A portrait of Leland Stanford, the founder of Stanford University, was painted by Jean-Louis-Ernest Meissonier in 1881. The painting is currently displayed at the Cantor Center.

Stanford University was founded in 1885 by Leland and Jane Stanford in memory of their son, Leland Stanford Jr. The university is located in Stanford, California.

In the summer of 1886, Leland Stanford consulted with Frederick Law Olmsted, the president of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and others to plan the campus of Stanford University. Olmsted developed the general concept for the campus and its buildings, incorporating elements of the Richardsonian Romanesque and Californian Mission Revival styles.

The cornerstone of Stanford University was laid on May 14, 1887.

In 1889, Leland Stanford ended the association with Frederick Law Olmsted and Charles Allerton Coolidge in the design of Stanford University's campus. The architectural style of the campus, characterized by red tile roofs and sandstone masonry, continued to evolve under new direction.

After the death of his only child, Leland Stanford and his wife transformed their 8,000-acre property in Santa Clara Valley into Stanford University in 1891.

Stanford University officially opened on October 1, 1891, with 555 students registering in its first year.

On March 19, 1892, Stanford University won its first Big Game against the University of California, Berkeley.

The first PhD was awarded by Stanford University on May 30, 1894.

The Pioneer Class of Stanford University, which included Herbert Hoover, graduated on May 29, 1895.

In 1896, Stanford University graduated its first Chinese student, Walter Ngon Fong. This marked an important milestone in the university's history.

In 1897, Jane Stanford directed the board of trustees to teach students about soul germs, prohibited sketching nude models, banned automobiles from campus, and prevented the construction of a hospital.

In 1899, Jane Stanford added a legal requirement to the Founding Grant limiting the number of women students to not exceed five hundred. This restriction was later modified and eventually removed in 1973.

In 1900, Jane Stanford dismissed Edward Alsworth Ross, a founding father of American sociology, from Stanford University due to his radicalism and racism. This event sparked a significant academic freedom case and controversy.

In 1901, Jane Stanford transferred $30 million in assets to Stanford University, nearly all her remaining wealth, showcasing her immense generosity towards the institution.

Stanford's football team participated in the first Rose Bowl in 1902, showcasing the early prominence of the team in collegiate football.

Stanford University dedicated its Memorial Church on January 25, 1903.

Stanford University organized its School of Law on December 18, 1908.

Stanford athletes have been participating in the Olympic Games since 1912, winning a total of 244 Olympic medals, with 129 of them being gold.

The School of Medicine was organized at Stanford University on May 23, 1913.

In 1916, Stanford psychology professor Lewis Terman developed a revised version of the Binet–Simon Scale, known as the Stanford–Binet Intelligence Scales, to measure intelligence. He also introduced the term 'intelligence quotient' (IQ) and coined the word 'gifted' for high-scoring individuals.

Stanford University organized its School of Education on April 27, 1917.

Stanford University started charging undergraduate tuition for the first time in January 1920.

Stanford University adopted its Honor Code on May 23, 1921.

The School of Engineering was organized at Stanford University on May 15, 1925.

Stanford University opened its Graduate Business School on September 30, 1925.

In 1930, Stanford University adopted the mascot 'Indian' for its athletic teams following a unanimous vote by the executive committee for the Associated Students.

In 1933, the trustees of Stanford University reinterpreted the gender ratio requirement to specify an undergraduate male to female ratio of 3:1. This 'Stanford ratio' remained in place until the early 1960s, affecting the composition of students at the university.

The klystron tube was invented by the brothers Russell and Sigurd Varian at Stanford. Their prototype was completed and demonstrated successfully on August 30, 1937.

Stanford is one of the most successful universities in creating companies and licensing its inventions to existing companies. It is often considered a model for technology transfer.

Stanford University celebrated its 50th anniversary in June 1941 and dedicated the Hoover Tower.

In 1944, University President Donald Tresidder banned all Stanford sororities due to extreme competition. This ban was later lifted in 1977.

After World War II, Frederick Terman, the university's provost, encouraged entrepreneurialism among faculty and graduates, laying the foundation for what would become Silicon Valley.

