civil rights causes, and was the plaintiff in the 1953 lawsuit that ended racial segregation in the Oakland Fire Department. For 43 years, he ran Supreme Poultry and Grocery in East Oakland, which was one of the only Black-owned groceries in the Oakland area. Allen passed away on June 27, 1997. Show less	2022
6	Faricita Hall	SJSU Special Collections & Archives	Faricita Hall (Wyatt) attended San Jose State College from 1932-1935. She graduated in 1935 with an A.B. degree in Speech. Wyatt was also a member of many clubs, groups, and teams, including the San Jose Players acting club, the Debate Team, the Negro Verse Speaking Choir, the Asilomar Conference Planning Committee, as well as serving as secretary of the Cosmopolitan Club. During World War II Wyatt enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps as a lieutenant. In 1958, she accepted a position as chief... Show moreFaricita Hall (Wyatt) attended San Jose State College from 1932-1935. She graduated in 1935 with an A.B. degree in Speech. Wyatt was also a member of many clubs, groups, and teams, including the San Jose Players acting club, the Debate Team, the Negro Verse Speaking Choir, the Asilomar Conference Planning Committee, as well as serving as secretary of the Cosmopolitan Club. During World War II Wyatt enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps as a lieutenant. In 1958, she accepted a position as chief secretary to Democratic congressman Jeffrey Cohelan, and also worked with the NAACP, YWCA, and YMCA. Wyatt received her teaching certificate from U.C. Berkeley in 1962 and went on to teach at Skyline High School in Oakland. She was a painter and author, with two of her books of poetry being published in 1965 and 1974. Wyatt passed away in 1993. Her personal papers are available to view at the African American Museum & Library of Oakland. Show less	2022
7	Hal Capers	SJSU Special Collections & Archives	Originally from Los Angeles, Hal Capers attended San Jose State College in 1943. He was a member of the track team and specialized in the broad and high jump. As a high jumper, Capers was one of only two first place winners from San Jose State during a Spring 1943 meet against U.C. Berkeley, and the sole first place high jump winner at the 1943 Stanford Invitational. At the end of Spring quarter 1943, Capers withdrew from school and returned home to Los Angeles, his reasoning being that he... Show moreOriginally from Los Angeles, Hal Capers attended San Jose State College in 1943. He was a member of the track team and specialized in the broad and high jump. As a high jumper, Capers was one of only two first place winners from San Jose State during a Spring 1943 meet against U.C. Berkeley, and the sole first place high jump winner at the 1943 Stanford Invitational. At the end of Spring quarter 1943, Capers withdrew from school and returned home to Los Angeles, his reasoning being that he was bound to be drafted into World War II. Show less	2022
8	Henrietta Harris	SJSU Special Collections & Archives	Henrietta Harris attended San Jose State College briefly in 1933, and then from 1936-1940. She graduated in 1940 with a degree in Music. Harris grew up in San José on N. 7th Street, and moved to the East Bay after graduating. At SJSC, Harris was a leader of the Negro Youth Association of San Jose, and a member of Tau Mu Delta, the honor society for music majors. During World War II, she worked as a welder at Richmond’s Kaiser shipyard, and after the war as a library clerk at U.C. Berkeley.... Show moreHenrietta Harris attended San Jose State College briefly in 1933, and then from 1936-1940. She graduated in 1940 with a degree in Music. Harris grew up in San José on N. 7th Street, and moved to the East Bay after graduating. At SJSC, Harris was a leader of the Negro Youth Association of San Jose, and a member of Tau Mu Delta, the honor society for music majors. During World War II, she worked as a welder at Richmond’s Kaiser shipyard, and after the war as a library clerk at U.C. Berkeley. Harris was an accomplished singer and performer whose stage career began at SJSC and continued on after her relocation to Berkeley, where she took the role of sorceress in “Dido and Aeneas” in a U.C. Berkeley production. Some of her favorite types of music to sing included Bach, German Lieder, and spirituals. She continued her acting and singing career while living in both New York City and San Francisco, and became a well-respected acting and voice teacher as well as the founder of the African American theater group, the Aldridge Players-West. Harris passed away on March 8, 2017 at the age of 100. Her oral history is available at U.C. Berkeley’s Bancroft Library. Show less	2022
