Donald Tresidder

Donald Bertrand Tresidder

Donald Tresidder in front of the Ahwahnee Hotel, Yosemite National Park, California
Fourth President of Stanford University
In office
October 14, 1943 – January 28, 1948
Preceded by Ray Lyman Wilbur
Succeeded by Alvin C. Eurich (acting)
Personal details
Born April 7, 1894
Tipton, Indiana
Died January 28, 1948(1948-01-28) (aged 53)
New York City
Spouse(s) Mary Curry
Alma mater Stanford University
Profession Businessman

Donald Bertrand Tresidder (April 7, 1894 – January 28, 1948) was the fourth president of Stanford University, serving from 1943 until his sudden death in 1948. He also had a longtime association with Yosemite National Park.

Early life

Son of John Treloar Tresidder (from Cornwall), Tresidder was born in Tipton, Indiana.

Yosemite

At the age of 20 he took a trip with his sister to Southern California. However, the railroad tracks were washed out and they went to Yosemite Valley instead. There he met many Stanford faculty, who convinced him to enroll in Stanford University.[1]

On that visit to Yosemite, Tresidder also met his future wife Mary Curry, daughter of David and Jennie Curry, the owners of Camp Curry. Tresidder spent his summers working in Yosemite as a porter and other various odd jobs, and was briefly fired for taking his future wife rock climbing up the back side of Half Dome. They married June 17, 1920.

After graduating from Stanford he became president of Yosemite Park and Curry Company. During his tenure he presided over the construction of new roads, the Badger Pass Ski Area, and the Ahwahnee Hotel, built in 1927 and now a National Historic Landmark.[1]

For many years, Tresidder played the role of the Squire at the Bracebridge Dinner, a lavish Christmas feast which was held every Christmas Day at the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite. His wife played the role of Lady Bracebridge. It was Tresidder who, in 1929, asked photographer Ansel Adams to take over as director of the Dinner, which Adams agreed to do.

Stanford

Tresidder later described himself on arrival at Stanford as an undergraduate: "a gangling youth from the Midwest, wearing a jacket with sleeves too short to cover his long arms, shambling nervously up Palm Drive carrying a battered suitcase. But each student he passed waved and spoke to him cheerfully. At last he encountered President (David Starr) Jordan. The president tipped his broadbrimmed hat, bowed and greeted the young man from Indiana. Tresidder never forgot that welcome."[1]

He earned his M.D. from Stanford Medical School in San Francisco; however, he never practiced medicine. While attending medical school he was a member of Phi Chi Medical Fraternity.[2]

While serving as president of the Yosemite concession, he was active as a Stanford supporter, raising funds and serving as co-chair of the 50th anniversary celebration. In 1942 he became president of the Stanford board of trustees. When Stanford president Ray Lyman Wilbur retired, he took over as president.

He served as president of Stanford from 1943 until 1948 and brought the school through the difficult years of World War II. He often said that his main job at Stanford was fundraising for the school. Tresidder set up a professional fundraising organization and streamlined administrative and accounting practices. He established a scholarship program and upgraded the music program to a full department. Tresidder also abolished the sorority system on campus in 1944, after female students voted to support the move, saying there was "serious disunity" between women who pledged sororities and women who lived in dormitories.[3]

Tresidder also helped establish the Stanford Research Institute. The organization's first director, William F. Talbot, was initially instructed by Tresidder to avoid work that would conflict with the university's interests, particularly federal contracts that might attract political pressure.[4] The drive to find work and the lack of support from Stanford University faculty caused the new research institute to violate this directive six months later through the pursuit of a contract with the Office of Naval Research.[4] As a result, Talbot was fired and replaced by Jesse Hobson, who had previously led the Armour Research Foundation, but the pursuit of contract work remained.[5]

Tresidder died of a heart attack at The St. Regis Hotel in New York City on January 28, 1948, while on University business.[6]

Recognition

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Donald Tresidder: Stanford's Overlooked Treasure", by Edwin Kiester Jr., Stanford Historical Society, 1992
  2. ↑ Cannon, Daniel H. (1989). The History of Phi Chi Medical Fraternity Inc. Centennial Edition 1889-1989. Phi Chi Quarterly Office.
  3. ↑ "Fraternities, sororities project successful rush, despite troubled history", Stanford University, April 14, 1992
  4. 1 2 Nielson, Donald (2006). A Heritage of Innovation: SRI's First Half Century. Menlo Park, California: SRI International. pp. B–3 – B–4. ISBN 978-0974520810.
  5. ↑ Lowen, Rebecca (July–August 1997). "Exploiting a Wonderful Opportunity". Stanford Magazine. Stanford Alumni Association. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
  6. ↑ "Donald Bertrand Tresidder". Stanford University. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
  7. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Tresidder Peak
  8. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Tresidder Memorial Union
  9. ↑ "Ahwahnee Hotel accommodations".

Further reading

Academic offices
Preceded by
Ray L. Wilbur		 President of Stanford University
1943–1948 		Succeeded by
Alvin C. Eurich (Acting)
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