George E. Crothers
Encyclopedia
George Edward Crothers (May 27, 1870 – May 16, 1957) was one of the first students at Stanford University
and was instrumental in putting the university on a solid legal and financial footing following the deaths of its founders, Leland
and Jane Stanford
. He served as a member of Stanford's board of trustees and as a California superior court
judge. His monetary gifts to his alma mater
made possible the construction of two student residences on the Stanford campus—one named for himself, the other dedicated to the memory of his mother.
to John Crothers and Margaret Jane Crothers (née Fair), who had emigrated to the United States from Ireland the previous year. The family moved to San Jose, California
in 1883, and George enrolled at Stanford in 1891 as part of the new university's "pioneer class". He received a Bachelor of Arts
degree from Stanford in 1895, followed by a law degree in 1896.
for an amendment to the California state constitution
granting Stanford an exemption from taxation on its educational property—a change which allowed Jane Stanford to donate her stock
holdings to the university. In 1902, Crothers became the first alumnus
of Stanford to serve as a member of the university's board of trustees.
Crothers became involved in legal action over the estate of his maternal uncle, James Graham Fair
. Nettie Craven claimed to have been married to Fair at the time of his death, but at a 1900 trial, Crothers' detailed analysis of the handwriting
on the documents Craven had offered in support of her claim convinced the court that they were forgeries.
From 1913 to 1921, Crothers served as a judge of the Superior Court in San Francisco, California
. One case which came before him involved a physician whose license had been revoked by the State Board of Medical Examiners for performing an abortion
. Judge Crothers refused to overturn the board's revocation on technical grounds, and his decision was upheld on appeal. Even after Crothers' retirement from the bench
and his return to private law practice, he was commonly referred to as "Judge" throughout the rest of his life. In a 1956 letter, former U.S. president
(and Stanford classmate) Herbert Hoover
wrote, "Judge George E. Crothers was my good friend in bad times and in good times for over sixty years".
bells for Grace Cathedral in San Francisco was cast with the help of donations from Crothers and other benefactors.
In his later years, Crothers made a donation to Stanford for the construction of Crothers Hall, an on-campus dormitory
for law students which opened in 1948. With the help of additional gifts by Crothers, a second residence (for graduate students in engineering
) was built next to the first; opened in 1955, it was named Crothers Memorial Hall in memory of the judge's mother. These two residences were extensively renovated and converted into undergraduate housing in 2009. The hall's name, Crothers Memorial, was the inspiration for the early personal computer company Cromemco
.
in Palo Alto, California
on May 16, 1957. He is buried in San Jose, California, along with his parents.
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
and was instrumental in putting the university on a solid legal and financial footing following the deaths of its founders, Leland
Leland Stanford
Amasa Leland Stanford was an American tycoon, industrialist, robber baron, politician and founder of Stanford University.-Early years:...
and Jane Stanford
Jane Stanford
Jane Stanford was the co-founder of Stanford University with her husband, Leland Stanford, whom she wed in 1850. She was the daughter of a shopkeeper and lived on Washington Avenue in Albany, New York, before her marriage...
. He served as a member of Stanford's board of trustees and as a California superior court
Superior court
In common law systems, a superior court is a court of general competence which typically has unlimited jurisdiction with regard to civil and criminal legal cases...
judge. His monetary gifts to his alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
made possible the construction of two student residences on the Stanford campus—one named for himself, the other dedicated to the memory of his mother.
Early life
George Crothers was born on May 27, 1870 in Wapello, IowaWapello, Iowa
Wapello is a city in Louisa County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,124 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Louisa County. It is pronounced whop-UH-low, and almost rhymes with Tupelo....
to John Crothers and Margaret Jane Crothers (née Fair), who had emigrated to the United States from Ireland the previous year. The family moved to San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
in 1883, and George enrolled at Stanford in 1891 as part of the new university's "pioneer class". He received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from Stanford in 1895, followed by a law degree in 1896.