9	Irving Smith	SJSU Special Collections & Archives	The University Archives has records of a student named Irving Smith on the track team in 1942. We also have records of a track athlete named Bill Smith, sometimes called Billy Smith. SJSU Athletics has records of a student named Bill I. Smith on the Track Team in 1942. If we are correct to assume that Bill I. Smith and Irving Smith are the same person, then it appears that he attended San Jose State College in 1942. He was a member of the track team and received a Service Award for Track in... Show moreThe University Archives has records of a student named Irving Smith on the track team in 1942. We also have records of a track athlete named Bill Smith, sometimes called Billy Smith. SJSU Athletics has records of a student named Bill I. Smith on the Track Team in 1942. If we are correct to assume that Bill I. Smith and Irving Smith are the same person, then it appears that he attended San Jose State College in 1942. He was a member of the track team and received a Service Award for Track in May of 1942. Smith may have also been a member of the campus Forensic Squad and participated in debates and speeches as part of that club. He was called into service with the Army Reserves during World War II. In 1946 the Spartan Daily reported that Bill Smith was married and working in Southern California. Show less	2022
10	John Allen	SJSU Special Collections & Archives	John Allen attended San Jose State College from 1939-1941. He was active in multiple sports, including football, basketball, and baseball. In 1939, Allen “broke the color barrier” as the first Black member of the Spartan baseball team. After hitting above .300 during his college sports career, he received the Outstanding Athlete of the Year award for 1941. After graduation, Allen was inducted into the San José State Hall of Fame. He went on to play semi-pro baseball with Oakland’s California... Show moreJohn Allen attended San Jose State College from 1939-1941. He was active in multiple sports, including football, basketball, and baseball. In 1939, Allen “broke the color barrier” as the first Black member of the Spartan baseball team. After hitting above .300 during his college sports career, he received the Outstanding Athlete of the Year award for 1941. After graduation, Allen was inducted into the San José State Hall of Fame. He went on to play semi-pro baseball with Oakland’s California Eagles. He also worked as a postal worker for the Berkeley Post Office, and from there went on to have an over 30-year career at the Paper Box Corporation in Oakland. Allen passed away on November 2, 1997. Show less	2022
11	Lloyd Thomas	SJSU Special Collections & Archives	Lloyd Thomas attended San Jose State College from 1936-1939. He was a sportsman, playing both basketball and football. In 1937, Thomas traveled with his football teammates to Hawaii to meet up with their University of Hawaii counterparts. During the trip, he was part of a team that debated U of H student athletes and was noted as “an exceptional debater.” In 1938, Thomas was named to the junior All-American List as “one of the outstanding ends of the country in the small colleges and... Show moreLloyd Thomas attended San Jose State College from 1936-1939. He was a sportsman, playing both basketball and football. In 1937, Thomas traveled with his football teammates to Hawaii to meet up with their University of Hawaii counterparts. During the trip, he was part of a team that debated U of H student athletes and was noted as “an exceptional debater.” In 1938, Thomas was named to the junior All-American List as “one of the outstanding ends of the country in the small colleges and university division.” Also in 1938, Thomas and fellow Black students William Lewis and Don Presley performed the “Truckin’” dance craze of the time as part of the Spartan Revue. In 1939, Thomas was captain of the basketball team. Show less	2022
