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San Jose Historical Museum

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Two Men Who Saved San José's History

Clyde Arbuckle and Theron Fox are responsible for preserving San José's history by saving important buildings, collecting historic materials, and founding the San José Historical Museum, which later became History San José.

Clyde Arbuckle

Arbuckle and Fox were from pioneer families who came to the Santa Clara Valley in 1846. Listening to family stories about the Valley may have led to their interest in history. Both were active members of the California Pioneers of Santa Clara Valley. Clyde Arbuckle, born in 1903, attended Santa Clara High School until he was 15. He quit school to help support his family, first by driving horses, and later as a deliveryman for the Railway Express Agency. Despite his lack of formal education, Arbuckle had a keen, almost photographic memory, and was widely considered an authority on local history. He shared San José's history with humorous storytelling and was frequently asked to speak on the topic. In 1945, his passion for sharing local history led the Native Sons of the Golden West, the Native Daughters, the California Pioneers of Santa Clara Valley and the Historic Landmarks Committee to recommend him for the honorary position of City Historian. Just days after the San José City Council approved Arbuckle's new position, he was flooded with phone calls offering historic letters, diaries, records, and objects.

Theron Fox

Theron Fox, born in 1905, graduated from San Jose State with a teaching credential in 1933 at the height of the Great Depression. He became active in the printing business when he was 12 years old and began employment at the Rosicrucian Press, a position which lasted for 37 years. Fox's interest in San José's history propelled him to become a leader in preserving historic buildings and landmarks. He served as president of the Historic Landmarks Commission for eight years in the 1960s. In 1970, Clyde Arbuckle nominated and Fox received an American Association for State and Local History award for his efforts and achievements in historic preservation.

In 1949, a temporary replica of the State House, the meeting place of the first State Legislature (1849 - 1852), was built in City Hall Plaza opposite the original location of the 1849 building. The State House Replica and its history exhibit, curated by Arbuckle, were popular with the public and hence the Historic Landmarks Commission decided that it should be made permanent. The Chamber of Commerce paid for the 30 foot by 60 foot building to be moved to the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds. While continuing his honorary position as City Historian, Arbuckle gained a paid position as director and curator of the new museum and had an office in the relocated building. In the 1950s, he was actively collecting historic books, documents, paintings, household objects, and photographs. Donations were so plentiful that a new building was added on to the State House Museum to store the ever growing collection. Thanks to Arbuckle's dedication to preserving records and artifacts from Santa Clara Valley's past, the Museum now holds the largest collection of regional history in the State of California.



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Details and Specs

Hours of Operation:
 OpenClosed
Mon8:00 AM5:00 PM
Tue8:00 AM5:00 PM
Wed8:00 AM5:00 PM
Thr8:00 AM5:00 PM
Fri8:00 AM5:00 PM
SatClosed 
SunClosed 
Notes: Closed the first Monday of every month.

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