California State (1862)

"California State (1862): The Hidden History of the CSU in San Jose and Beyond" is the story of the founding California State University (CSU) campus, and its devolution from California State to San Jose State. The first half of the book focuses on the historical background the "California" identity culminating in the establishment of the State of California. It then tells the story of the establishment of the California State Normal School and how it devolved into "San Jose State". The book then uncovers the efforts of SJSU supporters to bury the school's Cal State past, and recent efforts by CSU-oriented alumni to restore the school's broader original identity. The second half of the book analyzes and explores the modern-day ramifications of the school's devolution from California State to "SJSU", and what can be done to help San Jose State and its graduates now.Short and easy-to-read, the book is written for students and alumni, not academics, and includes a number of images with historically accurate captions that help debunk SJSU-propagated myths about the school and its history.