BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Rawghlie Clement Stanford (1878-1963), life-long Democrat and former governor and Supreme Court justice of Arizona, moved to Phoenix in 1882. R.C. Stanford served with the 34th U.S. Volunteers in the Philippines (1899-1901), during the Spanish-American War. He studied at the Tempe Normal School and the Stanford University School of Law. He was admitted to the territorial bar at Tombstone in 1905.
In 1909, he moved his law practice to Phoenix. Elected judge of Maricopa County Superior Court in 1914, Stanford served two terms (1915-1922). He presided over the 1916 gubernatorial contest between Thomas E. Campbell and George W.P. Hunt. Although the judge ruled in favor of Campbell, the Arizona Supreme Court overturned this decision.
Stanford ran for Governor in 1936 and successfully defeated Dr. B.B. Moeur. Stanford served a two-year term (1937-1938), and did not seek reelection. After a brief period in private law practice, he defeated Alfred C. Lockwood for a seat on the Arizona Supreme Court in 1943. Stanford served two terms (1943-1955) and retired as Chief Justice. He participated in more than 1,000 Supreme Court decisions, writing 200 of them.
Rawghlie Stanford was the state coordinator for the 1960 Kennedy-Johnson campaign and served as a presidential elector. He was involved in real estate as well. Stanford homesteaded and developed large tracts of land including a section north of the Arizona Canal and east of the Biltmore Hotel.
Stanford married Ruth Butchee (1880-1957), in 1906. Mrs. Stanford was active in civic affairs. She was president of the Mary Brodie chapter of the United Spanish War Veterans auxiliary and president of the Pioneer District Women’s Club of which she was a founding member. Mrs. Stanford was also the Superintendent of the Cradle Roll department of the First Presbyterian Church of Phoenix.
The Stanfords had seven children. These include sons R.C. Jr., judge of the Maricopa County Superior Court; Sharon, Phoenix attorney; and, Roscoe, state highway department official. Daughters include Mardie Stanford Marquess, Mary Ruth Stanford, and Lois Stanford Palmer, a Phoenix real estate broker.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
The R.C. Stanford Collection consists primarily of correspondence, newsclippings, and business records relating to the activities of R.C. Stanford and his family. The material spans the period 1882-1978 and is arranged in three subgroups: (1) political; (2) Personal; and (3) Business. Common series within these subgroups include Correspondence, Legal Records, Newsclippings, and Miscellany. The collection, consisting of approximately 5.5 cubic feet, is contained within 12 boxes of varying sizes and 1 oversized folder.
Subgroup One contains materials dealing with the political career of R.C. Stanford who Stanford, Rawghlie Clement- 2 of 9 Arizona Historical Foundation, www.ahfweb.org, 480-965-3283 served as Judge of Maricopa County Superior Court, Governor of Arizona, Judge of Arizona Supreme Court, and state campaign coordinator for the 1960 Kennedy-Johnson campaign. Materials also pertain to the political activities of his immediate family. Essential series include 1) Correspondence, 1917-1962, 2) Printed Matter, 1934-1961, 3) Legal Records, 1906-1960, 4) Newsclippings, 1914-1963, arid 5) Miscellaneous, 1915-1961. Included within this subgroup are materials pertaining to Stanford’s campaigns, and activities and retirement from the Arizona Supreme Court. Series Four, Newsclippings, comprises the bulk of this subgroup and contains extensive information on all aspects of Stanford’s political career.
Another important subgroup is Subgroup Two which deals with the personal aspects of Stanford and includes the activities of his wife, Ruth Butchee Stanford, and his children. Series include 1) Diaries, 1894-1957, 2) Correspondence, 1896-1962, 3) Newsclippings, 1901-1976, 4) Ruth Stanford, 1931-1957, 5) R.C. Stanford Funeral, 1963, 6) Stanford Family, 1915-1951, and Miscellaneous, 1882-1961. Series One, Diaries, is composed mostly of Ruth Stanford’s diaries but also includes assorted though limited notebooks belonging to R.C. Stanford. The Correspondence series is a substantial part of this subgroup and includes letters between R.C. and Ruth Stanford, and letters to R.C. Stanford from various sources. The Miscellaneous series (Series Five) contains assorted materials and artifacts relating primarily to Mr. Stanford.
The final subgroup relates to the business and real estate activities of R.C. Stanford and his family. Series include 1) Correspondence, 2) Legal, 3) Maps, and 4) Miscellaneous. Materials are related to Stanford’s real estate activities including the development of Stanford Hills, a large section of land he homesteaded near the Biltmore Hotel. The Legal series includes leases, deeds, and other official documents related to these activities. The Maps Series contains various surveys arid development plans.
