Includes administrative and personal correspondence, 1888-1936; reports, statistics, acquisition records, exhibit captions, and publications of the Stanford Museum, 1894-1917; and research materials compiled by Peterson on the Gold Spike (ceremonial spike used to connect the Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads), Stanford history, and Peter Coutts, including an original letter by Coutts, 1879. Peterson's major correspondent was David Hewes and there is some printed material on Hewes in the collection. Also includes copies of his newspaper column "The Story of Stanford University," 1919.

Peterson, born in Iowa in 1876, was curator of the Stanford Museum from 1900-1917; after leaving Stanford, he directed the Sutter's Fort Museum in Sacramento.

1.75 Linear feet

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.

This collection is open for research.