Susanne B. Wilson Digital Collection | SJSU Digital Collections

Primary tabs

In collections

Special Collections & Archives

Details

Description: The Susanne B. Wilson digital collection represents a snapshot of her time as a San Jose City Council member, Vice Mayor of San Jose, and Santa Clara County Supervisor. Born in Gonzales, Texas in 1928, she relocated to San Jose in 1961, where she quickly became involved in local politics as a volunteer and then board member of the YWCA. A strong proponent of social justice, Wilson was elected to the San Jose City Council in 1973, when Santa Clara County was considered the premier location... Show moreThe Susanne B. Wilson digital collection represents a snapshot of her time as a San Jose City Council member, Vice Mayor of San Jose, and Santa Clara County Supervisor. Born in Gonzales, Texas in 1928, she relocated to San Jose in 1961, where she quickly became involved in local politics as a volunteer and then board member of the YWCA. A strong proponent of social justice, Wilson was elected to the San Jose City Council in 1973, when Santa Clara County was considered the premier location for women in politics in the United States. Eight years later, Wilson became a Santa Clara County Supervisor for District 1, where she advocated for equal rights for women, minorities, and the LGBTQ communities. Another significant contribution was her protection of public hospitals from potential closure, especially the Valley Medical Center. After retiring from her political career in 1991, Wilson co-founded the Valley Medical Center Foundation and served on its Board of Directors to improve health services and access in the county. She mentored many women entering politics and continued her advocacy until her death in 2018. The photographs in this collection depict Wilson through her campaign publicity photographs, especially those in city council meetings and during her work as a Supervisor. Other prominent local and national officials feature alongside Wilson, including congressman Ted Kennedy, Congressman Don Edwards, Congressman Norman Mineta, California Senator Pete Wilson, California Senator Alfred Alquist, First Lady Rosalynn Carter, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, fellow Board of Supervisors member Dianne McKenna, and former mayor Janet Gray Hayes. Show less

1
2
next
last

Geraldine Ferraro

Title: Geraldine Ferraro
Description: Geraldine Ferraro giving a speech in San Jose. Ferraro was the first female Vice-Presidential candidate, running with Walter Mondale (D). Supervisor Zoe Lofgren (now Congresswoman representing Santa Clara County) stands behind Ferraro on the stage.
Date: 1984

Title: Iola Williams
Description: Iola Williams, San Jose City Council Member; she was the first African American woman to be elected to the San Jose city council.
Date: 1979

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Susanne Wilson with a young student during one of her campaign meetings for the San Jose City Council, seat #5.
Date: 1973

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: A woman holds a political flyer of Susanne Wilson. According to Wilson, she knocked on the door to promote her campaign and convinced this woman to support her campaign for city council.
Date: 1973

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Janet Gray Hayes and Susanne Wilson pose between an unidentified man in uniform.
Date: 1973

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Susanne Wilson with Congressman Don Edwards.
Date: 1975

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Susanne Wilson giving a speech during her election campaign for the San Jose City Council.
Date: 1973

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Supervisor Susanne Wilson sitting on a bus with Senator Pete Wilson, Jim Graebner, and Congressman Don Edwards. Standing to the left of Wilson is Norman Mineta.
Date: 1983-09

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Susanne Wilson with California Assembly woman Lena Egeland posing in front of a tiered cake, celebrating the 200th annivesary of San Jose, 1777-1977.
Date: 1977-11-29

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Susanne Wilson with Rod Diridon, Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.
Date: 1979

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors from left to right: Dianne McKenna, Zoe Lofgren, and Susanne Wilson.
Date: 1987

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Susanne Wilson laughing.
Date: 1973

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Susanne Wilson posing with a volley ball.
Date: 1981

Title: Susanne Wilson
Date: 1976

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Susanne Wilson on her neighborhood precinct walk; shown here speaking to a woman about her campaign for seat #5, San Jose City Council.
Date: 1973

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Susanne Wilson stands with her campaign manager, Barbara Carey, who is dressed with dollar bills attached to her jacket.
Date: 1973

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Susanne Wilson holding an American Airline flag. To right her right is Janet Gray Hayes. Two men are visible but unidentified.
Date: 1975-02-18

Title: Susanne Wilson
Date: 1982

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Susanne Wilson with a small group of children in a kitchen.
Date: 1973

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Susanne Wilson in her cap and gown during her graduation ceremony from San Jose State University. She earned a BA in political science.
Date: 1976

