Guide to the Stanford Family Papers

Processed by Marianne Bahmann and Susan Rosenberg; machine-readable finding aid created by Patricia White
Stanford University. Libraries. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Stanford, California
2000
Copyright © 2015 The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University. All rights reserved.

Note

This encoded finding aid is compliant with Stanford EAD Best Practice Guidelines, Version 1.0.


Overview

Call Number: SC0033D
Creator: Stanford family.
Creator: Stanford family.
Title: Stanford Family papers
Dates: 1839-1964
Physical Description: 10 Linear feet
Language(s): The materials are in English.
Repository: Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford, CA 94305-6064
Email: specialcollections@stanford.edu
Phone: (650) 725-1022
URL: http://library.stanford.edu/spc

Administrative Information

Provenance

Custodial History

Gift of Jane Lathrop Stanford, Thomas Welton Stanford, David Starr Jordan, Helen Stanford Canfield, David H. Canfield, and others; also includes purchases.

Information about Access

None.

Ownership & Copyright

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.

Cite As

[Identification of item], Stanford Family Papers (SC0033D). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

Biography

The Stanford brothers were born in the township of Watervliet in upstate New York, the sons of Josiah and Elizabeth Stanford. Each of the brothers eventually went west to make his fortune. Josiah and Leland Stanford remained in California and became successful businessmen, and Thomas Welton Stanford continued on to a successful career in Australia.

Scope and Content

The Stanford family papers include letters, telegrams, newsclippings, photographs and photograph albums, genealogical notes, legal and financial papers, pamphlets, and printed materials of Josiah Stanford (1817-1890) and his wife Helen Allyne Barker Stanford (1831-1909), Josiah Winslow Stanford (1864-1937) and his wife Alice Herrick Stanford (1858-1940), Charles Stanford (1819-1885), Asa Philips Stanford (1821-1903), DeWitt Clinton Stanford (1826-1864), Thomas Welton Stanford (1832-1918), Welton Stanford (1849-1922), and Welton Stanford, Jr (1878-1947). The Thomas Welton Stanford series includes correspondence, photographs, transcripts of his Psychic Investigation Circle of Melbourne, Australia (10 volumes) and the "HARBINGER OF LIGHT" magazine (1906-1917). The collection also includes records of Warm Springs Ranch and the Warm Springs Hotel near San Jose, California.

Access Terms

Coover, Thomas Edgar.
Stanford Art Gallery..
Stanford family.
Stanford University. Department of Psychology.
Stanford University. Libraries.
Stanford, Alice Herrick,, 1858-1940.
Stanford, Asa Philips,, 1821-1903.
Stanford, Charles, 1819-1885.
Stanford, DeWitt Clinton, 1826-1864.
Stanford, Helen Allyne,, 1831-1909.
Stanford, Josiah Winslow, 1864-1937.
Stanford, Josiah, 1817-1890.
Stanford, Thomas Welton, 1832-1918.
Stanford, Welton, 1849-1922.
Stanford, Welton, 1878-1947.
Warm Springs Hotel (Calif.).
Warm Springs Ranch (Calif.).
Harbinger of Light.
Spiritualism.


 

Series 1 Josiah Stanford [1817-1890] Papers

Biography/Organization History

Josiah Stanford was one of Leland Stanford's older brothers. He moved to California in 1849 and started in business selling supplies to gold miners. He also had business interests in oil and wine growing on Warm Springs Ranch.
Box 1, Folder 1

Biographical material, obituary

Box 1, Folder 2

Legal documents and bills, 1855-1891

Scope and Content Note

Includes deeds to property, last will and testament.
Box 1, Folder 3

Correspondence relating to estate settlement, 1891

Box 1, Folder 4

Real estate abstracts of title, certificates of search, 1875-1885

 

Series 2 Helen M. Allyne Barker Stanford [1831-1909] Papers

Biography/Organization History

Helen Stanford was the second wife of Josiah Stanford.
Box 1, Folder 5

Legal documents and bills, and fourth account of her trust estate, 1890-1909, 1927

Box 1, Folder 6

Business book, 1905

Scope and Content Note

Lists daily chores for her kitchen help.
Box 1, Folder 7

Personal mementos and letters, 1846 and undated

Box 1, Folder 8

Photograph album of relatives and friends, including photo of Emmanuel Swedenborg

Box 2, Folder 1

Three small photograph albums of relatives and friends.

