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Quiz about History of Stanford University

History of Stanford University Quiz

Here are some questions about a well-known California University and some trivial facts about it.

A multiple-choice quiz by gable. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
gable

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
333,214

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
259

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Who was the person after whom Stanford University was named when it was founded in 1891? Hint

Stanford White

Governor Leland Stanford

Leland Stanford Jr.

Jane Lathrop Stanford

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Question 2 of 10

2. What property did the Stanford family use on which to build the campus? Hint

Their horse breeding farm in Palo Alto, California

Acreage overlooking the Pacific Ocean

A tract of land near the governor's mansion in Sacramento,CA

A mission church abandoned by Father Junipero Serra

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which Stanford varsity football player won the Heisman Trophy in 1970? Hint

James Lofton

Toby Gerhardt

Jim Plunkett

Andrew Luck

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Question 4 of 10

4. What was the name of the Stanfords' pet cat whose name lives on in a popular local restaurant? Hint

Bootsie

Tootsie

Footsie

Cutsie

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Question 5 of 10

5. Stanford's free Marguerite Shuttle service is named for Jane Stanford's favorite horse.

True

False

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Question 6 of 10

6. Stanford has always been a co-educational institution.

True

False

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which of these US Presidents attended Stanford? Hint

Only Hoover

Ronald Reagan

Richard Nixon

Herbert Hoover and John F. Kennedy

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Question 8 of 10

8. What architect designed both the Stanford University campus and Central Park in New York City? Hint

Frederick Law Olmsted

I M Pei

Birge Clark

Stanford White

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which presidential offspring graduated from Stanford in 2001? Hint

Amy Carter

Chelsea Clinton

Jenna Bush

Michael Reagan

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Question 10 of 10

10. Stanford's motto appears on the University Seal: "Die luft der freiheit weht." What does this mean? Hint

Learning leads to freedom

The wind of freedom blows

The life of freedom is heavy

The light of freedom shines

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who was the person after whom Stanford University was named when it was founded in 1891?

Answer: Leland Stanford Jr.

Leland Stanford Junior was a teenager when his family traveled to Italy and he died of typhoid fever in Florence on March 13, 1884. The University was founded in his memory in 1891.

2. What property did the Stanford family use on which to build the campus?

Answer: Their horse breeding farm in Palo Alto, California

The Stanfords had a horse farm in Palo Alto, California and decided to build their university there. The original "Red Barn" of that horse farm has been renovated and houses the University's equestrian program.

3. Which Stanford varsity football player won the Heisman Trophy in 1970?

Answer: Jim Plunkett

Jim Plunkett won the Heisman in 1970. Running back Toby Gerhardt came in second in the Heisman voting in 2009 and quarterback Andrew Luck was second in 2010.

4. What was the name of the Stanfords' pet cat whose name lives on in a popular local restaurant?

Answer: Tootsie

A restaurant in the Stanford Shopping Center (off campus but on Stanford land) is named for the Stanford's cat, Tootsie,

5. Stanford's free Marguerite Shuttle service is named for Jane Stanford's favorite horse.

Answer: False

According to the Stanford archival experts this is a myth. The Marguerite is named for a horse in a livery service that provided transportation from campus into the town of Palo Alto during the University's early years.

6. Stanford has always been a co-educational institution.

Answer: True

Jane and Leland Stanford wanted their university to educate "all the children of California" and it was coeducational from Day 1.

7. Which of these US Presidents attended Stanford?

Answer: Herbert Hoover and John F. Kennedy

Herbert Hoover graduated from Stanford in the pioneer class of 1895. He and his wife Lou Henry Hoover built a home on the Stanford campus in 1919. When Lou Henry died in 1944, Hoover donated the house to the university. It has been used as the residence of the University president since then. John F. Kennedy registered as a graduate student for one quarter in the fall of 1940.

In December of the same year he enlisted in the Navy and never returned to do any further graduate work.

8. What architect designed both the Stanford University campus and Central Park in New York City?

Answer: Frederick Law Olmsted

Olmsted's design of quadrangles arranged along a linear axis has been extended as the University has expanded and built more buildings. Olmsted also designed Central Park in New York and the Capitol grounds and terraces in Washington, DC.

9. Which presidential offspring graduated from Stanford in 2001?

Answer: Chelsea Clinton

Chelsea Clinton managed to stay low-key and private while at Stanford. Her Secret Service detail tried to blend in by wearing shorts and riding bicycles around campus.

10. Stanford's motto appears on the University Seal: "Die luft der freiheit weht." What does this mean?

Answer: The wind of freedom blows

This is a quote from German Ulrik van Hutten. It was selected by Stanford President David Starr Jordan. Stanford's Ninth President, Gerhard Casper (who was born in Germany) not only was the member of the Stanford community who could pronounce the motto correctly and most easily, but he wrote a whole speech on its origins in 1995.

The motto came originally from Latin but was translated into German. For the whole (complicated) story go online to http://www.stanford.edu/dept/pres-provost/president/speeches/951005dieluft.html

Source: Author gable

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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