Bowman Library's digital special collections document the College's history. Through its collection development program, Bowman Library seeks to digitize archival materials and provide primary source material for anyone interested in the legacy of Silicon Valley.
Many of Bowman Library's archival collections are at risk and require stabilization and digital preservation processing. To support archival processing, please donate to Bowman Library's collection development program. We would like to be able to digitize archival photographs, newspapers, campus magazines and more.
Historical materials can reveal images and language that are sexist, racist, ableist, heterosexist, or hateful towards minoritized communities. These depictions are abusive and traumatic. Some of the content in this collection contains language or imagery that are unquestionably offensive. These materials have been retained in their original form.
The Menlo College Bowman Library believes in the importance of facilitating and disseminating information and providing an honest view of the College’s history. We are committed to transparency and resist attempts to censor our collections. We stand in community with the countless libraries and archives committed to digitizing collections, thereby enabling increased access to all of our collections. The Bowman Library stands in solidarity with minoritized groups and rejects the nature of some of the images and text found herein. We believe presenting the content in its entirety ensures accountability and serves as a reminder that we must learn from our past.
Personally Identifiable Information (PII) statement:
Menlo College special collections items may include Personally Identifiable Information (PII) of Menlo School and Menlo College students, staff, faculty, and alumni. PII in our special collections is typically limited to personal names and photos. You may request to remove PII pertaining to yourself from Menlo College Special Collections by emailing libraryhelp@menlo.edu.
This collection features yearbooks from 1925 through 2009, showcasing Menlo College’s transition from a junior college to a private four-year undergraduate college granting Bachelor degrees. Although the collection features many yearbooks, it is not a comprehensive collection. Bowman Library does not have yearbooks for the following years: 1926, 1933-1935, 1937-1954, 1958, 1960-1963, 1975, 1978, 1981, 1986, 1992-1993, and 1996-2008.
This collection features commencement brochures from 1940 to present, featuring Menlo College graduations, as well as some from Menlo School. These brochures provide snapshots of the history of Menlo College, including biographies of valedictorians, student government presidents, and graduation speakers. The collection is not comprehensive.
Psychology Theses
This collection features student newspapers published from 1928 to the present, showcasing the voices of the student body on campus over the years. The student newspapers serve as a record of history for Menlo College as well as the world at large- changes in the publication’s stories, name, and format reflect changes in the student community from Menlo College’s beginning as the Menlo School to the present day. The student newspaper collection is not comprehensive, but holds digitized versions of the physical newspapers currently held in the library collection.