I’ve mentioned Ruby Belle South Lowry (’19) before, in connection with her rabbit-tending days for the Biology Department. A little while ago I unexpectedly came across a lovely piece in which she is prominently featured. It was in a 1973 edition of the rather short-lived (1966-76) but very good Rice University Review. (Amusingly, I first found a copy of it in a folder labeled “Holmes Richter.” Richter (’26, ’27, ’29) is mentioned in the first paragraph, then never again. Made me smile.) I don’t usually reproduce whole articles but I thought people might be interested in this one. It is, of course, a fine tribute to some admirable women but I think it’s also quite revealing about the open nature of the academic culture of the early Institute. I was also struck by how much things have changed since 1973, let alone since 1919.
Many thanks to our student worker, Lauren, for making the pdf for me!
Bonus:
Extra Bonus:
Ah, Hamman Hall upper lobby. From the heroic age of “We don’t need no elevator” architecture. Back in the day, meaning early 80s, it was not unheard of for the Shepherd School Symphony Orchestra to rehearse in that very lobby when the Rice Players had a set on stage. Or in the completely stone and tile-surfaced lower lobby. I’m pretty sure there was a cork floor in the upper lobby back then, as there were in several places in Fondren. Ah, the stories I could tell, as my first ten years at the Shepherd School, as student and staff member, were based around Hamman Hall. Of course they would pale next to those of my friend, colleague, and mentor Sandy Havens.
Ah… so apparently the rabbit was part of the “general flunky” duties in Bio. We still have the quilt on p. 6.
I must be missing the author of the piece. Did Rice University Review identify authors?
I was moving pretty fast and I didn’t notice that the author’s name wasn’t there. Next time I have a minute I’ll look.
It might be that “Rice University Review” was the publication for which I wrote one of my first science features, probably in 1972-3. It was about a portable X-ray unit — transportable by pickup or storage container — that was conceived and built by (IIRC) a group headed by the director of the Bonner Lab.
I did in fact notice your name on a by-line. I’m forced to confess that I was in such a hurry that I didn’t read it. Next time I have a minute I’ll go look!
Anyone else having trouble opening the file? I’ve been trying for 2 days and it just spins and spins.
It is a 94+ megabyte PDF of 4 scanned images. Took me a looong time to load. However, after it loads, you can “download” it (save a copy) quickly.
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