In 1946, Fred Terman returned to Stanford University as the dean of the engineering school and established the Electronics Research Lab (ERL), which was primarily funded by the USA military.

KZSU Stanford 90.1 FM, the student-run radio station, started in 1947 as an AM radio station. It features freeform music programming, sports commentary, and news segments.

In September 1948, the Schools of Biological Sciences, Humanities, Physical Sciences, and Social Sciences were merged into the School of Humanities and Sciences at Stanford University.

Felix Bloch from Stanford University receives the Nobel Prize in Physics, marking the first time a recipient from Stanford has been honored with this prestigious award.

Varian is the inaugural tenant of the Stanford Industrial Park in 1953.

In 1957, Stanford University's Board of Trustees adopted a policy against discriminatory racial and religious clauses and practices, demonstrating a commitment to equality and inclusivity.

Stanford University opened its first overseas campus near Stuttgart, Germany, on June 24, 1958.

In 1959, Arthur Kornberg, a researcher at Stanford University, was honored with the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his groundbreaking work on the biological synthesis of DNA and RNA, showcasing Stanford's contributions to scientific advancement.

In 1960, the Alpha Tau Omega chapter at Stanford had its national charter revoked after refusing to retract the pledging of four Jewish students. This incident highlighted the challenges faced by fraternities in addressing discriminatory practices and policies.

The Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC) was established in 1962 as a research facility for particle physics and accelerator technology. It has played a significant role in numerous scientific discoveries and advancements.

The White Memorial Fountain, also known as 'The Claw', was installed in 1964 between the Stanford Bookstore and the Old Union. It serves as a popular meeting spot and is part of the Stanford custom of 'fountain hopping'.

The Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (SAIL) was founded in 1965 by John McCarthy and Les Earnest. It played a significant role in the development of interactive computer systems and various technological advancements.

The Dish, a radio telescope, was built in 1966 in the foothills above campus and is still in operation today.

The inaugural session of the Senate of the Academic Council at Stanford University took place on September 12, 1968.

In 1969, the Stanford Research Institute operated one of the original nodes of ARPANET, the precursor to the Internet, showcasing an early contribution to the development of the digital network.

Negotiations took place between various institutions for the construction of the first US electron-positron colliding beam storage ring, resulting in the development of the Stanford Positron Electron Asymmetric Ring (SPEAR) in 1970.

The first Stanford Powwow was held on May 1, 1971, at Stanford University.

In 1972, Stanford University changed its athletic team mascot from 'Indian' to 'Stanford Cardinal' due to objections from Native American students and a vote by the student senate.

In 1973, the University trustees successfully petitioned the courts to have the gender ratio restriction on the number of women attending Stanford University formally removed. This led to a more balanced enrollment between male and female students.

In 1976, the Stanford Historical Society started publishing a journal called Sandstone & Tile, dedicated to documenting and preserving the history of Stanford University.

Following Title IX, the Board of Trustees lifted the 33-year ban on Stanford sororities in 1977. This decision allowed sororities to be active on campus once again.

Since 1978, the Stanford Historical Society has conducted an oral history program, interviewing over 800 individuals connected to Stanford University.

The multidisciplinary Stanford Humanities Center, established in 1980, is the first of its kind in the nation and the largest, focusing on research into historical, philosophical, literary, artistic, and cultural dimensions of the human experience.

Supreme Court Justice-nominee Sandra Day O'Connor (B.A. '50, J.D. '53) talks with President Ronald Reagan outside the White House on July 15, 1981.

Andy Bechtolsheim designed the SUN workstation for the Stanford University Network communications project as a personal CAD workstation, which led to Sun Microsystems.

In 1985, the B. Gerald Cantor Rodin Sculpture Garden opened at Stanford, becoming the largest collection of Rodin bronzes outside Paris and a world-class collection of 20th- and 21st-century sculpture.

The Stanford Review, a conservative student newspaper, was founded in 1987, providing a platform for conservative viewpoints within the Stanford community.

