Update: The use of facial coverings is strongly encouraged everywhere in the University Library, but facial coverings are required in all library classrooms through October 7.
Looking for ways to hide your dirty kitchen or camouflage your unmade bed during a Zoom meeting? Fear not! Use a historical background of SDSU to hide that unsightly mess. Zoom’s virtual background feature allows you to display images and video to spice up your backgrounds during Zoom meetings. To learn more, check out Zoom’s virtual background page: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/210707503-Virtual-Background
Click the links below to download images for your next Zoom meeting and show your SDSU spirit! All photographs are from Special Collections & University Archives. Want to see more historical images? Check out the Library’s Digital Collections database.
San Diego Normal School, 1910
San Diego State was founded in 1897 as the San Diego Normal School. This is the original building, designed by Iriving Gill. The building was demolished in 1955.
Download the San Diego Normal School, 1910
San Diego Normal School graduating class of 1901
The San Diego Normal School focused on teacher training. Most of the students during the early years were women. Notice there’s only one male graduate in this photo.
Download the San Diego Normal School graduating class of 1901
San Diego Normal School Football Team, 1908
Professors had to join the San Diego Normal School football team because there weren't enough male students to form a full team.
Download the San Diego Normal School Football Team, 1908
San Diego Normal School Library, 1905
The Library has grown quite a bit in the past 115 years! It now houses over 1.3 million print titles, numerous online databases and features instruction rooms, a DH Center, a makerspace, special collections, a computing hub, and so much more!
Download the San Diego Normal School Library, 1905
New College Site, 1929
San Diego State moved to its current location on the mesa in 1931.
Download the New College Site, 1929
San Diego State University, Imperial Valley
SDSU founded the Imperial Valley campus in 1959. Today it boasts 12 bachelor's programs and 5 master's degrees.
Download SDSU, Imperial Valley
Backdoor Mural, 1976
Originally located in the Aztec Center, this mural was painted by Arturo Anselmo Roman and students in his Chicano mural art class. The mural is dedicated to the Aztec god of music.
Download Backdoor Mural, 1976
Women’s Studies Department at a demonstration on campus, 1976
The Women’s Studies program at SDSU was the first in the nation. The Department celebrates their 50th anniversary this year!
Download Women’s Studies Department at a demonstration on campus, 1976
MEChA Event, 1987
A mariachi band plays on the Free Speech steps of the old student union during a MEChA event. MEChA played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Chicana and Chicano Studies Department on campus in 1969 and remains an important student group on campus today.
Download MEChA Event, 1987
Black Repertory Total Theatrical Experience, 1987
Award winning choreographer Danny Scarborough established SDSU’s Black Repertory Total Theatrical Experience in 1977.
Download Black Repertory Total Theatrical Experience, 1987
Graduates, no date
To all the students graduating in May, congratulations!
Download Graduates, no date
Women’s Basketball Team, no date
We’re always talking about the men but the women’s teams have won several conference championships too!
Download Women’s Basketball Team, no date
Hepner Hall, 1994
Hepner Hall was one of the original buildings on campus and serves as backdrop to many a campus photo.
Download Hepner Hall, 1994
Bookstacks, no date
For those of you wanting to look especially studious.
Download Bookstacks, no dateThis page was inspired by the University of North Carolina’s Zoom background project.