Author Archives: Melissa Kean

Update: The link to my earlier post about Blayney is here. The location of the photo with the castle is discussed in the comments. Another thing I found in Mr. Wheeler’s scrapbook was this striking image of Rice’s first German … Continue reading →

The other day I was looking at the scrapbook of George Wheeler ’19. I’ve written about him before (here and here way back in 2011), in connection with the early history of the biology department. It’s been years since I last … Continue reading →

I was looking through some images I scanned quite a while ago but never used and this one jumped right out at me. First off, that’s George Brown in the background, between the two cars at left. It isn’t every … Continue reading →

I found this in one of Alex Dessler’s (see here) notebooks. He was among other things the founding chairman of the Space Science Department. Being a department chair is not as fun as it sounds but this is classic Dessler … Continue reading →

I’d known for many years about the audiotape in Dr. Davies’s papers but when I opened that box again a couple weeks ago I realized that we now could easily digitize it. I’m deeply grateful to my colleague Norie Guthrie … Continue reading →

So what else is new? These are what Woodson insiders refer to as the Info Files: They’re where you look for basic information about people, places, and things related to Rice, all in alphabetical order (more or less). If I … Continue reading →

I’m back from vacation, tanned, rested, and fabulous. I was back in the Woodson today looking for a needle in the haystack of the early board records. I didn’t find what I was hoping to (not finished yet, though) but … Continue reading →

Before I leave for vacation I need to tell you all how astonished I was by the reaction to my retirement. Honestly, I had no idea. The comments, emails, and facebook comments were deeply moving and I’m so very grateful … Continue reading →

Sometimes I come across something so surprising I’m simply struck dumb. This is an amazing letter from Miss Dean ’16, Rice’s acting librarian until 1946 and a generally formal and quite serious person, at least while she was at work. … Continue reading →

This started as a Friday Follies post because I saw this snippet in the February, 1965 Sallyport and immediately recognized comic perfection. Everything about this story is just as it should be: Then I started researching the stretcher-ridden patient, Dick Wesley … Continue reading →