Celebrating the Branner Library Centennial

The Branner Earth Sciences Library & Map Collections is hosting a series of exhibits and events to honor the 100th anniversary of its founding. The namesake for the library is geologist John Casper Branner, the first professor hired upon the founding of Stanford in 1891. Branner succeeded David Starr Jordan in 1913 to become the University’s second president.

On June 14, 1915, the university purchased Branner’s private geological book collection of 10,000 volumes and "an equal number of pamphlets and many maps," for $23,500,  creating the foundation of the library. The original “Branner Geological Library” – housed in faculty offices in the Main Quad’s Geocorner – was considered one of the best private collections in geology and related sciences in the country. Now housed in the Mitchell Earth Sciences building, it has expanded to about 125,000 volumes and 270,000 sheet maps.

To commemorate its centennial, the Branner Earth Sciences Library & Map Collections is organizing ongoing exhibits featuring a selection of early cartography, textbooks, photographs, maps, companion writings and objects showcasing the items from the library collection and other Branner memorabilia. The items will be on display in the Branner Library exhibit case on the second floor of the Mitchell Earth Sciences Building through the end of June.

A series of events is also planned including a Stanford Map-a-thon on April 8 at 6 p.m. and the Geology of the Game of Thrones, on April 17 at 5:30 p.m., with Stanford Geological Sciences Ph.D. Miles Traer discussing his ingenious Game of Thrones geologic map.  The culminating event will be on June 11 from 4-6:30 p.m. with speakers including Pamela Matson, Chester Naramore Dean of the School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences; Michael Keller, Stanford University Librarian; and Julie Sweetkind-Singer, Head Librarian of the Branner Earth Sciences Library. At the June 11 event, tours will be available and refreshments will be served.

Other #Branner100 events leading up to the celebration:

100 days until 100 years: Branner Earth Sciences Library Exhibit

ongoing 
Branner Earth Sciences Library
Each week between now and the #Branner100 anniversary, we'll be exhibiting items from our collection and archive. You can see these items on display in the Branner Library exhibit case on the 2nd floor of the Mitchell Earth Sciences Building.

Data Day

Monday, April 13, 8 am – 2pm 
Li Ka Shing Conference Center
A scholarly event focusing on Stanford data publishing, data sharing, reproducibility, metadata, and data reuse. Reception following.

'Game of Thrones' Geology

Friday, April 17, 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Braun Hall Auditorium 105 (GeoCorner)
Miles Traer will lecture on his fantasy Game of Thrones geologic map and theories on topics such as when and how the Red Mountains formed and how the splitting of Westeros from Essos occurred. Hosted jointly by the Branner Earth Sciences Library and the Stanford School of Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences.  

100th Anniversary of the Branner Earth Sciences Library Celebration and Tour

Thursday, June 11, 4 – 6:30 pm 
Branner Earth Sciences Library & Mitchell Earth Sciences Building
Happy Anniversary Branner Library! Please join us for a public event with speakers, food, and a tour of the library. Speakers include Dean Pam Matson, University Librarian Mike Keller, and Branner Head Librarian Julie Sweetkind-Singer.