The SRJC Museum has a collection of more than 4000 cataloged items, including art objects and archival materials such as photographs. Traditional Native American art makes up the greatest portion of the collection, with all of the North American Indian culture areas represented. Art forms include ceramics, basketry, beadwork, sculpture, textiles, and jewelry.

In addition to Native American art of North America, the museum also has small collections of ethnographic art from Mesoamerica, Central America, South America, Africa, and Asia.

The museum was originally named for Jesse Peter, a native of Santa Rosa, who taught both in the local public schools and at Santa Rosa Junior College. He was a naturalist, collector, and explorer and made expeditions to the American Southwest in the 1930s to collect geological specimens for the University of California and Native American art for Santa Rosa Junior College. Some of the museum's ceramic treasures, by such artists as Lucy Lewis (Acoma) and Nampeyo (Hopi), were collected by Mr. Peter during that time.

In 2007, the museum began a major renovation that virtually recreated the museum. The Art Gallery was moved into the newly completed Doyle Library and the museum re-inhabited its original wing of Bussman Hall nearly tripling the exhibit space. Along with the renovation came a name change, new museum Director, and slight shift in the museum's vision. Multicultural education is now the central focus of the museum.