The earliest library at Stanford was in the northeast corner of the inner quadrangle . It was housed in one large room capable of accommodating 100 readers . This was replaced in 1900 by a separate building on the outer quadrangle , named the Thomas Welton Stanford Library after its major donor , Leland Stanford 's younger brother . This library was soon recognized as being too small , and a new larger library in a separate building was begun ; however , it was destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake before it could be completed
1906 San Francisco earthquake
1906 San Francisco earthquake
Stanford University Libraries