Historical Society
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.
Featured Content
Sandstone & Tile, Fall 2025, Volume 49, No. 3
This commemorative issue celebrating the Stanford Historical Society's 50th anniversary connects the Society's past to its present.
50 Stanford Stories for 50 Years
Fifty compelling stories narrated by the faculty, staff, and alumni who made and lived important moments in Stanford history.
50 Years in Review
This overview of significant events in Stanford University history during the Stanford Historical Society's first 50 years highlights major milestones in the Society's journey.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
David Abernethy, 1937 - 2026
David Abernethy, professor emeritus of political science, shared his rich experience at the university in the Faculty Senate and Diversity at Stanford oral history projects.
Paul R. Ehrlich, 1932 - 2026
In his interview, Paul Ehrlich discussed the intersections of knowledge versus compartmentalization, ethics as it relates to ecology and the environment, his views on politics, and how academic disciplines serve to benefit the world.
Alice S. Whittemore, 1936 - 2025
In her oral history, Professor Whittemore discussed her education in mathematics and her later switch to epidemiology, her career milestones at Stanford and her research accomplishments, and her experience in pursuing a professional career as a woman.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 elects five new board members
Stanford Historical Society kicks off 50th anniversary programs with “Chronicles of Stanford Architecture”
Support Stanford Historical Society
Your gifts and membership dues support the mission of the Stanford Historical Society to document, preserve, and disseminate important stories of Stanford University's rich history. Donations and membership dues are considered gifts to Stanford University and are tax-deductible.