Guide to the Architecture of Stanford University Collection
SC0125
University Archives staff
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
1997, March 2024
Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford 94305-6064
Fax Number: (650) 723-8690
specialcollections@stanford.edu
Note
This encoded finding aid is compliant with Stanford EAD Best Practice Guidelines,
Version 1.0.
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Architecture of Stanford University collection
Identifier/Call Number: SC0125
Physical Description:
1 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1886-1937
Physical Location: Special Collections and University
Archives materials are stored offsite and must be paged 36-48 hours in advance. For more
information on paging collections, see the department's website:
http://library.stanford.edu/depts/spc/spc.html.
Language of Material:
English .
SCOPE AND CONTENT
This collection consists primarily of original correspondence concerning the early stages
of planning, construction and landscaping of Stanford University, 1886-1906. The
construction of Memorial Church, the Library (1906), the Gymnasium (1906), the Museum, and
parts of the Quadrangle are featured. Major correspondents include Leland Stanford;
Frederick Law Olmsted and J. C. Olmsted, landscape architects; John McMillan, supervising
engineer at the Stanford construction site; Charles Lathrop, Business Manager, Stanford
University; Charles Edward Hodges, draughtsman and later resident architect; Thomas H.
Douglas, nurseryman; Henry S. Codman, Olmsted partner; Joseph Lamb, manufacturer of stained
glass windows; and Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge, architectural firm. The collection also
contains some photocopies of Olmsted correspondence.
Preferred Citation:
[Identification of item], Architecture of Stanford University Collection (SC0125). Dept. of
Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford, Calif.
Provenance:
This collection contains material acquired from a variety of sources. The Olmsted-McMillan
correspndence came to the Archives sometime before 1965, source unknown. The letters from
the Olmsted firm to Emory Smith and the copies of Frederick Law Olmsted's letters provided
by the Olmsted firm form another group of records, which seem to have come to the Stanford
Collection (precursor of the University Archives) through Orrin Leslie Elliott, first
University "historian." The Charles Edward Hodges, Joseph Lamb, and Charles Lathrop letters
were included in a group of materials purchased in 1972 from Frank Spingola of San Francisco
(with funds provided by Mr. David Canfield, Santa Fe). In 1976, photocopies of
correspondence in the Frederick L. Olmsted papers and the Olmsted Associates papers, both in
the Library of Congress, were ordered and received to expedite research for the "Founders
and Architects" exhibit.
Publication Rights:
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.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Universities and colleges -- Buildings.
Stanford University -- History.
School buildings -- California -- Design and construction.
Architecture -- California -- Stanford.
Architectural documentation
Box 1, folder 1
Correspondence
1886-1888
Scope and Contents note
Major correspondents include Frederick Law Olmsted; J. C. Olmsted; J. G. McMillan;
Ariel Lathrop; Francis Walker; and J. MacLaren. Corresondence in this folder is
primarily concerned with the development of the campus plan, and the begining stages
of construction of the university. Included are many letters from Olmsted to Leland
Stanford and Mr. J. G. McMillan (supervising engineer). There are also numerous
communications to Mr. McMillan from the Lathrop brothers, who served as Leland
Stanford's representatives on the site.
Box 1, folder 2
Correspondence
1889 Jan-Aug
Scope and Contents note
Major correspondents include Frederick Law Olmsted, J. C. Olmsted, J. G. McMillan,
and Thomas H. Douglas. The contents of this folder deal primarily with the
construction and landscaping of the campus. Correspondence is primarily between the
Olmsteds, Leland Stanford, and J. G. McMillan.
Box 1, folder 3
Correspondence
1889 Sep-1892
Scope and Contents note
Major correspondents include Frederick Law Olmsted and J. C. Olmsted; Henry S.
Codman; Ariel Lathrop; Thos. H. Douglas; and Charles Edward Hodges. Contents of this
folder deal with the visit of Henry S. Codman (an Olmsted partner) to the Palo Alto
site; disputes between Olmsted and Ariel Lathrop; the dismissal of Mr. McMillan; and
Olmsted's withdrawal from the Stanford University project. Included is Olmsted's
letter to David Starr Jordan introducing the firm, May 6, 1891.
Box 1, folder 4
Correspondence
1898-1902
Scope and Contents note
Major correspondents include Charles Edward Hodges, Charles Lathrop, and Joseph Lamb.
Contents include corespondence between Charles Edward Hodges, Jane Stanford, and
Charles Lathrop regarding construction of the Museum additions, Memorial Church, parts
of the quadrangle, the gymnasium and the library. There is also corresondence between
university officials and Joseph Lamb, manufacturer of stained glass windows.
Box 1, folder 5
Correspondence
1904-1937
Scope and Contents note
Major correspondents include Joseph Lamb, Charles Lathrop, firm of Shepley, Rutan,
and Coolidge, and the Olmsted Brothers firm. Contents include correspondence regarding
construction of the library (destroyed in the 1906 earthquake); copy of letter (1910)
from Shepley, Rutan, and Coolidge to J. C. Branner stating their role in construction
of the university; copy of letter (1914) from firm of Olmsted Brothers to the Stanford
Board of Trustees with their recommendations regarding campus landscaping; copies of
letters (1930s) from the Olmsted Brothers to Emory Smith regarding F. L. Olmsted's
role in the construction of the university; and Charles Coolidge's reminiscences
(1937).
Box 1, folder 6
Notes Explanatory of the Leading Motives of the Plan
1888
Scope and Contents note
"Notes explanatory of the leading motives of the plan," 2p., typescript copy,
n.a.
Box 1, folder 7
News clippings and notes
Scope and Contents note
Clippings regarding F. L. Olmsted; Register of the Frederick Law Olmsted Papers in
the Library of Congress; and photocopies of bills for tile roofs of some of the
original buildings.
Box 2
Olmsted Correspondence, Library of Congress
Scope and Contents note
Photocopies of papers relating to Stanford University in the F. L. Olmsted Papers
(box 46, folder on Stanford University, 88p.) and the Papers of Olmsted Associates
(Lab File 1032, box 74b, 355 p.).
Box 3
Clinton Day letters to Jane Stanford re: Stanford Memorial Church
1901-1902
Addenda, 1989-151 ARCH-1989-151
Box 4
Olmstead Correspondence
1886-1932
Box 4
Hoover Mantel Photographs
1969