The designer of the original Stanford Block “S” was William Laughlin McLaine, Class of 1896. The Block “S” was worn for the first time in 1893, and was originally used almost exclusively on athletic uniforms and sweaters. The Block “S” evolved over decades; the tree emblem was eventually added to the design. The version with the tree appears to have been in use by the Stanford Alumni Association as early as 1931, but it became widely used in the 1990s. Left: Early 20th-century students: The woman in the middle is wearing the original design of the Block “S.” Right: A baby in an outfit featuring the Block “S” logo with the tree.