Historical Society
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Founded in 1976, the Stanford Historical Society (SHS) welcomes anyone with or without Stanford affiliation to join as a member. The society provides its members and supporters access to authentic Stanford stories, offering opportunities for preserving and sharing the university’s legacy and celebrating its history. Learn more about the society
Upcoming Events
May 28 | Stanford Historical Society Annual Members' Meeting
SHS members will learn about the society's accomplishments and activities over the past year, elect directors, and honor award recipients.
May 28 | Leland: A Stanford Story -- Film Screening and Panel Discussion
Leland: A Stanford Story covers the grand (yet short) life of Leland Stanford Jr. and meditates on what it means to be a part of a school that only exists because of the death of a child.Featured Content
Sandstone & Tile, Fall 2024, Volume 48, No. 3
Learn about how past Stanford presidents responded to challenging times and the history of Native student activism at Stanford.
Anesthesia at Stanford: Stanford's Contributions to an Emerging Medical Specialty
Professor Emeritus Jay B. Brodsky discussed the milestones in the important history of anesthesia at Stanford and the many contributions of Stanford anesthesiologists.
Stanford Student and Faculty Diversification in the 1970s
Arthur Bienenstock chaired Committee on Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Aid from 1969 to 1972 and was responsible for the Faculty Affirmative Action program from 1972 to 1977. His talk addressed some of the major events of that period.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
Nancy Huddleston Packer, 1925 - 2025
In an oral history interview, Nancy Huddleston Packer discusses her upbringing, her career at Stanford, in particular, the Freshman English class and the Creative Writing Program, and her publications.
G. Robert Hamrdla, 1937 - 2025
In his oral history, G. Robert Hamrdla discusses his transformative experience in the Bing Overseas Studies Program in Germany and his advisory and counseling support for students. He also provides an insider’s view of Lyman and Kennedy's presidencies..
Donna Robertson, 1942 - 2025
In her oral history, Donna Robertson describes growing up in Southern California, meeting Channing Robertson, and their path to Stanford. She describes her journey with the Development Office where she retired as Director of Donor Relations, Emerita.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 presents 2024 Bartholomew, Schofield, and Beyers awards
Michele Marincovich, Alison Carpenter Davis, Abigail Kahn, and Mahina Kaomea were honored as the recipients of the SHS annual awards at the members’ meeting on May 1.
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.