Stanford University - Quad Yearbook (Palo Alto, CA)

Page 13 text:

MRS. LELAND STANFORD LELAND STANFORD

Page 12 text:

EAST ARCH CHEMISTRY AND MUSEUM BUILDINGS ri il UAB 15 f'5g 'Y fl vi nw mrxfllul Q Fluff Q ,-1? 1

Page 14 text:

THE FOUNDERS C. W. WAUG1-1, ,IO. Leland Stanford Jr., in whose memory the University was dedi- cated, was born in Sacramento, May 14, 1868. He was bright and precocious. At the age of fifteen, just before his intended entrance in Yale University, he went on a European trip with his parents. Wliile in Florence, Italy, he became very ill with Roman fever. In spite of all the efforts of his parents to save his life, Leland Stanford -Ir. died on March 13, 1884. The death of their only son was a tremendous loss to Governor and Mrs. Stanford. It was while in the shadow of their great sorrow that Leland Stanford had the inspiration that The children of Cali- fornia shall become my children. Realizing how interested their son had been in education, Mr. and Mrs. Stanford decided to devote their millions to the founding of a free institution of high learning. On May 14, 1887, the nineteenth anniversary of the birth of their son, Governor and Mrs. Stanford laid the cornerstone of Leland Stanford Jr. University. October 1, 1891, Stanford University formally opened its doors to the world, with fifteen instructors and an enrollment of 465 students. The story of the life of Leland Stanford is that of a man who achieved success by living at the top of his abilities and opportunities. Nothing was too big for him to undertake, nothingtoo small to notice. Born March 9, 1824, in Watervliet, N. Y., Stanford's early life was spent on the farm. Admitted to the bar, he moved to Port Washing- ton, Wis., started a law practice and married. Burned out of his law library in 1852, he emigrated to California. As Governor of California, from 1861 to 1863, Leland Stanford ably administered the affairs of state 'during the troublous times of the Civil War. As President of the Central Pacific he achieved the distinction of building a railroad from Sacramento over the Sierras to meet the Union Pacific, notwithstanding the fact that everybody declared such a feat impossible. Elected United States Senator in 1885, Stanford rounded out a career of usefulness and big achieve- ments by his service in that capacity. Mrs. Jane Lathrop Stanford, daughter of an Albany merchant, was born in that city August 25, 1825. Upon the death of her husband she had to assume the task of building up the University and of sup- plying the means of keeping it going. It was an enormous under- taking, but she did not shrink. Mrs. Stanford died in Honolulu, February 28, 1905. ' lI3l ri in UAB 5 'Ama In ,. 9 , Lflffwiiifi iff .1 . . L E A ,