12	Lucy Turner	SJSU Special Collections & Archives	Lucy Turner (Johnson) was the first Black woman to attend and graduate from SJSU, 1905-1907, when it was known as the California State Normal School. Originally from San Antonio, Texas, Johnson and her parents moved to Julian St. in San José in 1898. After graduating from the Teacher’s College, Johnson married and she and her husband Charles moved to Berkeley. She volunteered with the Red Cross, was the Chairman of Forestry for the California State Federation of Colored Women, and was active... Show moreLucy Turner (Johnson) was the first Black woman to attend and graduate from SJSU, 1905-1907, when it was known as the California State Normal School. Originally from San Antonio, Texas, Johnson and her parents moved to Julian St. in San José in 1898. After graduating from the Teacher’s College, Johnson married and she and her husband Charles moved to Berkeley. She volunteered with the Red Cross, was the Chairman of Forestry for the California State Federation of Colored Women, and was active in Republican politics and at her church, Antioch Baptist. In addition, Johnson worked as a polling station inspector, and ran a volunteer group for GOP Aids in their new Berkeley Headquarters in 1957. She passed away on February 16, 1969. Show less	2022
13	Mark Courts	SJSU Special Collections & Archives	Mark Courts attended San Jose State College from 1942-1943. He was involved in both football and boxing during his time on campus. He lived at the YMCA and worked at a local cannery, as many students did during the summer.	2022
14	Ralph Kaufman	SJSU Special Collections & Archives	Originally from Los Angeles, Ralph Kaufman attended Hollywood High School before entering San Jose State College in 1941. Kaufman was active in track, and in the Spring 1942 semester, he traveled with the track team to San Diego for conference championships. In 1943, Kaufman left SJSC to join the Armed Forces, and announced his intention to return to school in 1946.	2022
15	Roger Romine	SJSU Special Collections & Archives	Originally from Oakland, Roger Romine attended Oakland Technical High School and Salinas Junior College before transferring to San Jose State College, which he attended from 1941-1942. He was active in track, and as Chairman of the college YWCA-sponsored Cosmopolitan Club. He studied both Architectural Drawing and Bacteriology, as well as taking civilian pilot training classes. Romine left school to serve in World War II as a First Lieutenant in the Army Air Force, and was one of the first... Show moreOriginally from Oakland, Roger Romine attended Oakland Technical High School and Salinas Junior College before transferring to San Jose State College, which he attended from 1941-1942. He was active in track, and as Chairman of the college YWCA-sponsored Cosmopolitan Club. He studied both Architectural Drawing and Bacteriology, as well as taking civilian pilot training classes. Romine left school to serve in World War II as a First Lieutenant in the Army Air Force, and was one of the first Black officers commissioned from Oakland. He received his training at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, making him a member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen. While serving, he was a member of the first all-Black fighter group in the AAF, and was credited with destroying three Nazi aircraft. Romine passed away in an accident while serving, on November 16, 1944. He was the first member of his Negro Mustang Fighter group to receive a posthumous award of the Distinguished Flying Cross. Show less	2022
16	Thelno Knowles	SJSU Special Collections & Archives	Thelno Knowles attended San Jose State College from 1941-1943, and from 1946-1948 following service in World War II. He majored in Philosophy. He was a member of the campus Cosmopolitan Club, and spoke on the topic "Is This Democracy?" at the Student Center in 1943. He was a record-holding member of the track team, and competed in the AAU Championships in New York along with fellow Black student track athletes Irving Smith and Willie Steele. In 1943, Coach Bud Winter said of Knowles, “There... Show moreThelno Knowles attended San Jose State College from 1941-1943, and from 1946-1948 following service in World War II. He majored in Philosophy. He was a member of the campus Cosmopolitan Club, and spoke on the topic "Is This Democracy?" at the Student Center in 1943. He was a record-holding member of the track team, and competed in the AAU Championships in New York along with fellow Black student track athletes Irving Smith and Willie Steele. In 1943, Coach Bud Winter said of Knowles, “There is no man in the nation with a better chance to run a 4-minute mile.” In 1945, while serving in World War II, Knowles won the European Championship at Frankfurt, Germany. During his Senior year, Knowles traveled to Los Angeles with four other track team members to compete in the invitational Coliseum Relays held by USC. In 1948, he was a captain on the SJSC varsity track team. In addition to track, Knowles took part in novice campus boxing matches. He graduated in December 1948. Show less	2022
