Centennial Exhibits On Campus
Allen Center Exhibit, Allen Center, Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
A new Centennial-themed exhibit that shows contrasting old and new photos has been set up in the lobby of Allen Center. Utilizing a 10 foot long curved structure, the Public Affairs developed display uses a series of similarly composed photos of students, faculty, events and places from across Rice’s 100 years to help bring our Centennial Celebration to life.
Baker Institute Centennial Exhibit, Baker Hall, Monday - Friday 7:00 am - 6:00 pm
The James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank at Rice University in Houston, Texas. By bringing statesmen, scholars and students together, the institute broadens the content and reach of its policy assessments and recommendations, and provides an open forum for debate and discussion. Established in 1993, the institute educates students on public policy issues by sponsoring internships and mentoring programs at home and abroad. The institute’s fellows also teach classes as part of a vibrant collaboration with Rice University.
Our Centennial exhibit tells the story in pictures of how our events, research, classes and student groups support our mission and our relationship with the university. We are fortunate to collaborate with and draw inspiration from people from across the Rice campus as we examine some of the most important policy challenges of our time.
Celebrating Rice in Watercolor: Paintings by Frances Leland, Cohen House, Open August 22, 2012, Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
"During the many years that I have lived in Houston, coming here with my husband who was to take up his exciting new job at Rice, the university has had a central place in my thinking. My husband, for 32 years taught Thermodynamics and Nuclear Engineering. Our children, Frank and Margaret received the many benefits of a Rice education. There is no sufficiently apt way to express what Rice has meant to my family and me. "
Frances Leland
One of artist France Leland’s favorite subjects is the Rice campus. In celebration of the Centennial she has been invited to exhibit a selection of her watercolor paintings of Rice. The opening of her exhibition, which will include examples of her other works, will take place at Cohen House on Wednesday, August 22, from 3:00 – 5:00 and Mrs. Leland will be in attendance. All are invited and light refreshments will be served. Sponsored by the Rice Centennial Exhibit Committee, the exhibition will remain on view through October 14.
Faculty Women's Club: Ninety-one years of Service and Friendship, Cohen House, Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:00pm
The Faculty Women's Club of Rice University was founded in the academic year 1920-1921 and is one of the oldest organizations on campus. It's purpose is to promote friendship among women of Rice University in Houston, Texas, and to encourage a closer relationship among the various academic departments. Many current members have remained active for more than 50 years. Members still meet regularly to hear guest speakers and to enjoy book discussions, playing bridge, investing in financial markets, and dining out together.
The Formal Opening – October 10-12, 1912, Fondren Library - First Floor, Monday - Thursday 7:00 am - 12:00 am, Friday - Saturday 7:00 am - 10:00 pm, Sunday 12:00 pm - 12:00 am
This exhibit shows documents leading to and photographs and artifacts of the spectacular three days during which The Rice Institute officially opened its door.
History of Graduate Student Life at Rice - GSA Lounge, Rice Student Center
Graduate students have been an integral part of the Rice student population since the very beginning of the university. In fact, both Rice's founder William Marsh Rice and first president Edgar Lovett intended Rice to be a leading graduate institution. From 24 graduate students in 1920 to more than 2300 in 2011, Rice's graduate program has come a long way. Our posters trace the history of graduate life at Rice in the past 100 years, discussing how we have grown from a small, disjointed population to a vibrant, close-knit community. We also focus on some important landmarks in the growth of Rice's graduate community, such as the founding of the Rice Graduate Housing, the Graduate Student Association and Valhalla.
The History of Information Technology at Rice University, Mudd Lab, Monday - Friday 7:30 am - 10:00 pm, Saturday - Sunday 8:00 am - 6:00 pm.
Located in the lobby of Mudd Lab, this exhibit looks back at the start of campus computing support with the Research Computational Lab (RCL) in 1964 that developed into the Institute for Computing Services and Applications (ICSA) and grew into today’s Information Technology (IT) division. A variety of computing artifacts, such as an abacus, a 1935 Burroughs adding machine, a Commodore 4-function calculator, and an Apple IIe, are on display along with a historical timeline on eight six-foot panels. Movies with interviews of past staff members are also available for viewing. Mudd Lab is open weekdays: 7:30 am - 10:00 pm and weekends: 8:00 am - 6:00 pm. If you can’t stop by in person, check out the Facebook group page, RiceHistoryOfIT.
History of Mathematics, Fondren Library - First Floor, Monday - Thursday 7:00 am - 12:00 am, Friday - Saturday 7:00 am - 10:00 pm, Sunday 12:00 pm - 12:00 am
Mathematics was one of the original disciplines dating from Rice's first academic year in 1912. From 3 faculty to 15; 10 courses to 54, these posters follow the evolution and expansion of the department and highlight the influential mathematicians who worked there. Much more information can be found at http://math.rice.edu/DepartmentHistory/index.html.
