In honor of the Stanford Historical Society’s 50th anniversary, and in recognition of the close and continuing partnership between the Society and the Stanford University Archives, University Archivist Josh Schneider will welcome attendees to Stanford’s Department of Special Collections to view a curated selection of unique historical artifacts documenting the history of Stanford from its founding to present day. These distinctive materials challenge and inspire the university community as evidenced through their use in Stanford courses and in SHS programs and publications. They include:

• Stanford University’s Founding Grant
• Jane Stanford’s life mask
• Spiritualist apports of Thomas Welton Stanford, Leland Stanford Sr.’s youngest brother
• Minutes of seances of Thomas Welton Stanford
• Photos by Eadweard Muybridge
• and more

Spaces are very limited. Attendees may sign up for one of the two one-hour sessions at 2-3 p.m. or 3-4 p.m.

Priority registration for Stanford Historical Society (SHS) members bagan at 11 a.m. on Friday, February 6, 2026.

Tickets are sold out. Sign up for the waitlist.

*Please add historicalsociety@stanford.edu to your email contacts list so that SHS email notifications may not be filtered to your email junk or spam folder.

Learn more about Stanford Historical Society. Sign up for the SHS Email List. Become an SHS member.

Questions? Email Stanford Historical Society.