Richard Taylor of Stanford University receives the Nobel Prize in Physics, while William Sharpe of Stanford University is honored with the Nobel Prize in Economics.

Rebecca S. Lowen's work focuses on administrators, physicists, and federal patronage at Stanford University between 1935-1949.

In the early 1990s, Stanford University was investigated by the U.S. government for inappropriately billing several million dollars for non-research related expenses, leading to the resignation of President Donald Kennedy in 1992.

Stanford University was awarded the NACDA Directors' Cup for 25 consecutive years, starting in 1994, in recognition of its athletic achievements.

Google began in January 1996 as a research project by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, who were both PhD students at Stanford.

The Big Game bonfire on Lake Lagunita, a former campus tradition, was formally ended in 1997 due to the presence of endangered salamanders in the lake bed.

The publication 'A Chronology of Stanford University and its Founders' covers key events and moments in the development of Stanford University up to the year 2001.

The long-unofficial motto of Stanford, 'Die Luft der Freiheit weht,' was made official by the board of trustees in December 2002.

The James H. Clark Center for Biomedical Engineering and Sciences was established in 2003 to serve as a hub for collaboration between the schools of Engineering and Medicine, housing the pioneering interdisciplinary biosciences institute Bio-X led by Professor Carla Shatz.

The Hasso Plattner Institute of Design, also known as the d.school, was established within the School of Engineering at Stanford University in 2005. It aimed to bring together students and faculty from diverse backgrounds to work on innovative solutions for real-world problems using design and engineering techniques.

In 2006, Stanford University received $4.5 billion in funding, making it one of the wealthiest universities in the world.

In the 2008 Summer Olympics, Stanford athletes achieved remarkable success by winning more Olympic medals than any other university in the United States.

As of 2010, fifteen percent of Stanford University undergraduates were first-generation students, indicating the university's commitment to diversity and accessibility.

Stanford University achieved its 100th NCAA team national title on April 15, 2011.

The Stanford Challenge campaign concluded on December 31, 2011, surpassing its goal by raising a total of $6.23 billion, breaking fundraising records and supporting various academic initiatives.

In October 2013, Stanford University enrolled 7,061 undergraduate and 11,075 graduate students. Women made up 47% of undergraduates and 41% of professional and graduate students. The freshman retention rate was 99%.

On May 22, 2014, Stanford University was ranked second in the world by the Academic Ranking of World Universities, just behind Harvard University. This ranking was based on a study conducted by China's Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

The Windhover Contemplation Center, displaying the 'Windhover' paintings by Nathan Olivera, was dedicated to the campus on October 8, 2014, providing spiritual sanctuary for students and staff.

On the night of January 17, 2015, 22-year-old Chanel Miller was sexually assaulted by nineteen-year-old freshman student-athlete Brock Turner at Stanford University. Turner was convicted on three felony charges in March 2016 and received a jail sentence of six months, drawing nationwide attention.

In May 2016, Jonathan Levin was appointed as the new dean of Stanford's business school, replacing Garth Saloner.

In December 2017, Stanford University reached a $1.9 million settlement with the US federal government for violations under the False Claims Act related to undisclosed foreign funding by researchers.

In 2018, Stanford University achieved its lowest undergraduate admit rate in history, dropping to 5.07% for the class of 2018.

In 2020, Professor Arnetha Ball, Dr. Hadiya Sewer, and Dr. Kimberly McNair initiated The 2020 Project to document the experiences of the Stanford community during that year.

In February 2021, Provost Persis Drell announced that the Framework Task Force proposed the departmentalization of African and African American Studies (AAAS) at Stanford University, following extensive advocacy efforts.

In May 2021, the Committee on the Departmentalization of African and African American Studies (AAAS) at Stanford University held a meeting following the recommendation for departmentalization after years of advocacy.

Professor Ato Quayson from the English department was announced as the inaugural chair of the new Department of African and African American Studies (AAAS) at Stanford University, set to launch on January 1, 2024.

As of August 31, 2023, Stanford University's endowment, managed by the Stanford Management Company, was valued at $36.5 billion, covering a significant portion of the university's expenses.