Career
Crothers set up a law practice with his brother, Thomas—also a Stanford graduate and a lawyer—and became a close adviser to Jane Stanford. Together with his brother, Crothers identified and corrected numerous major legal defects in the terms of the university's founding grant and successfully lobbiedLobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
for an amendment to the California state constitution
California Constitution
The document that establishes and describes the duties, powers, structure and function of the government of the U.S. state of California. The original constitution, adopted in November 1849 in advance of California attaining U.S. statehood in 1850, was superseded by the current constitution, which...
granting Stanford an exemption from taxation on its educational property—a change which allowed Jane Stanford to donate her stock
Stock
The capital stock of a business entity represents the original capital paid into or invested in the business by its founders. It serves as a security for the creditors of a business since it cannot be withdrawn to the detriment of the creditors...
holdings to the university. In 1902, Crothers became the first alumnus
Alumnus
An alumnus , according to the American Heritage Dictionary, is "a graduate of a school, college, or university." An alumnus can also be a former member, employee, contributor or inmate as well as a former student. In addition, an alumna is "a female graduate or former student of a school, college,...
of Stanford to serve as a member of the university's board of trustees.
Crothers became involved in legal action over the estate of his maternal uncle, James Graham Fair
James Graham Fair
James Graham Fair was the overnight millionaire part-owner of the Comstock Lode, a United States Senator and a colorful real estate and railroad speculator.-Early life:...
. Nettie Craven claimed to have been married to Fair at the time of his death, but at a 1900 trial, Crothers' detailed analysis of the handwriting
Questioned document examination
Questioned document examination is the forensic science discipline pertaining to documents that are in dispute in a court of law...
on the documents Craven had offered in support of her claim convinced the court that they were forgeries.
From 1913 to 1921, Crothers served as a judge of the Superior Court in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. One case which came before him involved a physician whose license had been revoked by the State Board of Medical Examiners for performing an abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
. Judge Crothers refused to overturn the board's revocation on technical grounds, and his decision was upheld on appeal. Even after Crothers' retirement from the bench
Bench (law)
Bench in legal contexts means simply the location in a courtroom where a judge sits. The historical roots of that meaning come from the fact that judges formerly sat on long seats or benches when presiding over a court...
and his return to private law practice, he was commonly referred to as "Judge" throughout the rest of his life. In a 1956 letter, former U.S. president
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
(and Stanford classmate) Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover
Herbert Clark Hoover was the 31st President of the United States . Hoover was originally a professional mining engineer and author. As the United States Secretary of Commerce in the 1920s under Presidents Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge, he promoted partnerships between government and business...
wrote, "Judge George E. Crothers was my good friend in bad times and in good times for over sixty years".
Philanthropy
Crothers established a scholarship fund for Stanford law students in 1912. In 1929, he established an annual prize fund for literary composition at the University of California. A set of carillonCarillon
A carillon is a musical instrument that is typically housed in a free-standing bell tower, or the belfry of a church or other municipal building. The instrument consists of at least 23 cast bronze, cup-shaped bells, which are played serially to play a melody, or sounded together to play a chord...
bells for Grace Cathedral in San Francisco was cast with the help of donations from Crothers and other benefactors.
In his later years, Crothers made a donation to Stanford for the construction of Crothers Hall, an on-campus dormitory
Dormitory
A dormitory, often shortened to dorm, in the United States is a residence hall consisting of sleeping quarters or entire buildings primarily providing sleeping and residential quarters for large numbers of people, often boarding school, college or university students...
for law students which opened in 1948. With the help of additional gifts by Crothers, a second residence (for graduate students in engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
) was built next to the first; opened in 1955, it was named Crothers Memorial Hall in memory of the judge's mother. These two residences were extensively renovated and converted into undergraduate housing in 2009. The hall's name, Crothers Memorial, was the inspiration for the early personal computer company Cromemco
Cromemco
Cromemco was a Mountain View, California microcomputer company known for its high-end Z80-based S-100 bus computers in the early days of the home computer revolution. The Cromemco Dazzler was the first color graphics card available for personal computers....
.
Personal life
Crothers married Elizabeth Mills in 1911. They were unable to have children, and Elizabeth was 38 years old when she died in 1920.Death
Crothers died at Stanford HospitalStanford Hospital
Stanford Hospital and Clinics is known worldwide for advanced treatment of complex disorders in areas such as cardiovascular care, cancer treatment, neurosciences, surgery, and organ transplants. Consistently ranked among the nation's top hospitals, Stanford Hospital and Clinics is internationally...
in Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto is a California charter city located in the northwest corner of Santa Clara County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, United States. The city shares its borders with East Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Stanford, Portola Valley, and Menlo Park. It is...
on May 16, 1957. He is buried in San Jose, California, along with his parents.