Scope and Content Note

Includes photos of Leland and Jane L. Stanford; baby photos of Leland Stanford, Jr.; and daguerrotype of unidentified man and child, possibly Helen Stanford's first husband and daughter Gertrude.
 

Series 3 Allyne Family Papers

Box 2, Folder 2

Genealogy papers and clippings, 1863-1963

Scope and Content Note

Includes documents of Samuel H. Allyne, Helen's brother, murdered while with the Army in Texas, Dec. 29, 1863.
Box 2, Folder 3

Samuel H. Allyne's wallet, 1863

 

Series 4 Josiah Winslow Stanford [1864-1937] Papers

Biography/Organization History

Josiah W. Stanford was the son of Josiah and Helen Stanford. He ran the Warm Springs Ranch after his father's death, producing hay, barley and beef as well as wines.
Box 2, Folder 4

Correspondence, 1897-1935

Scope and Content Note

Includes letter from Jane Stanford requesting his resignation as Stanford University trustee, and a copy of J. W.'s reply, 1898.
Box 2, Folder 5

Mementos, clippings, and school maps, and 33 railroad passes, 1889-1927 and undated; 1881-1899

Box 2, Folder 6

Miscellaneous, undated.

Scope and Content Note

School copybook; notebook; volume "A Legend of Warm Springs" with covering letter and poem "Joey on the Farm" by E. R. Taylor; and logbook of the yacht "Lotus."
Box 2, Folder 7

Bills and legal documents, 1888-1900

Box 2, Folder 8

Bills and legal documents, 1903-1937

Box 3, Folder 1

Expense ledger, 1898-1906

Box 3, Folder 2

General account ledger, 1918-1924

Box 3, Folder 3

General account ledger, 1924-1927

Box 3, Folder 4

Account ledger of personal holdings (stocks, bonds, real estate, ranch account, schooner "Nicoline"), 1889-1913

 

Series 5 Alice Herrick Stanford [1858-1940] Papers

Biography/Organization History

Alice Herrick Stanford was the second wife of Josiah Winslow Stanford.
Box 3, Folder 5

Herrick genealogy, clippings, letters, mementos, 1877-1931 and undated

Box 3, Folder 6

Cookbook, n.d., and autograph album, 1875-1883

Box 4, Folder 1

Diaries (New Orleans trip), and (trip to Europe, with three photos) 1887, 1899 1913

Box 4, Folder 2

Diary, 1900

Box 4, Folder 3

Diaries, 1901 and 1902

Box 4, Folder 4

Diary, 1904

 

Series 6 Warm Springs Ranch Records

Box 4, Folder 5

Stanford family guest register, 1900-1909

Box 4, Folder 6

List of cellar wines, and Peralta Ranch expense ledger, 1887-1893, 1890-1904

Box 4, Folder 7

Abstracts of title, 1869, 1878

Box 5, Folder 1

Account ledger, payment of workmen, 1884-1895

Box 5, Folder 2

Account ledger, payment of workmen, 1893-1915

Box 5, Folder 3

Legal documents and bills, 1860-1871

Box 5, Folder 4

Legal documents and bills, 1872-1884

Box 5, Folder 5

Bills and invoices, 1895-1909 and undated

Box 5, Folder 6

Holograph manuscript "Treatment of Stuck wines" by J. W. Stanford, Holograph MS, description of Warm Springs, and typed copy, Correspondence on proposed road, 1892 undated 1922

Box 5, Folder 7

Expense Ledger, 1870-1883

Box 5, Folder 8

Miscellaneous accounts and wine orders, 1870-1888

Box 5, Folder 9

Miscellaneous accounts and wine orders, 1888-1894

 

Bills paid, 1888-1891

Box 6, Folder 1

Miscellaneous accounts and wine orders, 1895-1910

 

Series 7 Warm Springs Hotel Records

Box 6, Folder 2

Expense and account ledger, 1863-1865

Box 6, Folder 3

Guest day book, 1865

Box 6, Folder 4

Bills for newspaper advertisements, 1863-1866

Box 6, Folder 5

Menus, wine lists, room rates, miscellaneous printed material, 1860s

Box 6, Folder 6

Private correspondence of William Redding, 1852-1865

Scope and Content Note

Redding was general manager of the hotel from 1863-1868. Letters are in Spanish and English, mainly from Redding's relatives in Mexico. Also included is one letter of Redding's on San Francisco paper, 1855.
 

