Visit the Center for Steinbeck Studies

Operating Hours

If you have any questions, please email us at steinbeck@sjsu.edu  

Please note that we are closed on the following days/holidays:

2024
Sep 2
Nov 11, 28, 29
Dec 24, 25, 26, 27, 30

Video Tour of the Steinbeck Center

Location and Parking

The Center for Steinbeck Studies is located on the fifth floor, Room 590, of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library on the campus of San José State University in downtown San José.

The address is 150 E. San Fernando Street, at the corner of S. Fourth and San Fernando streets. Public parking is available in the Fourth Street Garage across the street (at 44 S. Fourth St.) and other nearby garages and lots. Metered street parking may also be available.

Group Visits

For group visits, please email steinbeck@sjsu.edu with at least a two week notice. Availability is subject to staff scheduling.

Additional Information

The Center for Steinbeck Studies is a non-circulating archive. Many of the items are unique, rare, or hard to replace. Materials may be used in our archive but no materials may be borrowed or removed from the Center.

Pencils, not pens, must be used in taking notes. Readers must not write upon, mark, or otherwise mishandle materials. Tracing is not allowed.

Readers are reminded that the right of access does not imply the right of publication. It is the responsibility of the reader to obtain permission from the holders of any copyrights or literary rights inherent in this Collection before publishing any material, including excerpts, from the Collection.

The Center houses over 40,000 items - manuscripts, original letters, inscribed first editions, secondary works, film memorabilia, films, cassettes, and over 1,400 photographs. Significant manuscript collections have been donated to the Center by Elaine Steinbeck, the author's widow; Sharon Brown Bacon, stepdaughter of Steinbeck's first wife Carol; and Marlene Brody, Steinbeck's secretary in Paris in 1954. Scholars, students, and members of the community are welcome to use the collection and view the changing displays in room 590 of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library.