Sterling, J. E. Wallace (John Ewart Wallace), 1906-1985

J. E. Wallace Sterling was president of Stanford University from 1949 to 1968. During his 19 years in office, Stanford's endowment nearly doubled, the faculty increased 170 percent, graduate programs were improved, major building plans were completed, the Medical School was moved to campus from San Francisco, and the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center was built. After his retirement in 1968, Sterling was named University Chancellor.

J. E. Wallace Sterling was President of Stanford University from 1949 to 1968 and its Chancellor from 1968-1985.

President, Stanford University, 1949-1968.

Sterling, Stanford University's fifth president, 1949 to 1968, was a news analyst for the CBS radio network, 1942-1948, during his tenure as history professor at Caltech.

J. E. Wallace Sterling, 1906-1985, served as Stanford University's fifth president from 1949 to 1968, the University's greatest period of expansion. His contributions as Chancellor, from 1968-1985, were equally impressive. He served on the Stanford Board of Trustees from 1969 to 1975, and from 1972 to 1977 was national co-chairman of the $300 million Campaign for Stanford. In 1978, he received Stanford University's highest honor, the "Degree of Uncommon Man." During this period, Sterling also served as chairman of the American Bicentennial Caommission, and as founding president and chairman of the national advisory board of the Filoli Center in Woodside, California, an historic property of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. He received honorary degrees form institutions in this country and abroad, including in 1976 an honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II in honor of his contributions to education and his scholarship in British history.

President of Stanford University 1949-1968. Sterling earned his a.b. in history at the University of Toronto in 1927; he taught at the University of Alberta while pursuing graduate work there, 1928-1930. He came to Stanford in 1930 to pursue his doctorate, which he received in 1938; while at Stanford, he was also a research assistant in the Hoover Library and taught in the History Department. From 1938 to 1948 Sterling taught at the California Institute of Technology, where he was elected chairman of the faculty in 1944. He had been Director of the Huntington Library and Art Gallery for five months when he accepted the presidency of Stanford University. During his 19 years as president, Stanford's endowment nearly doubled, the faculty increased 170 percent, graduate programs were improved, major building plans were completed, the Medical School was moved to campus from San Francisco, and the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center was built. After his retirement in 1968, Sterling was named University Chancellor. He died on July 1, 1985.

Biographical/Historical note

J. E. Wallace Sterling was president of Stanford University from 1949 to 1968. During his 19 years in office, Stanford's endowment nearly doubled, the faculty increased 170 percent, graduate programs were improved, major building plans were completed, the Medical School was moved to campus from San Francisco, and the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center was built. After his retirement in 1968, Sterling was named University Chancellor.

Biography

J.E. Wallace Sterling, president of Stanford University from 1949-1968, earned his A.B. in history at the University of Toronto in 1927; he taught at the University of Alberta while pursuing graduate work there from 1928-1930. He came to Stanford in 1930 to pursue his doctorate, which he received in 1938. While at Stanford, he was also a research assistant in the Hoover Library and taught in the History Department. From 1938 to 1948 Sterling taught at the California Institute of Technology, where he was elected chairman of the faculty in 1944. He had been Director of the Huntington Library and Art Gallery for five months when he accepted the presidency of Stanford University. During Sterling's 19 years as president, Stanford's endowment nearly doubled, the faculty increased by 170 percent, graduate programs were improved, major building plans were completed, the Medical School was moved to campus from San Francisco, and the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center was built. After his retirement in 1968, Sterling was named University Chancellor. He died on July 1, 1985.

Biographical/Historical Sketch

Sterling, Stanford University's fifth president, 1949 to 1968, was a news analyst for the CBS radio network, 1942-1948, during his tenure as history professor at Caltech.

Biographical/Historical Note

President, Stanford University, 1949-1968.