Expense accounts, 1863-1864

 

Expense accounts, 1864-1868

 

Day book, 1865-1866

 

Day book, 1866-1867

 

Series 8 Charles Stanford [1819-1885] Papers

Biography/Organization History

Charles Stanford was an older brother of Leland Stanford.
Box 6, Folder 7

Assorted papers, 1839-1963

Scope and Content Note

Two letters, 1839, 1847. Money exchange, 1862. Two copies of In Memoriam Josiah Stanford (Charles' son Josiah who died in his teens). Correspondence relating to Charles with Gladys Wells Griffith, Charles' granddaughter, 1951-1963.
Box 6, Folder 8

Scrapbook of clippings, obituaries, newspaper articles on the Stanford and Wells families, 1873-1896.

Scope and Content Note

Probably compiled by Nora Stanford Wells, Charles' daughter. Includes newspaper columns by Nora Stanford signed "Western Traveller," describing a trip from New York to California in Leland Stanford's private railroad car, 1877. Scrapbook presented by Gladys Wells Griffith, Nora's daughter.
 

Series 9 Asa Phillips Stanford [1821-1903]

Biography/Organization History

Asa Phillips Stanford was an older brother of Leland Stanford.
Box 7, Folder 1

Legal documents pertaining to Sisquoc Ranch, Santa Barbara County, 1851-1868 and undated

Box 7, Folder 2

Legal documents pertaining to San Vicente Rancho, Santa Cruz County, 1862-1865

Box 7, Folder 3

Assorted financial documents, 1853-1869 and undated

Scope and Content Note

Includes 8 stock certificates from "The Lady Bryan Golda and Silver Mining Co." and 6 stock certificates from the "Pick and Shovel Silver Mining Co."
Box 7, Folder 4

Newspaper clipping about Asa Phillips after his death, 1903

 

Series 10 Dewitt Clinton Stanford [1826-1862] Papers.

Biography/Organization History

Dewitt Clinton Stanford, a younger brother of Leland Stanford, was a partner in some of the Stanford brothers' business ventures in California. He moved to Australia with his brother Thomas Welton Stanford in 1860, where he died in April 1862.
Box 7, Folder 5

Eight letters, 1851-1862

Scope and Content Note

Includes description of ocean voyage to Australia with Thomas Welton Stanford, 1860.
 

Series 11 Stanford Family Miscellaneous Papers

Box 7, Folder 6

Two volumes used by Josiah Stanford on manufacture of oils: The Manufacture of Photogenic or Hydrocarbon Oils, and A Practical Treatise on Coal, Petroleum and Other Distilled Oils, 1859 1865

Box 7, Folder 7

Articles and correspondence re Stanford oil interests, 1935-1938

Box 7, Folder 8

Miscellaneous items 1858-1962

Scope and Content Note

Four receipts for good shipped by Stanford Bros., 1858. Two articles about the Stanford family, 1862 (reproduced on silk) and 1866. Copy of newspaper article on locust Grove, Stanford home near Schenectady, New York, 1962.
Box 7, Folder 9

Miscellaneous material on assorted (and usually distant) Stanford relatives and descendants, including Welton genealogy, newspaper clippings, and death notices, 1950 and undated

Box 7, Folder 10

Legal documents regarding assorted people, 1854-1901

 

Series 12 Thomas Welton Stanford [1832-1918] Papers

Biography/Organization History

Thomas W. Stanford was the youngest of Leland Stanford's brothers. Like his brothers, he operated a store in the gold fields in California, but sold it after several years. He moved to Melbourne, Australia, and became a prosperous businessman there. In 1870 he founded the Victorian Association of Progressive Spiritualists and actively pursued his interests in spiritualism. He was a Trustee of Stanford University and an early benefactor of the University.
Box 8, Folder 1

