Description
Correspondence, telegrams; business, legal, financial, and official papers; speeches,
journals, and newsclippings; and other materials relating to the construction of the Central
Pacific Railroad, Stanford's political career, business and financial interests, and the
founding and construction of Stanford University.
Background
Leland Stanford was born March 9, 1824 in Watervliet Township, New York. He was admitted to
the practice of law in 1848 and married Jane Lathrop in 1850. In 1852, Stanford moved to
California where he first worked as a storekeeper in Mother Lode mining camps and later
became a successful Sacramento businessman. Stanford was a leader in organizing the
Republican party in California and was elected governor in 1861 at the age of 37. Early in
the 1860s, Stanford joined with three other Sacramento merchants--Charles Crocker, Mark
Hopkins, and Collis P. Huntington--in the building of the Central Pacific Railroad. In 1885,
Leland and Jane founded Leland Stanford Jr. University in memory of their son. Stanford died
June 21, 1893 during his second term as United States Senator.
Restrictions
The materials are in the public domain. There are no restrictions on use.
Availability
The materials are open for research.