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Crothers (George E.) Papers
SC0130
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
Undetermined
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: George E. Crothers papers
Identifier/Call Number: SC0130
Physical Description:
22.5 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1905-1957
Abstract: Correspondence (1905-1957), speeches,
articles, legal documents, photographs, newsclippings and scrapbooks. Major subjects include
Stanford University, Republican Party activities (1909-1930), California State Normal
Schools, United States monetary policy and U.S. relations with the Republic of China
(1920-1940). Correspondents include persons prominent in educational and political affairs
in the U.S. as well as many leading California lawyers and educators. Also includes
correspondence between Crothers and his brother T. G. Crothers relating to Stanford Board of
Trustees matters and University legal problems, minutes of the Board (April 1905, May-June
1907), a typescript description of the founding grant and an anonymous diary
(1895-1902).
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
Gift of George Crothers to the Stanford Library, 1962; transferred to University Archives,
1975.
This collection is open to researchers with permission of the Stanford University
Archives.
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must
be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford
University Libraries, Stanford, California 94304-6064. Consent is given on behalf of Special
Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply
permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright
owner, heir(s) or assigns. See:
http://library.stanford.edu/depts/spc/pubserv/permissions.html.
Restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Use of
digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.
George E. Crothers Papers (SC0130). Department of Special Collections and University
Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
Biographical/Historical Sketch
Judge and member of the Stanford Board of Trustees (1902-1912). He served as attorney to
Jane Lathrop Stanford and was part donor of two graduate dormitories at Stanford
University.
| 1870 | Born (May 27), Wapello, Iowa; son of John and Margaret Jane (Fair) Crothers. |
| 1883 | Family moved to San Jose, California. Crothers attends San Jose HighSchool. |
| 1895 | Received A.B., Stanford University (in "Pioneer Class"). |
| 1896 | Received A.M. (in law), Stanford University. Admitted to California Bar. |
| 1897 | Formed partnership With brother in San Francisco law practice. |
| 1898 | Retained by Mrs. Jane Stanford to write amendment to California State Constitution for purpose of reducing tax burden on University. |
| 1899 | Began serving as attorney in Fair Trust case (to 1902). Became president, General Alumni Association of Stanford University. Elected to membership, Golden Gate Commandery # 16, Masonic order. Received Order of Red Cross, Masonic order. |
| 1900 | Received Order of Temple, Masonic order. |
| 1902 | Became first alumnus to serve on Stanford Univ. Board of Trustees. |
| 1904 | Formulated By-Laws & Rules of Order for board of trustees. Devised articles of faculty organization adopted by board of trustees, March 31, 1904 |
| 1905 | Acted as attorney for board of trustees on death of Jane Stanford. Recomnended establishment of Jewel Fund for acquisition of library books for Stanford University. As chairman, committee on medical education, brought about association of Cooper Medical College with Stanford University. |
| 1909 | Became chairman, independent Republican movement, San Francisco. Represented Theodore Roosevelt in urging California Governor & legislators not to undertake land legislation against Orientals. |
| 1911 | Married Elizabeth Mills (March 23). Became chairman, Board of Trustees, San Francisco State Normal School. (to 1921) |
| 1912 | Became chairman, Republican County Committee (to 1913). |
| 1913 | Appointed judge of Superior Court of San Francisco. |
| 1915 | Elected to succeed himself on bench by highest vote ever accorded by San Francisco Bar Association. |
| 1916 | Resigned as chairman of Republican County Committee. |
| 1919 | Served as presiding judge of Superior Court. |
| 1920 | Wife, Elizabeth, died (August 18). |
| 1921 | Returned to active practice of law. |
| 1924 | Made a summer tour of Europe. |
| 1932 | Published article, "Outline of History of Founding of Stanford University". |
| 1933 | Delivered speech, "Educational Ideals of Jane Lathrop Stanford" |
| 1946 | Announced he would help to finance building of graduate dormitory for law students to be called "Crothers Hall"• |
| 1948 | Completion and dedication of Crothers Hall. |
| 1951 | Two new wings added to Crothers Hall. |
| 1953 | Announced he would help to finance building of graduate dormitory for engineering students to be dedicated to his mother, Margaret Jane Fair Crothers, and to be called "Crothers Memorial Hall". |
| 1955 | Completion and dedication of Crothers Memorial Hall. |
| 1957 | Died, May 16. |
Memberships: California Historical Society, American Law Institute, American Political
Science Association, Schoolmaster's Club of California, Stanford Faculty Club, Commercial
Club, Commonwealth Club, Marin Country Club, Pacific Union Club, University Club of San
Francisco, Monterey Peninsula Country Club, American Historical Association, Sigma Nu, Phi
Delta Phi, Burlingame Country Club, San Francisco Opera Guild, American Geographic
Society.
Honorary trustee, San Francisco Boys Club.
Director, Western States Life Insurance Company.
Life trustee, Leland Stanford Junior Kindergarten Trust.
