The Burdick Military History Project is intended to support the study and teaching
of military history at San Jose State University, and is part of the History Department.
The Burdick Project is named after Professor Charles B. Burdick, to honor his memory
and his contribution to the study of military history. After service in the United
States Army, he graduated as a history major from San Jose State College in 1949,
and obtained his Ph.D. at Stanford University. The research for his dissertation,
on the German High Command in World War II, involved interviews with many of the surviving
members of the German General Staff. In 1957, Burdick returned to San Jose State
as a member of the History Department and in 1976, became its chair. Burdick worked
to create the vigorous military history program at SJSU and helped build up the library’s
collection to one of the best on the west coast. During his career, he published dozens
of articles and book chapters, and wrote or edited over 20 books. After an association
with San Jose State that spanned 45 years, Dr. Burdick retired in 1988. He died in
1998, and in that year the Project was named in his honor.
The Project has sponsored numerous lectures, panels and talks, including the annual
Charles Burdick Memorial Military History Symposium, held every spring since 1996.
Topics have included African-Americans in the military, Women in the Military, the
Military History of Iraq, SJSU at War; and our most recent event, a panel discussion
“Writing Military History,” which included four local writers of popular military
history. We also sponsor the annual Harry Gailey Memorial Lecture on a military campaign,
as well as other presentations. We also provide support for the Air Force and Army
ROTC, military recruiters, and the SJSU Veterans Student Organization. We have donated
material for a number of university exhibits, including the 150th anniversary and
a recent one in Special Collections on World War II posters.
The Project is located in Industrial Studies, 239 where we keep our collection of
more than 5,000 books, journals, pamphlets, field manuals, photographs and artifacts.
There is not only an excellent collection of general military history works, but many
that are quite unusual and even rare. Our American Civil War collection is derived
mainly from the personal one of the former State Librarian of Illinois. We have a
small collection of donated militaria, including an 1812 Brown Bess musket (kept in
the University Police firearms locker) and a 17th century English cavalry helmet.
The Project includes a Veterans oral history project, and has collected dozens of
oral histories, including those made with a number of faculty veterans.
The Burdick Military History Project Office is open Monday through Friday, 10am to 4pm.
Get Involved:
To make donations, volunteer, or join our mailing list, please contact Dr. Jonathan Roth by calling 408.924.5505 or emailing him at jonathan.roth@sjsu.edu.