I was rifling through some 8x10s yesterday and this one caught my attention:
It was the ties, of course, which are substantial and which suggest early to mid 1980s, that I found so enchanting. But once you get past the ties the legitimate question of interest is this: the only label on the back is “Rice Center” but I have no idea what center that might be. I think I see a couple of architects in there–that looks like David Crane and (I think) a young Jack Mitchell. John Margrave from Chemistry is on the left, although he may have been here as VP of Advanced Studies and Research. I don’t quite recognize the fellow just left of Norman. So once again I’m looking for some help here. Thoughts?
Note: Thanks a million for all the suggestions about the shorthand translation. I found someone who will give it a shot. We shall see . . .
Bonus: I was surprised to see this yesterday while standing on the library’s loading dock. Over the years I’ve stood there hundreds of time and never noticed it. I have no idea what (if anything) happens if you push it.
Perhaps it’s this?
A short article that spans the tops of pp 6-7 in the December 1972-January 1973 Sallyport (https://scholarship.rice.edu/bitstream/handle/1911/99520/sallyport-vol-28-no03.pdf) describes the establishment of “The Rice Center for Community Design and Research … to provide clinical education in real world design problems for Rice graduate students in architecture.”
The article proclaimed the center to be “(t)The first innovation in the School of Architecture under its new leadership—David A. Crane, dean, and Alan Y. Taniguchi, director.”
Among the Center’s 12 directors were “Campus representatives (who included) David Crane; John L. Margrave, dean of Advanced Studies and Research and professor of chemistry; O. Jack Mitchell, professor of architecture and principal in the firm Omniplan: Urban Design and Planning of Houston; and John Morgan, a second-year graduate student in urban design.”
The center, its directors and goals are described in more detail in a front-page article in the Jan. 11, 1973, Thresher: https://scholarship.rice.edu/bitstream/handle/1911/66617/thr19730111.pdf
I know Dr. Margrave is on the far right of this photo.
Looking at a couple of Campaniles, it looks like the others would be (left to right): Crane, Morgan, Hackerman & Mitchell.
Also, early to mid 80s had skinnier “dress for success” ties.
In the old days, that button was used to summon a gruff voice from the depths of the Library who would weigh your earnest plea to come in through the loading dock, and if your cause was deemed worthy, would unlock the large door. Not unlike the Gatekeeper of the Emerald City in The Wizard of Oz.