Leland Stanford Junior University
Stanford University is one of the world's most prestigious institutes for higher education. Located on the Stanford's former Palo Alto Stock Farm of 8,180 acres (Which can never be sold) where thoroughbred horses were raised, it is effectionatly dubbed, "The Farm." Located in Palo Alto, California it's so big that it has its own zip code (94305). The university is home to around 14,000 graduate and undergraduate students at any given time, and housing has always remained a problem (i.e. The infamous housing lottery).
The university was founded by Leland and Jane Stanford as a memorial to their son, Leland Stanford Jr., who died on March 13, 1884, of typhoid fever, on a family trip to Italy. Upon return to America in May, the Stanfords visited several prominent East Coast universities: Cornell, Harvard, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. At Harvard they spoke with President Elliot asking which of 3 ideas would be most favorable: A university at Palo Alto, a large institution in San Francisco combining a lecture hall and a museum, or a technical school. Elliot replyed with a university, with an endowment of no less than $5 million.
After deciding on a university, the Stanfords decided that it would be co-ed, non-demoninational and was practical, producing "cultured and useful citizens," and on November 11, 1885, Leland Stanford called several stenographers to come from San Francisco, and dictated, without notes, the founding grant of the university. Three days later, the 24-member Board of Trustees accepted the grant.
Stanford, now a United States congressman, had little time to work on the organization of the university until summer, conferring with Francis A. Walker, president of MIT, and Frederick Law Olmsted, Central Park's architect. The actual drawing of the plans was given to 28 year-old Charles Allerton Coolidge, the youngest member of the well-known Boston firm, Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge.
The original design of Stanford University by Olmsted called for a rectangular plan with long, low buildings connected by arcades to form a double quad with a naturalistic plan that blended into the surroundings. The Stanfords, however, favored a Beaux Arts design, having been heavily influenced by their European travels. The constrasting views would lead to much disagreement between the Stanfords, Olmsted, and the architecture firm of Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge. Whatever the case, the ultimate result, a California Mission style using local sandstone and red tile roofs is now the trademark of Stanford.
On May 14, 1887, the cornerstone was laid. This was at the insistance of the Stanfords' who wished the event to coincide with their son's birthday. A little more than 4 years later, on October 1, 1891. At the time construction was complete on the Inner Quad of 12 classroom buildings plus three engineering buildings, Encina Hall for men and Roble Hall for women. David Starr Jordan, a renowned ichthyologist, from the University of Indiana, was selected in late March of 1891 as the university's new president.
A little less than 3 years after the university opened, Leland Stanford died. His funeral was held in the university's Inner Quad and began the start of a 6 year long financial battle to keep the university after Stanford's estate remained in probate. In light of husband's death, Jane Stanford rose up and took the reins of university. As advisors urged her to close the university for a time, she instead kept the university alive. Working with Dr. Jordan, they worked at cutting expenses to keep the school going... only to get slapped with a $15 million claim by the government for construction loans to the Central Pacific Railroad owned by Stanford. After appeals to President Cleveland for action by the courts, the claim was thrown out on March 2, 1896 by the United States Supreme Court. Finally, in 1898, the estate was released from probate. Jane Stanford eagerly set about constructing the building that her husband and she had planned including the Outer Quadrangle, a chemistry building, and the Memorial Church. In 1903, Jane Stanford gave all power to the board of trustees that were given to her in the founding grant. She died not too long after, on February 28, 1905, while on vacation in Hawaii, foul play remains suspect.
- David Starr Jordan (1891-1913)
- John Casper Branner (1913-1915)
- Ray Lyman Wilburt (1916-1943)
- Donald B. Tresidder (1943-1948)
- J.E. Wallace Sterling (1949-1968)
- Kenneth S. Pitzer (1968-1970)
- Richard Lyman (1970-1980)
- Donald Kennedy (1980-1992)
- Gehard Casper (1992-2000)
- John L. Hennessy (2000-)
- AA (Academic Advisor): Academic mentor for undergraduates, the person who helps students make academic decisions.
- All Nighter (To pull an...): a common phenomenon, especially when it's time for final exams.
- ASSU (Associated Students of Stanford University): The student government .
