Historical Society
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Founded in 1976, the Stanford Historical Society, a unique and dedicated volunteer organization, celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026. Over the past decades, it has provided events, oral histories and publications to support the preservation, examination, and appreciation of Stanford University history. Learn more about our resources and activities, and join us for our ANNIVERSARY EVENTS.
$50 for the 50th - New Membership Only
As a special anniversary offer, the Stanford Historical Society is giving new members a one-time discount--$50 instead of $60 for new Individual memberships. Benefits include access to engaging programs, both in-person and online; the publication Sandstone & Tile; and community events. Members also enjoy priority registration. To join or give a gift membership, go to this web page and enter $50 manually in the “Other Amount” field.
Upcoming Events
Oct. 11 | SHS Autumn 2026 Kickoff Garden Party Featuring Richard Saller
Join us at this fun-filled, members-only, event to kick off SHS programming for the new academic year.
Oct. 15 | Alumni Oral Histories at Reunion Weekend: The Epiphany Project
Sign up for The Epiphany Project oral history interview at this Reunion Homecoming. Share your experiences as a Stanford student for historical research.Featured Content
Apr. 12, 2026 | What We Sang Then: A Historic Recital of Favorites from the Stanford Songbook
Professor Steve Sano, MA '91, DMA '94, directed the Stanford Chamber Chorale as they performed selections from the heyday of the Stanford Songbook (1890-1915).
Written in Stone: Stanford and Its Plaques
Join Henry Segal, ’26, for a presentation on Stanford history through the lens of its plaques (both authorized and not), followed by a reception and an optional self-guided tour.
Sandstone & Tile, Winter 2026, Volume 50, No. 1
Learn about how college songs helped give the diverse student body a shared identity in Stanford’s early days, as well as the nuanced history of the Lasuen Mall.Recent Publications
Stanford's Wallace Sterling: Portrait of a Presidency, 1949-1968
A thoroughly researched and lavishly illustrated account of Stanford’s transformational rise as a research university during the presidency of J. E. Wallace Sterling.
A Historian's Diary, 1935 - 1980
Gordon Craig’s witty and elegant diary includes his experiences as a student in Germany and at Oxford, his role in Stanford's transformation into a leading research universities, and his experiences at the Free University of Berlin.
Voices from the Hennessy Presidency: Collected Interviews with University Leaders, 2000-2016
Candid reflections from 21 Stanford leaders on the Hennessy years, 2000 to 2016.In Memoriam
Takeshi Amemiya, 1935 - 2026
Professor Takeshi Amemiya, Edward Ames Edmonds Professor of Economics, Emeritus, described his early life in wartime Japan, his education in economics, and his years on the faculty of the Department of Economics at Stanford University.
I. Robert Lehman, 1924 - 2026
I. Robert Lehman describes his research work in biochemistry especially on DNA enzymes and reflects on the growth and change at the Stanford School of Medicine.
Noe Pablo Lozano, 1951 - 2026
Dr. Noé Pablo Lozano reflects on his career working in student affairs and on diversity initiatives at both Stanford and UC Santa Cruz.Discover History
Sandstone & Tile
Mailed to all SHS members, Sandstone & Tile reports on what was happening in the university and publishes research articles on various aspects of Stanford history, in addition to serving as a chronicle of the history of the society.
Program Recordings
SHS programs address important topics including Stanford’s relationship with the Silicon Valley, the Stanford peace movement, the history of Title IX at Stanford, the Medical School, and the Stanford Prison Experiment.
Oral History Program
The Stanford Historical Society Oral History Program explores the institutional history of the university through interviews with faculty, staff, alumni, trustees, and other members of the Stanford community.Recent News
Stanford Historical Society welcomes five new board members
Jul 7, 2026
Erik W. Charles, Bernadine Chuck Fong, Bertrand Patenaude, Francisco O. Ramirez, and Shayla Smith will begin their first term on July 1st, 2026.
The Story Keepers
Apr 20, 2026
Fifty years since the Stanford Historical Society was founded, there’s still plenty to uncover.
