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You are here: Home / Archive / Founding Day 2020

Founding Day 2020

April 29, 2020

Happy 60th Founding Day, Toros! On April 29, 1960, Governor Edmund G. (Pat) Brown signed into law the establishment of the “South Bay State College.” The need for a campus in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County became apparent as a response to a rising population in the 1950s influenced by the growth of families of World War II veterans, and by emerging aerospace and defense industries. Take a look at some of these snapshots in CSUDH’s history.

FUN FACTS:

  • The Palos Verdes Peninsula was the proposed location of the campus. As planning continued, alternative sites were considered in Torrance, Culver City, and the Rancho San Pedro land known as Dominguez Hills.
  • CSUDH held its first class in 1965 in a California Federal Savings Bank building in Rolling Hills Estates.
  • CSUDH has had multiple names: South Bay State College, California State College at Palos Verdes, California State College at Dominguez Hills, and finally, California State University, Dominguez Hills.
  • Famed Los Angeles architect A. Quincy Jones designed the campus.
  • CSUDH sits on land that was part of California’s first Spanish land grant, the historic Rancho San Pedro. Granted to Juan José Dominguez for cattle grazing in 1784, the rancho at one point spanned 75,000 acres, from current-day San Pedro to Compton, Manhattan Beach to Long Beach and Paramount.
  • In 1967, the campus held its first commencement with four graduates. With the Class of 2019, CSUDH’s total number of graduates exceeded 100,000.
Bank building where CSC Palos Verdes classes were held in 1965, Rolling Hills
Architectural Plan, CSU Palos Verdes, 1964. Jones and Emmons
First Commencement at Watt Campus, 1967
CSC Dominguez Hills Class of 1967. The first graduating class consisted of four students
Student orientation Watt Campus, 1968
Student studying at Watt campus, ca. 1967
Social and Behavioral Sciences Building and campus sidewalk, ca. 1980s
View of East walkway and Social and Behavioral Sciences Building, 1970s
Black Student Union members, 1968
Leo Cain views construction of the library, ca. 1969
Natural Sciences and Mathematics Building - construction, 1971
Black Student Association Bake Sale to raise funds for Black History Month, early 1970s
Students gathered near Small College, ca. 1970s
CSUDH Campus looking east. Includes construction of Student Health Center, University Theatre, and Humanities Building, ca. 1976
Biology professor Dr. Lois Chi directs students as they prepare samples for class, 1979
Social and Behavioral Sciences Building Composite, 1970-1971
Student housing under construction, 1981
Dance repertory class led by Professor Carol Tubbs on "The Forum" sculpture, ca 1985-1986
CSUDH Velodrome during the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics
University President Richard Butwell congratulates graduate, 1985
Sign posted on campus at location of future student union site, ca. 1986
Shirley Chisholm speaks at the University Theater, 1988
Student Union Director Louis Anderson stands by partially-completed archway at Loker Student Union construction site
Students gathered across from the Social and Behavioral Sciences Building, ca. 1990s building, ca. 1990s
President Robert Detweiler congratulates graduate during 1994 commencement at the Velodrome
United Farm Workers information table, n.d.
Professor David Morafka shows snake to students, ca 1990s
Musicians and speakers arrive at the 2004 Frederick Douglass and Mary McLeod Bethune Graduation Celebration

Filed Under: Archive

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