Correspondence (incoming): begging letters, M

Ingleside, Ga., Feb 25, 1901.

Mrs. Leland Stanford.

San Francisco. Cal.,

Dear Madam:

I am trying to raise funds to prepare cottages on my farm so as to be able to bring children out here from the city to escape the intense heat of the summer months. I will start on a small scale and hope some day that it will grow sufficient to accommodate sick and worn out mothers.

What is greater than to work for children! my heart goes out to them.

If your charity fund is exhausted, please to direct me to some one interested in such work.

Very respectfully, Mrs. T. H. Meacham.

Ingleside, Dekalb Co. Ga.

GAVE AWAY $30,000,000.

MRS. STANFORD DEEDED THAT SUM TO UNIVERSITY.

GREATEST GIFT EVER GIVEN TO AN INSTITUTION — DONOR HAS MILLIONS LEFT.

New York Sun special to The Express.

San Francisco, Cal., Dec. 9. — Today Mrs. Jane L. Stanford transferred to Stanford University, by deed, bonds, stocks and real estate valued at $30,000,000, the largest single gift ever bestowed on any institution of learning. Of this amount $18,000,000 consists of gilt-edged bonds and stocks, paying large revenue. The real estate deeded to the university comprises much of the property originally given by Senator Stanford, but the deeds of which were found to be illegal. The bonds include many securities that have doubled in value within a few years and the accumulation of those and other stocks since the death of her husband.

The real property deeded includes no less than 900,000 acres in about twelve counties of California and comprises the great Vina ranch of 52,000 acres. A third deed conveys to the university, Mrs. Stanford's home on the summit of Nob Hill, one of the most finely decorated houses in San Francisco, which, with a big lot, is worth $400,000. This will eventually be converted into an art gallery and museum. Despite these big gifts, Mrs. Stanford has retained property worth several millions, so that she will be able to provide for many charities.

This gift places Stanford in the first financial rank among the great universities of the world and will enable it to carry out many projected movements. Stanford University stands today as one of the two great educational institutions west of Missouri. With the University of California it ranks in efficiency and scope with Michigan, Chicago, Pennsylvania and Cornell and possibly exceeds any of them in financial backing.

Mrs. Stanford's purpose in turning over $18,000,000 directly to trustees of the institution instead of holding bonds in trust until her death was probably to avoid any possible will contest.

Buffalo New York Dec 11th 1901

Mrs Stanford

Dear Madam

as I was Reading the Paper Last night about your Beautiful gift to the university as I told my dear daughter I wish I only had enough to keep me while I Live it would be a God Send for Me We Have been in good circumstance once but sickness & troubles of this Life has brought me to have Nothing only my furniture & they are Packed away I am a Widow 13 years comes April 7 & I am 67 years old comes March first When a Person has no home for my Self at my age it is [very?] hard I had to work hard all of my [paper folded] now Nothing my Husband had

My home is in Illinois my daughter Sent for Me but I do not Know how I can go Back if I Live & get Back home and get things together I would Like to have you to come and Make Me a visit I shall Endeavour to Make it Pleasant for you & Comfortable now if you Will come in the Spring you Please Let Me know and if you come you will find out I am telling you the truth Please answer at the Earliest date & oblige yours

Mrs H H Meadows

222 Lexington Avenue Buffalo New York

[upside down]

Wishing you a Merry Christmas & Many Happy New Year Please Pardon Me for Writing you this Letter

St. Paul. Kansas

Dec 11th, 1901.

Mrs. Jane L. Stanford

Dear Madam

In glancing over the paper I read of the many millions that you & Mr Carnegie give to education & then I think of our larg [sic] family & think how we are strugling [sic] to give them an education & what a little & how easy you could help us out. Oh I am