College Of San Mateo history

At the Kohl mansion, classes were held in parlors and bedrooms, the veranda was enclosed to serve as the library, assemblies were held in the grand dining room, the women's gymnasium and locker room was created from the kitchen, and a student store opened in the former wine cellar in 1926.

In 1927, the high school moved to its present location at Delaware and Poplar, and the Junior College moved back to the Baldwin campus.

Sophomore students would stop first-years so they could "frequently and strenuously [apply the paddle] for any of a dozen real or imagined infractions." Hazing culminated in an all-day event held semi-annually called The Brawl, which was filmed by Fox Movietone News on February 19, 1928.

The first classes for workers to develop additional skills were offered in 1932, when a vocational class in aeronautics started.

By 1935, enrollment had reached 1,500, but fell back to 1,000 when San Francisco Junior College opened that fall.

Among the notable inductees are John Madden, former professional football coach, analyst and broadcaster; Archie Williams, 1936 Olympic gold medalist; and Bill Ring, former professional football player.

In 1939, science classes started at new buildings on the Delaware campus to relieve overcrowding at the main Baldwin campus.

The Merchant Marines had vacated the Coyote Point facility by January 1947 due to budget cutbacks, and SMJC started offering courses there in September.

1954 Students vote to change name from San Mateo Junior College to College of San Mateo (CSM) in part to honor Charles S. Morris.

1956 Innovative educator Julio Bortolazzo begins a 12-year tenure as college president and district superintendent, initiating a plan for a new campus site.

A bond issue in 1957 overwhelmingly passed by County voters allowed the College to consolidate into a single site, at what is now known as the College Heights campus.

A third site, of 131 acres west of the Farm Hill subdivision on the Redwood City-Woodside line, was purchased in 1962.

CSM sold off the Delaware campus on February 21, 1963 for $2.3 million, and the last day at Coyote Point was September 6, 1963.

Construction of Cañada and Skyline Colleges were made possible in large part from proceeds from a second bond issue of $12.8 million approved by District voters in March, 1964.

Skyline College has offered world-class educational opportunities to the community of San Bruno and beyond since it opened in fall 1969.

1979 Lois A. Callahan becomes the first woman president of CSM.

2001 San Mateo County voters approve a $207 million bond measure for the repair and restoration of CSM, Skyline College and Cañada College.

2002 CSM celebrates its 80th anniversary with a Book Fest featuring guest speakers including noted authors and speakers.

2005 San Mateo County voters approve another bond measure, this one for $468 million for continued construction, repair and restoration for CSM, Skyline College and Cañada College.

2006 CSM’s state-of-the-art science building opens for classes on August 16.

2007 CSM’s state-of-the-art planetarium opens for classes and the public in January.

In 2011, CSM established an Athletics Hall of Fame to honor the many athletes who achieve excellence in competition, coaches who made a difference in the lives of their athletes, and other contributes to help to build and maintain the college’s rich athletic heritage.

2012 CSM celebrates its 90th anniversary and "50 years on the Hill."