Associated Students Records

Collection

Identifier: MS-0380

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Associated Students Records (1926-1997) document the development, operation, and administration of Associated Students. The collection includes correspondence, reports, memorandums, newspaper clippings, resolutions, meeting minutes, and agendas. The collection is divided into sixteen series: Constitution, By-laws, Resolutions (1935-1978), Election Files (1959-1992), Officer Files (1960-1998), Council Files (1926-1994), Board, Committee, and Task Force Files (1944-1995), Student Union Planning Files (1963-1965), Aztec Center Files (1943-1997), Operation Files (1955-1998), Activity and Project Files (1938-1997), Open Air Theatre Files (1978-1987), Cultural Arts Board Visitor and Performer Files (1964-1974), Meeting Minute Files (1926-2009), Photographs (1980-2009), Fliers, Newsletters, and Brochures Files (1988-2007), Audio and Video Series (1984-2009), and the Assorted Merchandise Series (2000).

The Constitution, By-laws, Resolutions (1935-1978) document the administration of Associated Students. This series includes original by-laws, resolutions, codes, policies, and constitutions, along with revisions and additions. These materials primarily date from the 1960s and 1970s, with limited documentation for the 1930s and 1940s.

The Election Files (1959-1992) document Associated Student election campaigns and results. The majority of materials date from the 1960s. This series includes flyers, applications, reports, ballots, newspaper clippings, and results.

The Officer Files (1960-1998) document the activities of Associated Student officers, especially during the 1960s and early 1970s. This series consists of correspondence, managerial files, and guides.

The Council Files (1926-1994) document AS Council's operation and administration. These files include member lists, directories, organizational charts, agendas, proposals, resolutions, and correspondence.

The Boards, Committee, and Task Force Files (1944-1995) document the activities and administration of various AS committees, including the Activities Board, the Grassroots Board, the International Board, the Off-Campus Housing Board, and the Loans and Scholarship Committee, among others. Each committee has its own sub-series. Highlights include extensive documentation for the Cultural Arts Board. The series consists of reports, minutes, correspondence, charters, budgets, and newspaper clippings.

The Student Union Planning Files (1963-1965) document the creation and development of the Student Union. These files contain proposals, reports, surveys and correspondence created before and during the construction of Aztec Center.

The Aztec Center Files (1943-1997) document the creation, development, and administration of the Aztec Center on campus. These files provide extensive documentation for the 1960s and 1970s, and include brochures, correspondence, meeting minutes, grand opening information, and rosters.

The Operation Files (1955-1998) document AS' main operations primarily during the late 1960s and mid-1970s. The series consists of reports, correspondence, newspaper clippings, brochures, calendars, and maps. The series is divided into three sub-series: AS Operations, Budgets 1955-1982, and Budgets 1957-1977. The second series includes budget reports and purchase orders. The third sub-series features approved budgetary reports for A.S. Council.

The Activity and Project Files (1938-1997) document the planning and coordinating of AS projects and events including the Scripps Cottage Park, new student orientation, and AS Recognition Day. These files include evaluations, awards, invitations, flyers, correspondence, and conference material. The majority of these files date from the 1960s through 1980s, with scant documentation of the 1990s.

The Open Air Theatre Files (1978-1987) document the administration and operation of the Open Air Theatre while under lease from AS. This series consists of annual reports.

The Cultural Arts Board Visitor and Performer Files (1964-1974) document the performances and appearances of noteworthy lecturers, performers, bands, dance and theatre troupes, politicians, and academics invited to campus by AS. Filed by visitor name, these files consist of schedules, programs, purchase orders, venue information, and correspondence.

The Meeting Minute Files (1926-2009) document meeting minutes from prominent branches within Associated Students. The series is divided into three sub-series: the Associated Students Council and Executive Committee minutes, Finance Board minutes, and Aztec Center Board Minutes. Each sub-series is arranged chronologically, with the individual documents maintained in the order they were received. The majority of The Associated Student Council and Executive Committee Minutes were filed in the same binders, and are combined within the first sub-series.

The Photograph Files (1980- 2008) document photographs of various organizations and events related to the Associated Students Council. Though the majority of the material ranges from the late 80’s to the mid 2000’s, many of the photographs are neither labeled nor dated. The Photographs series is arranged into six subseries: Associated Students Photos, Associated Students Photos of People, Associated Students Slides, Associated Students Unidentified Photographs, Negatives and Slides, Associated Students Oversize Photographs, and Associated Students Scrapbooks and Awards. The material is arranged alphabetically.