The R.C. Stanford collection also contains a number of oversized materials stored in an oversized box and an oversized folder located in the AHF map case. These materials are listed under the series which they were removed from and are also listed in a separate inventory list of the box and the folder.
The R.C. Stanford Collection was donated by Lois Stanford Palmer of Phoenix, Arizona in 1992.
SERIES FIVE MISCELLANEOUS, 1915-1961
Box 1
- Folder 1 Campaign for Governor, 1936
Box 2
- Folder 2 Ribbons, 1938 (Oversize Box 12)
- Folder 3 License Plates, 1937-1938
- Folder 4 Directories and Yearbooks, 1937-1938
- Folder 5 Dinner Programs, 1915-1948
- Folder 6 Kennedy Inauguration, 1961
- Folder 7 Miscellaneous
Item 4 (Oversize Folder 1) Courts of Arizona Poster - Folder 8 Judicial notebook & notes
Box 3
Volume 9 Scrapbook
Volume 10 Arizona’s Men of Achievement
- Item 3 (Oversize Box 12) AZ Supreme Court photo.
- Item 4 (Oversize Box 12) 1910 AZ. Const. Con. photo.
- Item 5 (Oversize Box 12) U.S. Supreme Court cert.
SUBGROUP TWO PERSONAL
SERIES ONE DIARIES, 1894-1957
Box 4
- Folder 1 R.C. Stanford Diary, 1894-1904
- Folder 2 R.C. Stanford Notebook, 1924
- Folder 3 Ruth Stanford Notebook, 1946
- Folder 4 R.C. Stanford Notebook, 1948
SERIES TWO CORRESPONDENCE, 1896-1962
Box 5
- Folder 1 R.C. to Ruth Stanford, 1904-1907
- Folder 2 R.C. to Ruth Stanford, 1910
- Folder 3 R.C. to Ruth Stanford, 1923
Item 5 (Oversize Folder 1) Letter, August 27, 1923 - Folder 4 R.C. to Ruth Stanford, 1927, 1941
- Folder 5 Ruth to R.C. Stanford, 1912
- Folder 6 To/From Ruth Stanford, 1921-1953
- Folder 7 To Ruth Stanford, 1905-1957
- Folder 8 To/From M.A. Stanford, 1898-1917
- Folder 9 To R.C. Stanford, 1896-1939
- Folder 10 To R.C. Stanford, 1940-1949
- Folder 11 R.C. Stanford-Misc., 1947-1957
- Folder 12 To R.C. Stanford, 1951-1959
- Folder 13 To R.C. Stanford, 1960-1963
- Folder 14 To R.C. Stanford, Misc., 1901-1923
- Folder 15 Stanford – Post Cards, 1904-1962
SERIES THREE NEWSCLIPPINGS, 1901-1976
Box 5
- Folder 1 R.C. Stanford, 1901-1963
Box 6
- Folder 2 Ruth Stanford, 1920-1957
- Folder 3 Stanford Family, 1920-1976
- Folder 4 Miscellaneous, 1918-1960
SERIES FOUR RUTH STANFORD, 1931-1957
Box 6
- Folder 1 Service Work, 1931-1954
- Folder 2 Funeral, 1957
- Folder 3 Miscellaneous, 1943-1957
- Folder 4 Cradle Roll Notebook, 1943-1949
SERIES FIVE R.C. STANFORD FUNERAL, 1963
Box 6
- Folder 1 Condolences
- Folder 2 Sympathy Cards
- Folder 3 Memory Cards
- Folder 4 Donations in Honor of, 1963-1964
- Folder 5 Book of Memories
SERIES SIX STANFORD FAMILY, 1915-1951
Box 7
- Folder 1 M.A. Stanford, 1915-1938
- Folder 2 Graduations, 1925-1951
- Folder 3 Certificates, 1920-1935
Item 6 (Oversize Box 12) Margaret Stanford, 1922
Item 7 (Oversize Box 12) Roscoe Stanford, 1925
Item 8 (Oversize Box 12) Lois Stanford, 1930 - Folder 4 Asa Stanford -Inquiries, 1917-1951
- Folder 5 Miscellaneous, 1927-1967
- Folder 6 Margaret Stanford Wedding Guestbook
SERIES SEVEN MISCELLANEOUS, 1882-1961
Box 7
- Folder 1 Misc. Notes, Etc., 1896-1955
- Folder 2 Misc. Written Material
- Folder 3 R.C. Stanford – U.S. 34th Infantry, 1929-1961
- Folder 4 34th Infantry – Muster Roll, 1901
- Folder 5 R.C. Stanford Biographical Info.
