Monthly Archives: June 2016

Construction started sixty-nine years ago. This building has seen some very hard use. It might be nearing time to put it out of its misery. July 1, 1947: July 1, 1948: And here’s one that’s interesting for another reason: I’m … Continue reading →

I was saddened to learn yesterday of the death of David Hellums. As an engineering professor, as dean, and as a citizen of the university David served Rice well and for many years. He arrived here in 1960 as an … Continue reading →

We’re having a bit of a roller coaster this month. My daughter had a baby yesterday, her third, our first grandson. He surprised us all by arriving early but everyone is doing well. I’m on duty at home today with … Continue reading →

Undated, I believe on a door in Wiess: Bonus: New wires holding up the Italian cypresses! These ones here, along Sewall, are actually in pretty good shape. I’m going out on a limb and predicting that the ones by Rayzor … Continue reading →

Oh, those zany architects! Unlike the jokes in the Thresher, this is actually funny. The high-spirited, almost goofy tone is characteristic of Rice in the early decades. What caught my eye was something small–the play was presented in “The Blue-drawing … Continue reading →

In the papers of long-time Rice English professor George Williams appears a letter from a young man once his student, then his friend, William Goyen. It’s a remarkable letter on its own, urgent, written aboard the USS Casablanca at the … Continue reading →

I’ve been sitting around this afternoon looking at some images I scanned and then forgot about over the last year and I was quite taken with these two by Rice Accounting professor Verne Simons. No wonder I scanned them! They’re … Continue reading →

I found this little booklet, meant to introduce the 1921 freshmen to the Honor Code, in the James Campbell papers. Rice’s current Honor Council Constitution is based on a draft from the late 1940s, which has since undergone frequent revisions. The … Continue reading →

but nothing immediately springs to mind. There’s clearly an athletic event taking place–that’s the only thing that can account for the crowd–but these rather elaborate shenanigans seem to be an extra treat. Maybe half time entertainment? It came out of … Continue reading →

We recently received a truly marvelous collection, a generous gift of the family of James Ira Campbell, ’24. Campbell was one of those all-around guys, a good student, popular, busy with band, drama, Honor Council and other campus activities. For … Continue reading →