Correspondence regarding John T. Cooper (first recipient of Leland Stanford Jr. Memorial Scholarship), 1900 Feb-Jun

LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Stanford University, Cal. May 30, 1900.

Mrs. Stanford, My dear friend:

The principal of the Los Angeles High School, Mr. W. H. Housh, says in regard to John T. Cooper that "He has impressed me as one of our best and brightest boys", and tells me that he will give me further information as soon as possible.

Very truly yours,

Dear Charlie I send you this letter becasue it relates to the boy John H. Cooper whom I have selected as the first student to take the L.S. Jr Scholarship - if this fails this years, you select a boy - and next year tray [sic] J. H. C. again

Jane L. Stanford

LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Stanford University, Cal.

June 4, 1990

Mr. Charles G. Lathrop,

819 Market St.,

San Francisco, Calif.

Dear Sir:

You are, of course, aware of Mrs. Stanford's desire to establish a scholarship in honor of her son. You probably know also that she wishes you to name the incumbent, with the suggestion that a boy in the Los Angeles High School named John T. Cooper, in whom she has become considerably interested be the first to hold it.

I have written to Los Angeles in regard to Mr. Cooper but have only learned that he is one of the brightest boys in the High School, with the promise on the part of the principal that he will look up Mr. Cooper's record further. I suspect that he is in the junior class and lacks a year of being ready to enter the University. If this is the case, it would be better for him to wait, and the appointment might be given, if you should see fit, for the year to some one else. I have, of course, no desire to forestall your choice. I give, however, on another sheet a list of some of the boys with little means who show special promise. Of these I know only the first two named personally. The statement as to the others I take from the records. There are, of course, many others worthy of such honor. I suggest these names merely for your use in case you should need them.

Very truly yours,

David S Jordan

Joseph Grinnell, Pasadena, Calif. 21. Thoreau Cronyn, Bernardston, Mass. 21. R. L. Crowfoot, Paso Robles, Calif. 22. W. C. Halsey, Phoenix, Ariz. 20. M. D. Hopper, Del Rey, Calif. 19. F. E. Nangle, Wayne, Neb. 22. R. C. Swink, San Jose, Calif. 18. C. B. Wooster, Eden Vale, Calif. 21.

Mr. Cooper

Dear Sir:

In my opinion John is not only able to enter college, but thoroughly well prepared in the work which he has taken.

It is unfortunate of course that he has not had his last year in the High School, but he can enter Stanford on partial standing and I know he will do first class work. However I would not advise crowding him, as he is not very strong physically. It would be better to take a longer time.

John is a rare student; has a clear logical mind, and is so thoroughly conscientious in all his work. Any institution that graduates John Cooper will be proud of him

Yours sincerely

Margaret A. Huston

Arcade Depot Los Angeles, Cal.June 5th , 1900.

Dear Mrs Stanford: Mis Margaret Huston's note which I enclsoed in letter mailed to you this morning was handed me just a moment before train left and I had scarce time to read it carefully...So far as his health is concerned I think the change would be wonderfully beneficial to him, he has live in this warm climate all his life, surely it will do him good to get away. Should everything else turn out as we hope it will, I think his health will be all right and I have said the change will do him good.

Sincerely yours,

Mrs Leland Stanford Palo Alto, Calif.