- Folder 6 Stanford Certificates, 1882-1946
Item 9 (Oversize Box 12) Am.Legion Benefit Cert., 1882 - Folder 7 R.C. Stanford Memberships, 19421957
- Folder 8 Business Cards
Box 8
- Folder 9 Miscellaneous
- Folder 10 Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary, 1956
- Folder 11 Wedding Anniversary Guestbook, 1956
- Folder 12 M.A. Stanford Notebook, 1909
- Folder 13 Alumni Directory Stanford Law School, 1967
- Folder 14 Map of the United States, 1894
- Folder 15 Christmas Guestbook, 1938
- Folder 16 Reel to Reel Audio Tape
Box 9
- Volume 17 Infantry Drill Regulations
- Folder 18 Scrapbook Cover
- Folder 19 Scrapbook Contents
- Folder 20 Scrapbook Cover
- Folder 21 Scrapbook Postcards
Item 10 (Oversize Box 12) Alumni Distinction Award
Item 11 (Oversize Box 12) Army Prom. Cert. Sergeant
Item 12 (Oversize Box 12) Army Prom. Cert. Corporal
Item 13 (Oversize Box 12) Law License, 1905
Item 14 (Oversize Box 12) Fed.Com.Comission cert.
Item 15 (Oversize Box 12) Spanish-Am.War Vets. photo
Item 16 (Oversize Box 12) Veterans certificate
SUBGROUP THREE BUSINESS
SERIES ONE CORRESPONDENCE, 1896-1963
Box 9
- Folder 1 Nelson, 1919-1941
- Folder 2 Governor Square, 1939
- Folder 3 Cudia Lease, 1939-1942
- Folder 4 Palo Cristi, 1951-1952
- Folder 5 Miscellaneous, 1896-1929
- Folder 6 Miscellaneous, 1932-1945
Box 10
- Folder 7 Miscellaneous, 1946-1951
- Folder 8 Miscellaneous, 1952-1963
- Folder 9 Miscellaneous
SERIES TWO LEGAL, 1911-1961
Box 10
- Folder 1 Ranchito Bonitos, 1918-1946
- Folder 2 Palo Cristi, 1951-1953
- Folder 3 Cudia Lease, 1939-1941
- Folder 4 Governor Square, 1939-1950
- Folder 5 Stanford Hills, 1955-1961
- Folder 6 Madden Sale, 1957
- Folder 7 Miscellaneous, 1911-1920
- Folder 8 Miscellaneous, 1921-1939
- Folder 9 Miscellaneous, 1940-1945
Box 11
- Folder 10 Miscellaneous, 1946-1953
- Folder 11 Miscellaneous, 1954-1960
- Folder 12 Miscellaneous
SERIES THREE MAPS, 1936-1962
Box 11
- Folder 1 Miscellaneous, 1936-1938
Item 17 (Oversize Box 12) 1937
Item 18 (Oversize Box 12) Governor Square, 1938 - Folder 2 Miscellaneous, 1941-1949
Item 19 (Oversize Box 12) Sharon Stanford, 1941
Item 20 (Oversize Box 12) Sharon Stanford, 1941
Item 21 (Oversize Box 12) Maloney Sale, 1941
Item 22 (Oversize Box 12) Maloney Sale, 1941
Item 23 (Oversize Box 12) Stanford Drive, 1949
Item 24 (Oversize Box 12) Stanford Drive, 1949 - Folder 3 Miscellaneous, 1950-1959
Item 25 (Oversize Box 12) Casa Hermosa, 1951
Item 26 (Oversize Box 12) Jacobson, Sec.13, 1951
Item 27 (Oversize Box 12) Jacobson, Sec.13, 1951
Item 28 (Oversize Box 12) Section 13, 1951
Item 29 (Oversize Box 12) Section 13, 1951
Item 30 (Oversize Box 12) Section 12-13, 1951
Item 31 (Oversize Box 12) Section 12-13, 1951
Item 32 (Oversize Box 12) Sold Land Survey, 1951
Item 33 (Oversize Box 12) Section 13, 1952
Item 34 (Oversize Box 12) Section 13, 1952
Item 35 (Oversize Box 12) Section 13, 1952
Item 36 (Oversize Box 12) Section 13, 1954
Item 6 (Oversize Folder 1) Public Works Map, 1954
Item 7 (Oversize Folder 1) Phoenix Map, 1954
Item 8 (Oversize Folder 1) Stanford Hills, 1957
Item 9 (Oversize Folder 1) Stanford Hills, 1957