- Axe: The symbol of rivalry between Stanford University and our traditional rival, U.C. Berkeley (Cal). The Axe is awarded each year to the school winning the Big Game.
- Axess: The student information system for registering, reviewing grades, changing addresses and other administrative tasks.
- BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit): The subway system carrying passengers throughout the San Francisco area.
- Big Game: The annual football matchup against rival Berkeley. Traditionally it's the last, most highly anticipated football game of the season.
- Caltrain: Don’t have a car? Need to go to San Jose or San Francisco? This is your best bet.
- Cardinal: Stanford’s mascot: The color, not the bird! Possible link:
- The City (Known as San Francisco to non-Bay Area residents): It's the cultural center of the Bay Area and popular with students when they want to get off campus.
- The Claw: The nickname for the fountain in White Plaza, between the Bookstore and Old Union.
- Co Ho (Coffee House): Place for late-night java, music, backgammon, studying and beer (For those over 21).
- Co Po (Corner Pocket): Located in Tresidder and home of pizza-by-the-slice and fro yo (frozen yogurt).
- The Daily Stanford: Students’ independent newspaper.
- Dead Week: The week immediately preceding finals week. It is intended that students study feverishly during this week.
- Dink Dinkelspiel: Music building (Or the auditorium housed therein), directly across from Tresidder.
- The Dish: The largest of the radio telescopes in the hills behind Lake Lagunita. Also short-hand for the open space area behind Stanford in which this radio telescope is located.
- Dollies: The five spirited women who accompany the Stanford Band with dance routines.
- The Draw: The ultimate in stress Spring Quarter. This hair-raising process decides students' housing fate for the coming year.
- EANABs: Equally attractive non-alcoholic beverages. Required at campus parties serving alcohol.
- The Farm: Campus nickname, derived from the days when horses rather than students roamed in what previously was the farm of university founders Leland and Jane Stanford.
- Flicks: A stress-relieving movie screening on Sunday evenings.
- Flo Mo: Florence Moore Hall, a dormitory complex.
- Fountain Hopping: A common activity after football games.
- Gaieties: The student-written, student-produced musical performed the weekend before Big Game.
- Hoover Tower: Erected in honor of Herbert Hoover. An elevator ride to the top provides an outstanding view of campus and the Bay Area.
- IHUM: Introduction to the Humanities, the program of courses that all freshmen take in to satisfy a graduation requirement.
- IMs: Intramurals Sports tournaments ranging from football to inner-tube water polo that are expressly for dorm teams. A source of good-natured dorm rivalries.
- Lake Lag: A deep wide basin at the corner of campus; don’t, however, look for the lake there until mid-January or February, when winter rains have an opportunity to fill the lake.
- LSJUMB: Those merry masters of madcap melody, the truly incomparable Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band!
- Mem Aud: Memorial Auditorium, the largest on campus.
- Mem Chu: Memorial Church.
- Oski: The Berkeley Golden Bear -- and the nemesis of Stanford's Tree.
- The Oval: The large grassy elliptical area at the end of Palm Drive that's perfect for an afternoon of Frisbee or volleyball.
- PAA: Peer Advising Associate An invaluable source of information to freshmen about planning which classes to take.
- Primal Scream: Tradition of stress alleviation for students. Listen for it at midnight the Sunday night of Dead Week.
- Quad: An enclosure of buildings housing some of the classroom space on campus and many departmental offices.
- RA (Resident Assistant): The truly dedicated upperclass student who lives in dorms and serve roles ranging from dorm activity coordinator to advisor, confidant and friend.
- RCC (Resident Computer Coordinator): The human guide to computers that comes with every dorm.
- The Row (Mayfield Avenue): Location of some upperclass houses and fraternities.
- Stern Dining Hall: Open weeknights until 1 a.m. for students in search of a late-night snack.
- Tres Ex: Stanford's rendition of a 7-Eleven.
- The Tree: The Stanford Band's mascot.
- White Plaza: Otherwise known as downtown Stanford; the wide open space that contains Old Union, the Claw, the Bookstore, the post office, and Tresidder Union.
- The Zoo (KZSU): 90.1 FM, Stanford’s student radio station.
Companies Created at Stanford or Founded by Stanford Alumni