For further reference see Container # 13 for biographical data concerning George
Crothers.
The Crothers Papers contain George Crothers' correspondence dated from 1905-1957. The bulk
of the outgoing correspondence was written between 1930 and 1955. The collection also
includes manuscript and typescript copies of Crothers' speeches, articles, legal documents,
photographs, newsclippings and scrapbooks and memoranda, as well as printed matter collected
by Crothers.
Of primary interest are Crothers' writings on his alma mater, Stanford University, which he
served as attorney for Jane Stanford, as member of the university 's Board of Trustees, and
as part-donor of two graduate dormitories. The collection also includes materials concerning
United States relations with the Republic of China, c. 1920-1940; Republican party
activities, c. 1909-1930; California State Normal Schools; and United States economic
affairs and monetary policy, c. 1920-40.
Correspondents include persons prominent in educational and political affairs in the United
States, as well as a large number of leading California lawyers and educators. Also includes
correspondence between Crothers and his brother T. G. Crothers relating to Stanford Board of
Trustees matters and University legal problems, minutes of the Board (April 1905, May-June
1907), a typescript description of the founding grant and an anonymous diary (1895-1902).A
partial list of the correspondents is included in the Register.
Material removed from the collection
Five framed items were labelled and shelved with the picture collection in the Department
of Special Collections:
- Photograph or Painting of Jane L. Stanford
- Photograph or Painting of George Crothers
- Photograph or Painting of Thomas G. Crothers
- Printed note to Crothers from student residents of Crothers Hall, Nov. 17, 1951
- Letter from Herbert Hoover, copies of which can be found in the Crothers Papers (in "Related correspondence," filed under "Hoover")
These five items were removed in 1962 at the time the collection was first arranged.
In May 1966 Ralph Hansen removed all the Trustee Minutes from the collection (formerly in
boxes 17 and 18). These Minutes were added to the group of Trustee Minutes in the University
Archives (#1011). Rather than renumber the rest of the boxes in the collection, a note
simply was made that Boxes 17 and 18 no longer existed. (For an exact list of the Minutes
transferred, see the original 1962 Register filed in the "Crothers" correspondence file in
the general files of University Archives.)
Subjects and Indexing Terms
United States -- Foreign relations -- China
Articles.
Photoprints.
Speeches.
Judges.
Lawyers.
Newsclippings.
Monetary policy -- United States.
China -- Foreign relations -- United States
Scrapbooks
United States -- Foreign relations
Shortridge, Samuel Morgan, b. 1861.
Simpson, Sidney Post
Sinclair, Upton
Rogers, Frederick Rand
Roseberry, L. H.
Spreckels, Rudolph.
Sproul, Robert Gordon.
Spaeth, Carl B.
Carpenter, Thomas P.
Stanford University. Board of Trustees
Chandler, Harry.
Stone, Harlan Fiske
Boynton, Albert E.
Swain, Robert E. (Robert Eccles)
Burk, Frederic
Terman, Frederick Emmons, 1900-1982
Wilbur, Curtis D.
Stephens, William D.
White, Andrew Dickson,
Warren, Earl
Stanford, Thomas Welton
Lane, Franklin K.
Jordan, David Starr
Cubberley, Ellwood Patterson
Lane, Arthur Bliss.
Kirkwood, Marion.
Wilbur, Ray L. (Ray Lyman)
MacArthur, Walter.
Lurie, Louis R.
Lillick, Ira.
Leib, Samuel F. 1848-1924.
Older, Fremont, Mrs.
Norman, R. S.
Neylan, John Francis.
Kefauver, Grayson Neikirk
Robinson, Edgar Eugene
Morell, George
Elliott, Orrin Leslie
Cowley, W. H. (William Harold)
Republican Party (U.S.)
Hughes, Charles Evans, 1962-1948
Reid, Whitelaw
Osborne, George.
Keesling, Francis V. (Francis Valentine)
Davis, Horace
French, Will J. (Will John), b. 1871
Fuller, W. Palmer.
Gerberding, Elizabeth.
Abbott, Nathan, 1854-1941
Hoover, Herbert
Gunst, Morgan.
Stanford University. Crothers Hall
Hassett, William D.
Hayes, J. O.
Howe, Louis M. (Louis McHenry)
Stanford, Jane Lathrop
Jones, Herbert C. (Herbert Coffin)
Sterling, J. E. Wallace (John Ewart Wallace)
Coolidge, Calvin, 1872-1933
Considine, John W.
Hopkins, Timothy
Johnson, Hiram, 1866-1945
Eurich, Alvin C. (Alvin Christian)
Crothers, George E. (George Edward)
Dailey, M. E.
Cutler, Leland W. (Leland Whitman)
Dern, George T.
Downs, Winfield Scott
Dinkelspiel, Lloyd W.
Edwards, Paul C. (Paul Carroll)
Tresidder, Donald Bertrand
Dunn, Francis.
Eells, Walter C.
James, William