Description
The collection contains primary and
secondary sources pertaining to the life of Leland Stanford and the history of Stanford
University's founding. Includes clippings, correspondence, articles, pamphlets, speeches,
scripts, reports, memorabilia, and copies or facsimiles of historical documents.
Background
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.
Extent
4.5 Linear Feet
(11 boxes)
Restrictions
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.
Availability
This collection is open for research; materials must be requested at least 48 hours in
advance of intended use.