Edmund Philo (“E.P.”) Sanford (August 25, 1826 – February 14, 1880) was an early resident of Oakland. He built the Sanford Building in 1865. 1 A pharmacist, he was the first druggist in Oakland, and was part of the early apothecary business, Sanford, Kelsey & Co.

Sanford came to California in 1850. He married Jane “Jennie” Clark (Sanford) in 1858 and they moved to Oakland. They had two children, Edmund Clark Sanford and Martha Lewis Sanford. Jennie Clark's sister was Lucy Clark (Shinn).

Sanford served as town and city clerk and treasurer from 1863-1865. 3 He was a member (possibly a founding member) of First Congregational Church and served as church treasurer in 1869. In 1872 he was the treasurer of the Mountain View Cemetery Association.

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Their son, Edmund Clark Sanford, was one of the first psychologists on the West Coast. 2 He was also the president of Clark University from 1909-1920.

E.P. Sanford died in 1880 in Niles at the Shinn home, after a lengthy illness. 4 The family is buried in Mountain View Cemetery.

Links and References

  1. The Architecture of Oakland: The Sanford Building Oakland North January 11, 2013
  2. Edmund Clark Sanford 1859 - 1924 Proceedings, 80th Annual Convention, APA 1972 (via archive.org)
  3. History of Alameda County, California by Myron W. Wood 1883
  4. E.P. Sanford Oakland Tribune February 16, 1880
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