Stanford University opened 125 years ago, on Oct. 1, 1891
It was 125 years ago – on Oct. 1, 1891 – that Stanford opened its doors, an anniversary that the university is celebrating with events, interpretive signage and festivities on campus and beyond.
On that day in 1891, a few hundred people gathered in the newly built Inner Quad as co-founders Jane and Leland Stanford opened their “university of high degree” on their Palo Alto stock farm as a memorial to their only child. With 15 faculty members, a handful of classrooms and some 400 students, Leland Stanford Junior University – still its legal name – was a far cry from the leading research and teaching institution it is today.
Yet the key values the founders proclaimed on that day have remained touchstones over Stanford’s 125 years – a commitment to innovation, to affordability, to public service and to impact in the world. Stanford has celebrated its expression of these values with events and a Stanford 125 website throughout its 125th anniversary year, culminating in several events planned for October.
It’s an exciting time for reflection, with the inauguration Oct. 21 of Stanford’s 11th president, neuroscientist Marc Tessier-Lavigne.
“This milestone in Stanford’s history is an opportunity to reflect on the strong and compelling mission that Jane and Leland Stanford established for their university,” Tessier-Lavigne said. “We are grateful for the vision and foresight of the Stanfords, which continue to guide us today.
“Much has changed in 125 years, but the commitment to pursuing academic excellence, inclusion and impact in the world remains a constant at Stanford,” he said.
October event highlights
Upcoming events from Stanford 125, an initiative of the Office of Public Affairs, and its partners include:
- A public reflection Oct. 6 on the university’s past, present and future by distinguished Stanford historians James Campbell and David Kennedy, co-sponsored with the Stanford Historical Society in Cemex Auditorium
- Stanford Stories from the Archives, exhibits in Green Library and the Arrillaga Alumni Center opening Oct. 6 that reveal the evolution and unique aspects of student life on the Farm
- The public Stanford Live Inside/Out Arts Open House on Oct. 9 at Bing Concert Hall
- 125-themed events during the Stanford Alumni Association’s Reunion Homecoming, Oct. 20-23, including the Founders’ Celebration on Oct. 23
- An employee celebration Oct. 27 at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory marking the university’s 125th anniversary
Moreover, Stanford is installing a campus-wide system of interpretive signage to share with visitors and community members alike its story of transformational impact over 125 years.
Telling Stanford’s story
Rich with new photographs and archival images, as well as maps and textual information, the kiosks were developed in partnership with University Communications, Stanford’s Department of Land, Buildings and Real Estate, and departments and schools across campus.
The kiosks contextualize familiar landmarks such as Hoover Tower and Memorial Church.
They also spotlight new initiatives equally expressive of Stanford’s impact, such as Stanford Energy System Innovations (SESI), the campus energy system that opened in 2015. SESI, along with Stanford’s solar and geothermal power procurement initiatives, reduces campus emissions by roughly 68 percent and conserves 15 percent of campus potable water.
Still other kiosks explain how Stanford’s people and places exemplify its commitment to interdisciplinary research and education, community and residential education.
“Remarkable achievements abound at Stanford,” said David Demarest, vice president for public affairs. “The interpretive kiosks tell stories of significance at each campus location. We hope that the kiosks will help bring these stories to life for visitors and members of the Stanford community alike.”
A Braille plate on each kiosk directs visually impaired readers to a webpage that they can read on their Braille readers.
Showcasing students’ public service
Students are observing the 125th with #125days125ways, a campaign launching this week by the Haas Center for Public Service, hub of the university-wide Cardinal Service initiative.
The campaign showcases the diverse ways that more than 1,000 students each year make public service an essential part of their Stanford experience. Student public service projects include tackling global hunger, bringing music to disadvantaged children, promoting mental health, seeking environmental justice and registering voters.
Each day for 125 days, their photos will be featured on the new cardinalservice Instagram account as well as the Haas Center website. Alumni, faculty and staff are also encouraged to post using #125days125ways.
“It’s a reminder that service takes many forms, and that each of us can make a difference in a unique way,” said Astrid Marie Casimire, ’19, a 2015-16 Haas Center Frosh Service Liaison. Casimire and her peers have been organizing the campaign with Haas Center staff during the anniversary year as part of connecting students with service opportunities.
A year of celebration
Over the past year, the Stanford community has celebrated in creative ways, from anniversary-themed archaeology to alumni clubs holding 125th birthday parties.
On campus, the 125 logo graces such diverse sites as the free, energy-efficient Marguerite shuttles, the trade shops’ elegant landscape design for the campus Oval and the Cardinal football field, where a 125th-themed Axe flag proclaims the Cardinal’s intent this fall to retain the Stanford Axe, trophy of the Big Game, for the seventh straight year.
Stanford 125: A Visual Exploration, a commemorative book by acclaimed street photographer Alex Webb, captures the campus community at work and play over 10 days in autumn.
Public symposia in October 2015 and February 2016, “Thinking Big About Learning” and “Celebrating Founders,” highlighted Stanford’s strengths in education and entrepreneurship.
“Throughout the 125th anniversary, we have been sharing the Stanford story – the history of this great university and its mission, its values, its contributions to society and the world,” Demarest said. “It’s a story that will continue to be told for many years to come.”
