Sourisseau Academy for State and Local History |
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The Sourisseau Academy for State and Local History was established in 1971. Its activities are endowed by a bequest from Eva Sourisseau who wished to honor the memory of her father, Felix Sourisseau, a pioneer to Santa Clara County in 1849. A native of Bordeaux, France, Felix and his father came to California in 1846, engaging in the mercantile business in San Francisco, Chili, and Marysville before settling in San Jose in 1849. Felix was a pioneer gunsmith and a hotel owner, becoming a dominant figure in the business life of the community. He died in 1909, leaving a large estate to be managed by his seven children. The youngest of the family, Eva successfully followed her father's footsteps into the world of business.
The mission of the Academy is to promote local history through sponsoring research, educational programs, and publication. The Academy awards several small grants each semester to further scholarly research by graduate students and individuals in the historical community. We are actively engaged in the rescue of endangered archival documents and act as a clearing house for the placement of archival collections in appropriate repositories. The Academy maintains a small archives of documents and historical photographs. We also provide a variety of outreach services. The Sourisseau Academy is governed by a board of trustees drawn in part from the faculty of San Jose State University and from the community. The staff consists of the executive secretary and the archivist. Search Our Collections 2009-2010 Board of DirectorsStan Underdal, DirectorSJSU History Department Jack Douglas SJSU Library, Emeritus April Halberstadt Community Historian Paula Jabloner Archivist, Computer History Museum Bob Johnson California Room, King Library, Emeritus Glen Gendzel SJSU History Department Thomas Layton SJSU Anthropology Department, Emeritus Franklin Maggi Community Historian Margo McBane SJSU History Department Danelle Moon King Library, Special Collections Jim Reed Archivist, History San Jose Beth Wyman Community Historian |
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