Architecture of Stanford University collection, 1886-1937

Summary

Creators:

McMillan, John G, Stanford, Leland, Olmsted, Frederick Law, Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge., Douglas, Thomas H., Hodges, Charles Edward., Lamb, Joseph., and Lathrop, Charles G., (Charles Gardner), 1849-1914

Extent:

1.25 Linear Feet

Language:

English .

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Architecture of Stanford University Collection (SC0125). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford, Calif.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists primarily of original correspondence concerning the early stages of planning, construction and landscaping of Stanford University, 1886-1906. The construction of Memorial Church, the Library (1906), the Gymnasium (1906), the Museum, and parts of the Quadrangle are featured. Major correspondents include Leland Stanford; Frederick Law Olmsted and J. C. Olmsted, landscape architects; John McMillan, supervising engineer at the Stanford construction site; Charles Lathrop, Business Manager, Stanford University; Charles Edward Hodges, draughtsman and later resident architect; Thomas H. Douglas, nurseryman; Henry S. Codman, Olmsted partner; Joseph Lamb, manufacturer of stained glass windows; and Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge, architectural firm. The collection also contains some photocopies of Olmsted correspondence.

Custodial history:

This collection contains material acquired from a variety of sources. The Olmsted-McMillan correspndence came to the Archives sometime before 1965, source unknown. The letters from the Olmsted firm to Emory Smith and the copies of Frederick Law Olmsted's letters provided by the Olmsted firm form another group of records, which seem to have come to the Stanford Collection (precursor of the University Archives) through Orrin Leslie Elliott, first University "historian." The Charles Edward Hodges, Joseph Lamb, and Charles Lathrop letters were included in a group of materials purchased in 1972 from Frank Spingola of San Francisco (with funds provided by Mr. David Canfield, Santa Fe). In 1976, photocopies of correspondence in the Frederick L. Olmsted papers and the Olmsted Associates papers, both in the Library of Congress, were ordered and received to expedite research for the "Founders and Architects" exhibit.

Physical location:

Special Collections and University Archives materials are stored offsite and must be paged 36-48 hours in advance. For more information on paging collections, see the department's website: http://library.stanford.edu/depts/spc/spc.html.

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:

Universities and colleges -- Buildings.
Stanford University -- History.
School buildings -- California -- Design and construction.
Architecture -- California -- Stanford.

Names:

Olmsted Brothers
Stanford University

Terms of access:

Property rights reside with the repository. Literary rights reside with the creators of the documents or their heirs. To obtain permission to publish or reproduce, please contact the Public Services Librarian of the Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Architecture of Stanford University Collection (SC0125). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford, Calif.

Location of this collection:

Stanford University, University Archives

Stanford University Archives, Green Library

557 Escondido Mall

Stanford, CA 94305-6064, US

Contact:

(650) 725-1022

specialcollections@stanford.edu

Website