I’m going to try to update my blog on Saturdays. I consider the workweek time to move my second novel, 1892, along. I had worked on it about two or three years ago, prior to going through the publishing process with 1891. I learned a lot from that which I have applied to the latest book. It is going along good. So far, 27 chapters have been completed. This is equivalent to 100 pages, a third of the book. I have printed up ten copies and put them in the hands of people who helped me out with the first book. So far, good results. I’ve got three reactions, all good. Like I said I can’t help but feel that the more I write, the better I get. The next step will be to try, again, to get a publisher and/or an agent. I don’t want to go through the self-publishing, again, but, I must admit that if you do it that way, the best way is iUniverse. I have no complaints. If the book did not catch on. It is not their fault. I certainly had the exposure. Now, since it is the second book, I think it will get better acceptance. I hope publishers and agents will think: Yes, he is going to write a tetralogy about Stanford University. There is a market for this. He’s not the greatest writer in the world but he has interesting characters that may have legs.

I just finished a chapter about Andrew White, early president of Cornell University. He was offered the presidency of Stanford, but turned it down. After reviewing White’s history, I came to an interesting conclusion. White was probably homosexual. I’m not sure how Cornell people will take this. If they are like Stanford, they will ignore the whole thing, but it does make an interesting turn of events in the book.

Also, I am about to get into the details of the first Big Game, also interesting.

Stay tuned. jerry

 

Anyone reading this blog knows that I am not satisfied with the way historical Stanford is being commemorated.

 
Why is this commemoration so important? James Baldwin wrote, “History does not refer merely, or even principally, to the past. On the contrary, the great force of history comes from the fact that we carry it with us, are unconsciously controlled by it in many ways, and history is literally present in all that we do.”
 
During a Stanford student’s busy life, I doubt, with all the weight of study, social obligations, the future, that much time is spent contemplating what might have happened during Stanford’s early days. For returning alumni, visitors, prospective students, it would be a different matter. Seeing sites, statues, reading plagues, being told about the early difficulties, and honoring the people who overcame them, would give insight into why Stanford University is such a great institution, to enter, to support.
 
If this is the case, why is it that: the statue of the Stanford family is relegated to an isolated site; the Chemistry building stands deserted; the Stanford Museum is devoted to art objects; unrelated statuary dominates Memorial Court; the first administrative area is unmarked; the first temporary chapel is unmarked; the first library is unmarked; Encina Hall is an office building with no visitors; Escontite Cottage, the first domicile in the area is unmarked, no visitors, and probably up for demolition when a new housing complex is built; and Ernest Johnson, Stanford’s only African American graduate for five decades is not honored. (Imagine the  impact a statue of Ernest Johnson in Memorial Court would have on visiting tourists and prospective students.)
 
I am sure there are other sites and people that are being forgotten or neglected that deserve mention.
 
There is a Historical Society and there is an Archivist and I am sure they are doing the best job they can under prevailing circumstances. My head is not in the sand and I understand those circumstances involve considerations of donor dollars, growth, and space. If these considerations meet historical significance head-on, there is no question that they will prevail.
 
If you agree with me, please bother the Stanford hierarchy: president, archivist, historical society, trustees, or anyone else who has clout. A single voice will not be heard.
 
One day, twenty-five, fifty years from now, the Stanford Community may ask our grandchildren, “How could they have done this? What were they thinking when they destroyed our Stanford heritage?”
 
Will our grandchildren answer, “We think they thought there were other considerations that were more important. Yes, they were wrong, but, now, that it is destroyed, what can be done?”

Let’s see we were at the mausoleum. Near there are the cactus gardens. For some reason, during Victorian Days, the well-to-do felt cactus gardens were exotic. Even today, some people love cactus. I am not one of them. When I was last there, about a year ago, some of the cactus lovers were restoring the grounds. I imagine the site has vastly improved. And while I am at it, the grounds where the old Palo Alto grows, on Alma Street, were also improved by some dedicated individuals. They did a wonderful job. Too bad, when I was there, no one else was. Some joggers from Menlo Park passed through, but it was old stuff for them. Back to the Cactus Gardens, now I am capitalizing, about the best thing is to imagine Stanford couples romancing in this secluded area. It must have been interesting.

In my mind, the museum would be the next stop. Now it is the Cantor Museum and mostly devoted to art objects. When I was in school, the museum was closed, going through some kind of renovation. In the lobby, if you can imagine, was Stanford’s own Steam Engine in all its glory. With the new emphasis, the engine was moved to Sacramento. That must have been interesting. There is a room devoted to the Stanford family, but I bet there are lots of memorabilia that is stacked in boxes like the storage area in Citizen Kane. I like the stuff identified with the Senator—particularly the pearl handled cane. It is in all of his later pictures and there it is in all its glory. The boy’s art and stuff he colected shows that he was a pampered child. And why not, he would die when he was fourteen. And if he hadn’t died there would be no Stanford University.

From the library, walk toward the main quad and you will go by the Chemistry Building, now vacant and waiting for what? Someone to come along and tear it down or use it as a real museum. Who knows. I was never in it. Chemistry was way off the beaten path. The reason it was so isolated was the explosion over at  San Jose’s College of Pacific Because of that most of the students transferred to Stanford. For obvious reason, COP, in Strockton, has brushed that portion of their history under the carpet. I don’t see why. It is a great school, and I think, overcoming that diversity is a wonderful accomplishment. But, as you will see, history is funny. People pick and choose the portions they want, and we have to guess at what really happened.

That’s enough for now. Stay with us. We are approaching the oval and getting to the interesting part about the realtionship between Senator Stanford and Frederick Omsted. Please forgive the typos.

In the back of my mind, I have been thinking about providing visitors to Stanford University with a guide to the historical sites that can still be seen, that haven’t been covered with shopping centers and parking lots. The guide would be provided at my site Http://earthlink.net/~jerryfranks. There is already something there but this guide would be more comprehensive.

It would start out in Palo Alto at the infamous tree which gave the area its name and the reason for being. It is at the end of Alma Street. Somewhat overshadowed now, but at one time, it overshadowed everything in the vacinity. Further down Alma, you can see the old Waterworks, originally designed by Dr. Marx. There are other sites in PA but those come up at a later date, and I want to stick to those associated with 1891: A Novel about Stanford University. The next place to go would be the mausoleum where the Stanfords and their son are buried. Nearby is a statue of the family group. The statue should be in the Memorial Quad where the Roudin statues are located. But that is another matter.

I can see this is going to take longer than I expected, so will continue at a later date. Remember this is a rough outline of what I plan to do.