Name/Title
Oral History of Gordon AnsleyEntry/Object ID
2002.070.001TScope and Content
Gordon Ansley was born in Palo Alto Hospital. He attended Los Altos Grammar School, Mountain View High School, and Stanford. Through his mother , he was related to the Shoup Family (his mother's great aunt was Sarah Sumner Shoup), and grew up in the home of Paul Shoup’s mother. As a member of one of the “Five Families” of Los Altos, Gordon Ansley had a front seat view of not only the vast growth and changes Los Altos was experiencing throughout the 1920s and 1930s, but also the interpersonal relationships of Los Altos residents.
Gordon Ansley recounts many stories of the marriages, children, relatives, and jobs of those who lived in Los Altos. He recalls what homes residents lived in, and even what former Los Altos residents went on to do in their lives. Gordon Ansley’s recollections of the community of Los Altos also give us a view into the processes of emergency services and local authorities; through these stories, the evolution of the town is evident. Gordon Ansley explains that rather than having a police station and force, the community had a sheriff who would ride through town to make sure everyone was behaving. He also tells of a particular incident in which he and his friends had to call for the fire department, who stuck around to play a ball game once the fire was put out.
Gordon Ansley’s recollections allow us to marvel at the growth and progress of the Los Altos community while leaving us with an appreciation for its residents. Through his recounting, we are able to follow the evolution of Los Altos, the members of the community, and their needs.Collection
Oral History CollectionOral History Details
Interviewee
Gordon AnsleyInterviewer
Donna ShoemakerInterview Date
Jan 27, 1998