Humanities Centennial Exhibit, Humanities Building, Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
To celebrate the humanities at Rice's during this commemorative moment for the university, the School of Humanities has compiled a timeline to outline 100 years of humanities history. Beginning with President Lovett's desire to establish an institute that includes education in art and letters, the historical timeline highlights key periods of growth and change within the school and features important faculty appointments, curricular changes, departmental additions and donor activities. The timeline is located in the first floor foyer of the Humanities Building, and is displayed among recent publications by current humanities faculty
History of the Rice Chemistry Department, Space Science Building
Join us as we journey through the history of the Chemistry Department at Rice University. Read about the culture, innovative research, and the contributions made by our reputable scientists and Noble Laureates. Travel through time with this exclusive collection of historical photos and archives for a unique educational experience. Visit us at the Space Science Building or online at chem.rice.edu
Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen Centennial Exhibit, OEDK Lobby, Open September, 2012, Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 3:00 pm
The Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen (OEDK) represents a shift in the culture of engineering design at Rice. This engineering lab provides undergraduate engineering students with ready access to design tools, prototyping equipment, computational facilities, meeting rooms and ample space for prototype design and development. But the OEDK is more than a place where design happens — it is also a hub of activity and a social center that emphasizes creativity and experimentation. For the Rice Centennial Celebrations, the OEDK’s lobby will be exhibiting pictures of the past and present student successes in the world of engineering design since the lab’s conception. Framed pictures and awards will be displayed, as well as prototypes from some of our most successful projects. In addition, the entire OEDK will be open for guests to walk through and see the students in action as they prepare for their upcoming engineering design challenges!
Raid the Archive: The de Menil Years at Rice, Rice Media Center, September 27 - October 19, 2012
“Raid The Archive: The de Menil Years At Rice” will call attention to the exciting history of the Menil years at Rice, which has in large part been forgotten. The exhibition will comprise a selection of films, photography, exhibition posters, correspondence, and other ephemera culled from the Menil archive – much of which hasn’t been exhibited in over thirty years, and some of which has never been shown publicly. The materials assembled in the exhibition will provide a rare look at the pioneering projects and people involved in the early years of the arts at Rice. In addition, there will be panel discussions related to Menil-era Media Center experimentation, production, and presentation, and the rich history of Rice Museum exhibitions, as well as screenings of films associated with Menil patronage, and cinematic documents of Menil activity at Rice.
School of Engineering History in Photographs, Ryon Lab, Monday - Sunday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Since the Rice Institute opened its doors in 1912, engineering has been an integral part of its curriculum and life. Take a walk through Duncan Hall and see our history in photographs and through a timeline of engineering at Rice. The exhibit will open October 12 and remain on display until November 1, 2012.
Social Sciences Centennial Exhibits, Baker Hall 180, Social Sciences Dean's Office Suite Hallway, Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
The School of Social Sciences was established in 1979 but its history began long before then. Come and visit the School of Social Sciences Timeline exhibit to learn about the past and present of the Social Sciences at Rice. Along with the timeline, you can also view the covers of our award winning magazine series Close Up. From past to present, the Social Sciences is generating solutions to everyday problems that make lives better.
Tradition Redefined: The Larry and Brenda Thompson Collection of African American Art, Rice Art Gallery, September 13 - November 18, 2012, Closed Monday, Tuesday 11:00 am - 5:00 pm, Wednesday 11:00 am - 5:00 pm, Thursday 11:00 am - 7:00 pm, Friday 11:00 am - 5:00 pm, Saturday 11:00 am - 5:00 pm, Sunday 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm.
Rice University is pleased to announce its Centennial Exhibition, Tradition Redefined: The Larry and Brenda Thompson Collection of African American Art, on view at Rice University Art Gallery September 13, 2012 - November 18, 2012. Larry and Brenda Thompson, parents of 1998 Rice alumnus Larry Thompson Jr., have collected works not only by acknowledged masters but also by those artists outside the canon including emerging, outsider, vernacular, and regional artists. The result is a more in-depth and inclusive understanding of American art, and of African American artists and their aesthetic and social concerns. Much more information can be found at http://traditionredefined.rice.edu/. Tradition Redefined: The Larry and Brenda Thompson Collection of African American Art is organized by the David C. Driskell Center for the Study of the Visual Arts and Culture of African Americans and the African Diaspora at the University of Maryland, College Park and curated by Adrienne L. Childs, PhD.
