In 1857 the San Francisco Board of Education established Minns' Evening Normal School for current and prospective teachers in the city. Named after its principal, George W. Minns, the institution was formally established as the first California State Normal School by the State Legislature in 1862. A decade later, the Legislature voted to move the Normal School to San José, and the school relocated to its new home on Washington Square prior to the fall term of 1872. After a fire destroyed the Normal School building in 1880, the Legislature authorized $200,000 to construct a new building on the same site. Completed in 1881, the building was commonly referred to as the Second State Normal School. After several names and curriculum changes, Minns' Normal School is now San José State University, offering more than 134 bachelor's and master's degrees with 110 concentrations, and is recognized as one of the top public universities granting such degrees in the West.

The San José State University Jewish Studies Program, primarily residing in the History Department, was established in September 1975 by San José State University History Professor Dr. Robert Levinson, who served as the program’s first Coordinator. Over its years of operation, several individuals from various departments have held the post of Coordinator. After Dr. Robert Levinson got involved in an auto accident in 1980, eventually passing away due to his injuries, San José State University History Professor Dr. Aaron Goldman took over as Coordinator, followed by San José State University History Professor Dr. Barbara Dubbens. Although this collection contains no documents involving Michael Katz from the Philosophy and English Departments, he also served as Coordinator. From the years 1993-2006, San José State University English Professor and Jewish Literature scholar Dr. David Mesher served as Coordinator. In 2006, Dr. Jonathan Roth hired Victoria Harrison to serve as Coordinator, who maintained the post until 2014. With the post of Coordinator vacant, the Jewish Studies Program was moved to the Geography Department along with the Global Studies Program, but shortly returned to the History Department. Shortly after, Dr. Jonathan Roth stepped in as Interim Coordinator, until in 2018, Ignat Ayzenberg was hired. Since its establishment, the Jewish Studies Program has offered a Minor to students, with its courses coming from different departments that have a focus on Jewish Studies content. Additionally, the Jewish Studies Program aims to support Jewish Life and Scholarship on campus through various activities and events.