Stanford Cardinal Red

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Stanford Cardinal Red
Color coordinates
Hex triplet	#8C1515
sRGBB (r, g, b)	(140, 21, 21)
HSV (h, s, v)	(0°, 85%, 55%)
CIELChuv (L, C, h)	(30, 87, 12°)
Source	Stanford University[1]
ISCC–NBS descriptor	Deep red
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)

Stanford Cardinal Red is a deep red color associated with Stanford University. It is the primary color of the university and is used prominently in its branding, athletic uniforms, and official publications alongside the university's secondary color, Palo Alto Green.^[2]

The use of Stanford Cardinal Red dates back to the late 19th century when Stanford University was founded in 1885 by Leland Stanford and his wife, Jane Stanford. In 1891, the color was made official by the university's first students.^[3] The color was chosen to represent the university's spirit and resilience. Over the years, Stanford Cardinal Red has become an integral part of the university's identity, symbolizing excellence and tradition.

The specific shade of Cardinal Red has been standardized to ensure consistency across various applications. In 1981, the university officially defined the color as part of its visual identity guidelines. The name "Cardinal" refers to the vivid red hue rather than the bird, distinguishing it from other uses of the term.

Stanford Cardinal Red is used extensively in the university's visual identity. This includes athletic uniforms, where the color is prominently featured in the jerseys and equipment of Stanford's sports teams, known collectively as the Stanford Cardinal. The color is also used in university logos, official documents, and promotional materials. In addition to its primary use, Stanford Cardinal Red is often paired with Palo Alto Green, another official color of the university.^[2]

Caltrain, of which its rail line and stations were funded and built by California Governor Leland Stanford,^[4] also uses Stanford Cardinal Red as its primary color.^[5]

While both standard cardinal red and Stanford Cardinal Red are shades of red, they differ in specific hues and Pantone color codes. Standard cardinal red is typically represented by Pantone 200 C, a brighter and more vibrant red. In contrast, Stanford Cardinal Red is represented by Pantone 201 C, which is a deeper and slightly darker red.^[2] This distinction ensures that Stanford's unique identity is maintained across various media and applications.

The specific shade of Stanford Cardinal Red is defined by the following color codes:

• Palo Alto Green
• Cardinal (color)
• List of colors

• Stanford University Identity Toolkit
• Stanford University Official Website
• Stanford Cardinal Athletics Official Site