Weiss School of Natural Sciences: Highlights from the Past, George R. Brown East Portico - Hanging Banner Exhibit
The rich history of the Wiess School of Natural Sciences is showcased in three banners displayed in the portico of the east wing of George R. Brown Hall. The banners represent the six departments that comprise the Natural Sciences—Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Mathematics, and Physics and Astronomy—some of which date back to the beginning of the Rice Institute in 1912. From early field trips on campus to the Nobel Prize-winning discovery of “Buckyballs,” the banners highlight important figures and milestones in each department’s history, illustrating the broad scope of the school.
Centennial Exhibits Online
Around the World with Edgar Odell Lovett
Edgar Odell Lovett, newly chosen as Rice Institute's first president, was sent by Rice's Board of Governors on a trip around the world seeking out the best characteristics of the top universities.
Rice commencement programs and ephemera
The Rice University Commencement Programs document Rice’s scholarly activities from the first graduating class in 1916 to the present. The programs and in some cases their accompanying documents detail trends in our history such as numbers and varieties of degrees granted. In more recent decades, names of graduates and dissertation titles are given.
Rice Presidents and Provosts
The president of Rice University is the chief executive officer, handling the top-level direction of the university in collaboration with (and reporting to) the Board of Trustees. The provost of Rice University is the chief academic officer, reporting to the president. Over the years, Rice has always had a president (with one notably bumpy transition) and sometimes has had a president who was also the provost. In several situations, provosts served officially as vice-president or acting president. Preisdents and provosts at Rice have significantly shaped the landscape of the university with their dreams and goals - visit the exhibit to learn what each has been known for at Rice!
WikiRice
WikiRice is an online encyclopedia that documents all aspects of Rice University, both past and present, through articles written by students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends. WikiRice is powered by the same technology that runs Wikipedia.org. WikiRice allows individuals associated with Rice to learn and share what they know about Rice to create an online, living history of the University. The content of the site contains personal anecdotes, research about the university's history obtained through the Woodson Research Center at Fondren Library, and information gathered from the residential colleges. WikiRice is a modern and innovative way to hear the voice of the Rice community and preserve Rice's history for many years to come. WikiRice is supported by the Woodson Research Center and Leadership Rice's Envision Grant Program.
William Ward Watkin exhibit
This exhibit describes the architectural and academic career of William Ward Watkin and his profound effect on the development of Rice University and the city of Houston. Watkin was the original Supervising Architect for the Rice Institute and the first Chairman of the Rice Architecture Department.
Off-Campus Exhibits
Highlights and Shadows: Selections from the Vera Prasilova Scott Portraiture Collection
Location: Bank of America Building, 700 Louisiana, Houston, Texas 77002
Open: Sept 4, 2012 - Dec 28, 2012, Mon-Fri, 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
This exhibit showcases the professional portraiture of Vera Prasilova Scott and includes photographic prints, equipment and supplies dating from 1926 to 1937. Married to Rice Institute professor, Arthur F. Scott, Vera apprenticed at age 18 under renowned twentieth century Czech photographer Frantisek Drtikol and became proficient in the photographic techniques of bromoil and silver halide. She owned and operated a photography studio on San Jacinto St. in Houston and her clientele included faculty of the Rice Institute, locals of social and political stature and their families, as well as visiting celebrities. "Civics of Houston" stated that her portraits of "highlights and shadows, finished in oil or gum print, have the effect of a rich charcoal. Her subjects were not posed in a 'look pleasant' stereotype, but their moods are caught and held and veiled just enough to capture their allurement."
William Marsh Rice: The Man and His Legacy
Location: The Heritage Society of Sam Houston Park, 1100 Bagby Street, Houston, Texas 77002
Open: Sept 14 - Nov 4, 2012, Tues - Sat, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Sundays 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., Closed Mondays
This exhibit tells the extraordinary life story of William Marsh Rice - from his business relationships and the growth of his incredible wealth, to his vision for the Rice Institute and ultimately his sensationalized murder.
The Rice Institute: Planning, Construction, Opening and the First Ten Years
Location: Houston Public Library, Julia Ideson Building, 550 McKinney, Houston, Texas 77002
Open: Sept 29 - Nov 10, 2012, Mon-Thurs, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Closed Sundays
This exhibit includes photographs, news articles, artifacts, letters, Institute records and memorabilia that document the development of the first institution of higher education in Houston.
Ten Decades Exhibition
Location: Architecture Center Houston (ArCH), 315 Capitol, Suite 120, Houston, Texas
Open: September 20 - November 2, 2012
In October of 2012, Rice University and the RSA celebrate their centennial year, and Rice Design Alliance (RDA) celebrates its 40th year. In recognition of this occasion, Professor Dawn Finley is designing an exhibition titled 10 Decades, which constructs the 100 year history of the RSA through ten discrete timelines that depict and define ten-year episodes of the school from 1912 to 2012.