Welcome to the Earth Sciences Building.
The people here haven't exactly hit rock bottom... it's more a case of people who hit the bottom of rocks. There is a whole lot of geological knowledge within these walls and halls. Although, back in my Stanford days, we knew this lesser-known stariwell as the Tee-Off for Hole #6 of the Stanford Frisbee Golf Course. While throwing what we could of the old course back at Reunion with my old roommates a few months ago, I rediscoverd this spot and it seemed perfectly right-in-the-middle-of-things-but-completely-out-of-the-way for a University geocache. Happy Hunting... no need to worry too much about Stealth while searching, as you sort of disappear from the world at GZ.
So what's inside?
When John Casper Branner arrived at the new and just recently built Stanford University with his private geological library of merely 5,000 volumes, it’s safe to assume that he would’ve never guessed his collection would grow into a full scale and operating library for what would be one the most prestigious universities in the world. From the Geology Corner, to the 2nd floor and center of the Mitchell Earth Sciences Building, Branner’s library has indeed come a long way. Branner’s collection of geological texts set the foundation for the establishment of The Branner Earth Science Library, which lies in the second floor of the Mitchell Earth Sciences Building. The Branner Library now holds roughly 125,000 volumes and 270,000 sheet maps. The following guide gives guidelines and rules on the usage of material that is owned by the Branner library.
The Mitchell Earth Sciences Building also flaunts a collection of precious gems, rocks, and minerals behind a glass display. On October 17, 1989, the Loma Prieta Earthquake struck and unfortunately damaged some of the gems. Now the displays have been seismically retrofitted to prevent the collection from being damaged if another earthquake were to strike Stanford.
And why the name?
The Ruth Wattis Mitchell Earth Sciences Building was named after Ruth Wattis Mitchell, dedicated on November 19 of the year 1970. Ruth Wattis Mitchell was a sculptress and also a generous donor to the university.
Her Father, Edmund Orson Wattis and his brothers founded the Utah Construction Company and built the feather route between Oakland and Salt Lake City. Later on, the Wattis brothers spearheaded the formation of Six Companies to build Hoover Dam. In honor of her father and mother, Martha Ann Bybee, Ruthis donated $1,026,000 to Stanford, also in support of her passion for Earth Sciences. Ruth Wattis Mitchell once said, “Life has been good to me, and Stanford has been good to my family.” Her husband and 4 nephews and nieces attended the university. She passed away shortly after groundbreaking on the building that bears her name.
Architects followed the spencer design, constructing the building with concrete and glass along with the classic cardinal red tile roof