The Fliers, Newsletters and Brochures series (1988-2007) features documents and ephemera distributed by the Associated Student Council. Highlights include pamphlets pertaining to the Open Air Theatre, Associated Students Informational Supplements, Spotlight Newsletter, Personal Policies and Procedures, and the “We’re Here For You” newsletter.

The Audio and Video series (1984-2009) features audio and VHS cassettes, U-matic analogue videocassettes, audio reels, and DVDs pertaining to the A.S. Council and the Aztec Center. The series is divided into five sub-series: Audio Cassettes, Audio Reels, Video Cassettes and DVDs, Alternate Format and Unidentified Video, and Aztec Center Video. The materials are arranged alphabetically within each series.

The Assorted Merchandise (2000) contains products and merchandise with the Associated Students label. Items include shirts, badges, ornaments, a banner and stickers.

Dates

Creation: 1926-2009

Creator

Associated Students (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The copyright interests in some or all of these materials have not been transferred to San Diego State University. Copyright resides with the creator(s) of materials contained in the collection or their heirs. The nature of archival collections is such that multiple creators are often applicable and copyright status may be difficult or even impossible to determine. In any case, the user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, obtaining publication rights and copyright infringement. When requesting images from Special Collections & University Archives for publication, we require a signed agreement waiving San Diego State University of any liability in the event of a copyright violation.

Historical Note

In 1921, the San Diego Normal School merged with San Diego Junior College to form San Diego State College. Initially, both schools kept their separate student governing bodies. In May of 1922, however, these separate bodies combined into one student organization, creating the Associated Student Body (ASB). Although ASB was the primary student organization, Associated Women's Students and Associated Men's Students supplemented ASB, and provided more service-oriented activities. Campus President Walter Hepner endorsed student governance, and so Associated Students remained a student-run organization with little to no interference from campus administration. The campus held elections annually to select ASB's new student officers. On March 7, 1932, the State of California officially incorporated Associated Students (AS) as a non-profit corporation, making the group a San Diego State affiliate.

In 1956, Associated Student fees became mandatory for all students on campus. This increase in budget led to an expansion of AS services, events, programs, and facilities for students, faculty, and staff. AS facilities include the Aztec Center (established in 1968), the Campus Childcare Center (1971), the Mission Bay Aquatic Center (started in 1975 in conjunction with the University of California, San Diego), the Open Air Theater (the AS lease began in 1978), the Aztec Recreation Center (1997), Viejas Arena (1997), and the Aquaplex (2007). Associated Students also runs Aztecs Shops, which includes the campus bookstore. AS also ran the Cultural Arts Board, which promoted and coordinated cultural events on campus, including guest speakers and performers such as the California Ballet Company, Raquel Welch, Andy Warhol, Teatro Campesino, Bill Cosby, Krishnamurti, and Ralph Nader.

Today, Associated Students is one of the largest associated student groups in the California State University system, and is administered by five elected student executive officers, the AS Council, and the Student Board of Directors. It operates on a budget of over $20 million a year, twenty-five percent of which comes from student fees, and employs close to a hundred full-time employees and about a thousand part-time employees. AS continues to promote educational, social, and cultural activities and programs on campus; actively advocate for students; endorse leadership opportunities; and provide services to students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

Extent

43.36 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement Note

I. Constitution, By-laws, Resolutions, 1935-1978

II. Election Files, 1959-1992

III. Officer Files, 1960-1998

IV. Council Files, 1926-1994

V. Board, Committee, and Task Force Files, 1944-1995

VI. Student Union Planning Files, 1963-1965

VII. Aztec Center Files, 1943-1997

VIII. Operation Files, 1955-1998

IX. Activity and Project Files, 1938-1997

X. Open Air Theatre Files, 1978-1987

XI. Cultural Arts Board and Visitor and Performer Files, 1964-1974

XII. Minutes, 1926-2009

XIII. Photographs Files, 1980-2008

XIV. Fliers, Newsletters, and Brochures Files, 1988-2007

XV. Audio and Video, 1984-2009

XVI. Assorted Merchandise

Source of Acquisition

Associated Students

Accruals and Additions

2002-020, 2006-076, 2011-014

Related Materials

San Diego State University Historical Collection

University Archives Photograph Collection

University Archives Topical File

Uncataloged Periodicals

Separated Materials

Series 6: Associated Women's Students was removed from this collection and integrated into the Associated Women's Students Collection (MS-0449) in June of 2010.