Leland Stanford collection, 1869-1975

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Summary

Creators:
Stanford University
Extent:
5.75 Linear Feet
Language:
Undetermined .
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Leland Stanford collection (SC0512). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains primary and secondary sources pertaining to the life of Leland Stanford and the history of Stanford University's founding. Included are clippings, correspondence, articles, pamphlets, speeches, scripts, reports, memorabilia, and copies or facsimiles of historical documents. In addition to the business and political career of Leland Stanford, subjects include his ideas on education, the naming of Palo Alto, Stanford family genealogy, railroad history (especially the completion of the transcontinental railroad), Thomas Hill and his painting "Driving the Last Spike," Eadweard Muybridge and the invention of motion pictures, Stanford's residences in Sacramento and San Francisco, Vina Ranch, and Warm Springs Ranch.

Biographical / historical:

Leland Stanford was born March 9, 1824 in Waltervliet Township, New York. He was admitted to the practice of law in 1848 and married Jane Lathrop in 1850. In 1852 Stanford moved to California where he first worked as a storekeeper in Mother Lode mining camps and later became a successful Sacramento businessman. Stanford was a leader in organizing the Republican party in California and was elected governor in 1861 at the age of 37. Early in the 1860s Stanford joined with three other Sacramento merchants--Charles Crocker, Mark Hopkins, and Collis P. Huntington--in the building of the Central Pacific Railroad. In 1884, Leland and Jane founded Leland Stanford Jr. University in memory of their son. Stanford died June 21, 1893 during his second term as United States Senator.

Acquisition information:
The materials in this collection were separated from the old Leland Stanford Papers (now collection number SC0033A) when the collection was reprocessed in 1996.
Physical location:
Special Collections and University Archives materials are stored offsite and must be paged 48 hours in advance. For more information on paging collections, see the department's website: http://library.stanford.edu/spc.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Materials are open for research use. Audio-visual materials are not available in original format and must be reformatted to a digital use copy.

Terms of access:

While University Archives is the owner of the physical and/or digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Leland Stanford collection (SC0512). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

Location of this collection:
Stanford University Archives, Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford, CA 94305-6064, US
Contact:
(650) 725-1022
specialcollections@stanford.edu
Website