24 letters to his family, circa 1851-1866

Box 8, Folder 2

Personal correspondence, 1893-1915 and undated

Scope and Content Note

Includes a copy of a letter to the Secretary, Parliamentary Commission on Decimal Coinage, regarding adoption of English half-sovereign as unit of decimal system of currency for Australia, 1901.
Box 8, Folder 3

Article: Thomas Welton Stanford, a Brief Character Sketch, by L. M. Terman, from notes by J. E. Coover, undated

Box 8, Folder 4

Clippings and listings of Thomas Welton's donations to Stanford University - paintings, apports, library fund. Copy of his will, 1914. Pamphlet about James W. Curtis, landscape artist.

Box 8, Folder 5

Australiana in Leland Stanford Junior University Library, 1897

Box 8, Folder 6

Letters, interviews, articles about his life, death, and interests, 1918-1964

Box 8, Folder 7

Pamphlets, clippings, letters on spiritualism, psychic phenomena, 1903-1914

Box 8, Folder 8

Two issues of Fate magazine, with articles on Stanford University and psychic research, 1949, 1962

Box 9, Folder 1

Photographs of apports and other things conjured up, undated

Box 9, Folder 2

Manuscript, "Experiments with the divining rod" by Vickery, Letters, notes on psychic phenomena by various people, 1914 1914 and undated

Box 9, Folder 3

Original wrapping paper of apports. Pieces of Australian newspaper. Miscellaneous notes and papers, 1902-1914 and undated

Box 9, Folder 4

Photographs of spirit pictures, undated

Box 10

Lectures; Psychic Investigation at T. W. Stanford's Circle, Melbourne, 1902-03

Box 10

Lectures; Psychic Investigation at T. W. Stanford's Circle, Melbourne, 1905-06

Box 10

Lectures; Psychic Investigation at T. W. Stanford's Circle, Melbourne, 1907

Box 11

Lectures; Psychic Investigation at T. W. Stanford's Circle, Melbourne, 1907

Box 11

Lectures; Psychic Investigation at T. W. Stanford's Circle, Melbourne, 1909

Box 11

Lectures; Psychic Investigation at T. W. Stanford's Circle, Melbourne, 1910-11

Box 12

Lectures; Psychic Investigation at T. W. Stanford's Circle, Melbourne, Jan-Jun 1912

Box 12

Lectures; Psychic Investigation at T. W. Stanford's Circle, Melbourne, Jul-Dec 1912

Box 12

Lectures; Psychic Investigation at T. W. Stanford's Circle, Melbourne, Jan-Jun 1913

Box 12

Lectures; Psychic Investigation at T. W. Stanford's Circle, Melbourne, Jul-Dec 1913

Box 13

Harbinger of Light magazine, unbound copies, (missing May 1909) 1908-1911

 

Harbinger of Light magazine, 1906-08

 

Harbinger of Light magazine, 1908

 

Harbinger of Light magazine, 1909

 

Harbinger of Light magazine, 1910

 

Harbinger of Light magazine, 1911

 

Harbinger of Light magazine, 1912-13

 

Harbinger of Light magazine, 1914-15

 

Harbinger of Light magazine, 1916-17

Box 14

Australian clippings: scrapbook of clippings pertaining to T. W. Stanford's psychic activities and the visit of Admiral Sperry's fleet to Sydney, New South Wales, 1908

 

Series 13 Welton Stanford Family

Biography/Organization History

Welton Stanford [1849-1922] was Leland Stanford's nephew (the son of Charles Stanford). His son Welton Stanford, Jr., was born in 1878.
Box 15 os

Scrapbook of Welton Stanford, Jr., pertaining to Stanford family estates, railroad affairs, and Jane L. Stanford; print of Welton Stanford, and photograph of family home "Locust Grove" in Schenectady, NY 1885-1901, circa 1880;

Box 16 os

Scrapbook of Welton Stanford, Jr., pertaining to Jane L. Stanford, railroad affairs, Stanford University, Leland Stanford estate settlement, and social affairs of Welton Stanford family; and photograph album of Welton Stanford, Jr., from a trip to Europe, 1894-1902, 1897