The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Stanford, Jane Lathrop

STANFORD, Jane Lathrop, American philanthropist: b. Albany, N. Y., 23 Aug. 1825; d. Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands, 28 Feb. 1905. She was married to Leland Stanford (q.v.) and after his death in 1893 was occupied chiefly in fostering the development and extension of Leland Stan d ford Jr. University, which she had aided her husband to establish in memory of their son. In 1901 she increased her gifts to the university by further gifts of securities valued at $18,000,000; her residence in San Francisco, valued at $400,000, for a museum and art gallery; and 1,000,000 acres of land valued at $12,000,000, She subsequently added other benefactions, thus making the university the wealthiest educational institution in the world. Mrs. Stanford established the children's hospital at Albany, N. Y., at a cost cf $100,000, and provided an additional $100,000 to secure its maintenance; she also gave over $160,000 to various schools and kindergartens. See .