Item 10 (Oversize Folder 1) Stanford Hills, 1957
Item 11 (Oversize Folder 1) Stanford Hills, 1957 - Folder 4 Miscellaneous
Item 12 (Oversize Folder 1) Butchee Estate
Item 37 (Oversize Box 12) Charles George House, 1962
Item 38 (Oversize Box 12) Stanford Road
Item 39 (Oversize Box 12) Stanford Drive
SERIES FOUR MISCELLANEOUS, 1909-1961
Box 11
- Folder 1 M.A. Stanford/ I.O.O.F. Lodge, 1912-1919
- Folder 2 Stanford Water Company, 1950-1952
- Folder 3 Thirty-Second Street, 1951
- Folder 4 Oil and Gas Leases
- Folder 5 AZ Real Estate Legislation/Regulations
- Folder 6 M.A. Stanford Correspondence, 1909-1917
- Folder 7 M.A. Stanford Miscellaneous
- Folder 8 Canal Research, 1938-1947
- Folder 9 Estate of Ruth Stanford, 1957-1961
OVERSIZE FOLDER 1
- Item 1 Sample Ballot
- Item 2 Primary Returns, 1960
- Item 3 Official Election Returns, Nov 5, 1946
- Item 4 Courts of Arizona Az Weekly Gazette Poster
- Item 5 Letter, R.C. to Ruth Stanford, August 28, 1923
- Item 6 Phoenix Public Works Sectional Map, 1954
- Item 7 Map of Phoenix, 1954
- Item 8 Stanford Hills Plat Map, 1957
- Item 9 Stanford Hills Plat Map, 1957
- Item 10 Stanford Hills Plat Map, 1957
- Item 11 Stanford Hills Plat Map, 1957
- Item 12 Butchee Estate Subdivision Map
Box 12
OVERSIZED BOX 12
- Item 1 Sample Democratic Ballot, September 11, 1962
- Item 2 Folder 2: Ribbons, 1938
- Item 3 Arizona Supreme Court photograph
- Item 4 Members of AZ Constitutional Convention, 1910
- Item 5 U.S. Supreme Court certificate, 1927
- Item 6 Promotion Certificate: Margaret Stanford, 1922
- Item 7 Promotion Certificate: Roscoe Stanford, 1925
- Item 8 Promotion Certificate: Lois Stanford, 1930
- Item 9 American Legion Benefit Certificate, 1882
- Item 10 ASU Diamond of Distinction Alumni Award, 1960
- Item 11 U.S. Army Promotion Cert., Sergeant, 1901
- Item 12 U.S. Army Promotion Cert., Corporal, 1901
- Item 13 Stanford Law License, 1905
- Item 14 Federal Communications Commission certificate
- Item 15 Spanish-American War Veterans photograph
- Item 16 Spanish-American War Veterans certificate
- Item 17 Map of Stanford Holdings, 1937
- Item 18 Map of Governor Square, 1938
- Item 19 Map of Sharon Stanford Land, 1941
- Item 20 Map of Sharon Stanford Land, 1941
- Item 21 Map of Maloney Sale, 1941
- Item 22 Map of Maloney Sale, 1941
- Item 23 Survey Map: Stanford Drive, 1949
- Item 24 Survey Map: Stanford Drive, 1949
- Item 25 Survey Map: Casa Hermosa, 1951
- Item 26 Survey Map: Jacobson, Section 13,
- Item 27 Survey Map: Jacobson, Section 13,
- Item 28 Survey Map: Section 13, 1951
- Item 29 Survey Map: Section 13, 1951
- Item 30 Survey Map: Section 12-13, 1951
- Item 31 Survey Map: Section 12-13, 1951
- Item 32 Survey of Land Sold, 1951
- Item 33 Survey Map: Section 13, 1952
- Item 34 Survey Map: Section 13, 1952
- Item 35 Survey Map: Section 13, 1952
- Item 36 Survey Map: Section 13, 1952
- Item 37 Survey Map: Plot Plan: Charles George House, July 1962
- Item 38 Survey Map: Plan for Road through Stanford Property
- Item 39 Map: Stanford Drive, Section 13
Box 13
Japanese Photo Book-20th Century in lacquered album-souvenir tourist item