17	William Lewis	SJSU Special Collections & Archives	William Lewis attended San Jose State College from 1934-1939. He majored in Physical Education and was active in multiple sports, including as a fullback in sophomore football, and as a guard in freshman basketball. In December 1935, Lewis was one of 19 football players who were handpicked to travel via cruise ship to Hawaii to play against Kamahamoa. In 1938, Lewis and fellow Black students Don Presley and Lloyd Thomas performed the “Truckin’” dance craze of the time as part of the Spartan... Show moreWilliam Lewis attended San Jose State College from 1934-1939. He majored in Physical Education and was active in multiple sports, including as a fullback in sophomore football, and as a guard in freshman basketball. In December 1935, Lewis was one of 19 football players who were handpicked to travel via cruise ship to Hawaii to play against Kamahamoa. In 1938, Lewis and fellow Black students Don Presley and Lloyd Thomas performed the “Truckin’” dance craze of the time as part of the Spartan Revue. Show less	2022
18	William Moulden	SJSU Special Collections & Archives	William Moulden attended San Jose State College from 1935-1941. Originally from Palo Alto, Moulden was a member of the SJSC Negro Verse Speaking Choir, which was dedicated to performing poetry. At one 1935 campus event, Moulden and fellow choir members performed the poetry of Black poets, including Langston Hughes, Paul Laurence Dunbar, and Countee Cullen. He played inside left on the J.C. soccer team. He was also a welter and middleweight in boxing, and went on to compete with the Bayshore... Show moreWilliam Moulden attended San Jose State College from 1935-1941. Originally from Palo Alto, Moulden was a member of the SJSC Negro Verse Speaking Choir, which was dedicated to performing poetry. At one 1935 campus event, Moulden and fellow choir members performed the poetry of Black poets, including Langston Hughes, Paul Laurence Dunbar, and Countee Cullen. He played inside left on the J.C. soccer team. He was also a welter and middleweight in boxing, and went on to compete with the Bayshore Athletic Club and the Redwood City Athletic Club. In 1936, as a member of the campus Radio Club, Moulden held a public demonstration of a Tesla Coil that was made by the Industrial Arts Department. In 1939, as a member of Alpha Eta Rho Aviation club, Moulden received his solo flying license. After leaving SJSC, he served in World War II and became a Major in the U.S. Army. Moulden passed away on October 21, 2001. Show less	2022
19	Willie Steele	SJSU Special Collections & Archives	Originally from San Diego, Willie Steele attended San Jose State College from 1942-1943, then finished his schooling at San Diego State. While best known for his skills at the broad and high jump, Steele also played multiple other sports including baseball, football, and boxing. In 1942, he set the college’s field jump mark record with a 25’7” jump, which stood as the record until 1966, earning him the National Junior Broad Jump title. In 1945, Steele competed in the Allied Track and Field... Show moreOriginally from San Diego, Willie Steele attended San Jose State College from 1942-1943, then finished his schooling at San Diego State. While best known for his skills at the broad and high jump, Steele also played multiple other sports including baseball, football, and boxing. In 1942, he set the college’s field jump mark record with a 25’7” jump, which stood as the record until 1966, earning him the National Junior Broad Jump title. In 1945, Steele competed in the Allied Track and Field Championships at the Foro D’Italia stadium in Florence, Italy and won both the broad and high jump events. While at school, Steele batted .310, and after graduation from San Diego State he made the 1949 second All-CCAA baseball team as a first baseman. He competed in the 1948 London Olympics and won gold in the long jump. Steele served as an Army Private First Class in the Fifth Army in World War II. He became a director in Oakland’s Parks and Rec Department, and retired in 1988. Steele passed away on Sept. 19, 1989. Show less	2022