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Susanne Wilson with a group of students during her election campaign for the San Jose City Council.
Date: 1973

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Dell Luck with Susanne Wilson and Janet Gray Hayes. The photograph is autographed by Gray Hayes.
Date: 1974-11

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Santa Clara County Board of Supervisor's resolution for the National Women's Political Conference in Houston, Texas. The attendees included: Supervisor Chairmen, Geraldine Steinberg, San Jose Vice Mayor, Susanne Wilson, Vicki Molina of Morgan Hill and farm worker activist, Beatrice Coffey, a commissioner for the Women's Commission on the Status of Women, and Diana Iguchi, a management analyst for the county. The National Women's Conference took place November 18-21, 1977. Delegates from every...
Show moreSanta Clara County Board of Supervisor's resolution for the National Women's Political Conference in Houston, Texas. The attendees included: Supervisor Chairmen, Geraldine Steinberg, San Jose Vice Mayor, Susanne Wilson, Vicki Molina of Morgan Hill and farm worker activist, Beatrice Coffey, a commissioner for the Women's Commission on the Status of Women, and Diana Iguchi, a management analyst for the county. The National Women's Conference took place November 18-21, 1977. Delegates from every state in the U.S. convened to discuss significant issues related to women, including the Equal Rights Amendment, abortion and reproductive rights, violence against women, poverty, welfare, feminism, and many other issues. It was first conference supported by Congress to address the diverse challenges of women's lives in the U.S.
Show less
Date: 1977-11

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Susanne Wilson with Janet Gray Hayes at her retirement from the San Jose City Council. Wilson left after winning her election bid to serve on the Santa Clara Board of Supervisors in 1979.
Date: 1978-12

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Susanne Wilson standing in front of her seat, Santa Clara Board of Supervisors.
Date: 1979-09

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Collage of photographs depicting Susanne Wilson in the kitchen, with the statement "Susie in the Kitchen, STATUS NOT STATIC."
Date: 1973

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Photograph of a young man and woman sitting at the kitchen table slicing vegetable. They were involved with Susanne Wilson's campaign for the San Jose City Council.

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Susanne Wilson with Austin Jenkins on the first light rail ride.
Date: 1987-05-19

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Susanne Wilson with Teddy (Edward) Kennedy and Norman Mineta.
Date: 1977

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Susanne Wilson posing in front of a photograph of San Jose City Hall.
Date: 1974

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Supervisor Susanne Wilson in a local parade.

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Supervisor Suzanne Wilson shown in a classic red car during a parade.
Date: 1982

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Susanne Wilson and Norman Mineta with a group of unidentified people.
Date: 1976

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Susanne Wilson with Rosalynn Carter.
Date: 1977

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Susanne Wilson with George Moscone, Mayor of San Francisco.
Date: 1978

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Councilwoman Susanne Wilson with an identified man holding shovels during the ground breaking ceremony for Grand? and Cushman.
Date: 1977-10-19

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Susanne Wilson giving a campagin speech during her election bid for seat #5 of the San Jose City Council.
Date: 1973

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Supervisor, Susanne Wilson, Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.
Date: 1987

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Susanne Wilson with California Assemblyman John Vasconcellos posing in front of a tiered cake, celebrating the 200th anniversary of San Jose, 1777-1977.
Date: 1977-11-29

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Portrait of Susanne Wilson.
Date: 1974

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Susanne Wilson holding a gavel in front of her Supervisor seat.
Date: 1979

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Susanne Wilson campaign photograph, San Jose City Council.
Date: 1973-09

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Three childrens are shown holding signs and are a pulling a wagon with Susanne Wilson's campaign literature. The sign on the right reads, "We Vote Susie," and the sign on thye right reads, "Susie Wilson for Council Seat 5."
Date: 1973

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Supervisors Dianne McKenna and Susanne Wilson pose with a gavel.
Date: 1987-01

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Susanne Wilson with Teddy (Edward) Kennedy.
Date: 1977

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Vice Mayor Susanne Wilson speaking into the microphone during a San Jose City Council meeting.
Date: 1978

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Susanne Wilson swearing in as a member of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisor, by Judge Pete Stone, January 1979.
Date: 1979

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Rina Rosenberg, Gerry Steinberg, with Susanne Wilson holding a bouquet of flowers, Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.
Date: 1980-12

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Susanne Wilson with Supervisor Sig Sanchez, Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.
Date: 1979

Title: Susanne Wilson
Description: Susanne Wilson sitting in her council chair, representing seat #5.
Date: 1975

1
2
next
last