Guide to the Stanford University Properties records
SC0030
University Archives staff
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
September 2023
Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford 94305-6064
specialcollections@stanford.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Stanford University Properties records
Identifier/Call Number: SC0030
Physical Description:
6.25 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1851-1927
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.
Arrangement
The deeds are arranged alphabetically by county name. There is no further ordering, except
that we have tried to keep all documents relating to a particular property transaction
together. For example, deeds, letters, and maps that relate to the Stanford's purchase of
certain property has been stored together in the same folder. Certain property bought by the
Stanfords crossed county lines; therefore, certain county names may appear out of sequence
with the alphabetical ordering by county name
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], Stanford University Property records (SC0030). Department of
Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford,
Calif.
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of deeds and legal documents relating to property that was owned by
Leland and Jane Stanford, or Stanford University. Leland and Jane Stanford owned over
100,000 acres throughout California . Of the fifteen counties in which the Stanfords owned
property (Alameda, Butte, Contra Costa, Fresno, Los Angeles, Marin, Napa, Sacramento, San
Francisco, San Luis Obispo, Santa Clara, Tehama, and Yolo), the majority of the deeds cover
Butte, Santa Clara , and Tehama counties. Although the deeds span the years 1852 (a deed
pertaining to the Bosque Rancho in Butte County) to 1932 (a deed pertaining to Vina Ranch in
Tehama County), the bulk of deeds and other legal documents date between the l880s and
1890s. Moreover, many of the deeds included in this collection relate to the history of the
ownership of the properties that eventually were owned by the Stanfords or Stanford
University. For example, included in the collection are several deeds and other legal
documents signed between George Gordon and Delavan Hoag for property located in Rancho
Rincon de San Francisco and Rancho San Francisquito in Santa Clara County in the 1860s (long
before the Stanfords bought the same property).
Of special interest are the deeds to the Stanford's three primary residences in Sacramento
(1861), San Francisco (1875), and Palo Alto (1876).
Conditions Governing Use
While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and 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. See: http://library.stanford.edu/spc/using-collections/permission-publish
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Deeds
Ranches -- California.
Palo Alto Stock Farm
Stanford University
Ayrshire Farm
Vina Ranch - history
Butte County (Calif.) -- History.
Tehama County (Calif.)
Stanford, Leland
Stanford, Jane Lathrop
Stanford University
Stanford University. Board of
Trustees
Box 2
Contra Costa, Fresno, Lassen, Los Angeles, Marin, Monterey, Napa, Sacramento,
San Bernadino, San Francisco
Box 3
San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Clara
