Descriptive Summary
Rice University Faculty
Women's Club
Rice University Faculty
Women's Club records
1920-2005
2.5 cubic feet (5 boxes)
Rice UA 127
Rice University
Archives, Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University, Houston,
TX Materials are in
English.
Minutes, records,
correspondence, photographs and other materials documenting the social and
charitable activities of the Rice University Faculty Women’s Club.
Historical Sketch
Begun in the academic year 1920/21, the club served to introduce new
faculty wives to the Rice Institute (there were no female faculty members at
that time). Later the club also included women faculty members. The Club has
served to welcome new women and families to Rice by providing a social venue in
an academic setting. Club members were also involved in charitable activities,
such as sewing for the Red Cross, knitting blankets for Ben Taub Hospital, as
well as having activities for Rice students and parties for faculty children
and for club members. At various times in the club’s history, interest groups
included Arts and Crafts, Bridge, Conversational English for International
Students, Play Reading, Psychology, Spanish, French, German, Community Service
Handicrafts, Gourmet, Museum Study, Ice Skating, Swimming, Tennis, Rice
Tutoring Project Supervisors (of Rice students tutoring elementary school
children) each of which planned various programs relevant to their interests.
They met for coffees, barbecues, Easter Egg hunts, Christmas dances, and
various programs related to their interests groups, often at Cohen House or at
the homes of the various members.
The club made donations to the Fondren Library in memory of club members
and faculty members who passed away. A Loan Closet was also maintained by the
members for the benefit of the International graduate students, who were
invited to borrow household items from the closet for the duration of their
studies at Rice. Occasionally, the club was a recipient of gifts such as
silver, china, trays, bowls, china, and a samovar.
Scope and Contents
Minutes, records, correspondence, invitations, photographs, oral
histories and other materials documenting the social and charitable activities
of the Rice University Faculty Women’s Club. The speakers and menus for the
various programs and activities are noted, as well as names of persons
memorialized. Directories and other lists often offer the members’ married
names as well as their given first names.
Access Restrictions
This material is open for research.
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish from the Rice University Faculty Women's Club
records must be obtained from the Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library,
Rice University.
Arrangement
- Series I: Minutes, notes, calendars and correspondence,
1920-2005
- Series II: Oral histories, memoirs, memorials, 1950-1997
- Series III: Constitution, directories, and club guide,
1948-1989
- Series IV: Events and programs, 1982-1997
- Series V: Treasury and property records, 1931-2005
Index Terms
Subjects (Organizations)
Rice University Faculty
Women's Club
Formats
Minutes
Correspondence
Invitations
Photographs
Oral histories
Directories
Constitutions
Preferred Citation
Rice University Faculty Women's Club records, 1920-2005, Rice University
Archives, Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University.
Acquisition Information
Donated by members Elva Gordon, Nancy Boothe, Lorraine Dessler, Ruth
Pfeiffer, Frances Brotzen, Kathy Austin, and Mary Dix, over the years 1972,
1983, 1991, 1997, and 2006.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series I: Minutes, notes, calendars and correspondence,
1920-2005
1 1
1920/21-1943/44
1 2
1944/45-1951/52
1 3
1952/53-1955/56
1 4
1955/56-1959/60
1 5
1960/61-1962/63
1 6
1963/64
1 7
1964/65-1965/66
2 1
1966/67
2 2
1967/68
2 3
1968/69
2 4
1969/70
2 5
1970/1971 (includes 50th anniversary luncheon menu,
planning, and comments by Ms. Tsanoff and Ms. Belle Heaps)
2 6
1971/72
2 7
1972/73 – 1974/75
2 8
1975/76 – 1976/77
2 9
1977-78
2 10
1970/80-1980/81
3 1
1984/85 – 1985/86
3 2
1986/87
3 3
1987/88
3 4
1988/89
3 5
1989/90
3 6
1990/91 (includes photographs of tour of Masters’ houses,
and of the Club board)
3 7
1991/92 (includes photographs of various
meetings)
3 8
1992/93
3 9
1993/94
3 10
1994/95
3 11
1996/97 (includes photographs of various
meetings)
3 12
1997/98
3 13
1998/99
4 1
1999/2000 – 2001-2002
4 2
2002/03 – 2004/05
Series II: Oral histories, memoirs, memorials,
1950-1997
4 3
Club history notes by Gertrude Bray, 1976 and
1982
4 4
Oral history interview transcripts and tapes,
1989.
Interview transcripts include Edythe Fulton (wife of J.
Street Fulton, Philosophy); Marian Williams interviewed by Lorraine Dessler;
Louise Camden interviewed by Virginia Rorschach (wife of Carroll Camden,
English)
Tapes include: Marian Williams interviewed by
Lorraine Dessler; Edythe Fulton (wife of J. Street Fulton, Philosophy) Camden
interviewed by Virginia Rorschach; ; Louise Camden interviewed by Virginia
Rorschach; Comments on 50th anniversary by Demaris Hudspeth, Nancy Akers and
Ruth Pfeiffer
4 5
Memoirs and photographs, 1979-1997
4 6
Memorials, 1950s-1996
Series III: Constitution, directories, and club guide,
1948-1989
4 7
Constitutions, 1948-1985
4 8
Directories, 1961-1989 (see also Series I: Minutes, notes,
calendars and correspondence for more informally produced
directories)
4 9
Guide for Faculty Families,
1962
Series IV: Events and programs, 1982-1997
5 1
Emeritus Coffee, 1982
5 2
Reading group, 1984-1997. Includes names of chairpersons
and members, books read, and photographs of members.
5 3
75th Anniversary celebration, , April 10, 1996 (booklet,
correspondence, photographs)
Series V: Treasury and property records,
1931-2005
5 4
Treasury book, 1949/50-1958/59
5 5
Treasury book, 1959/60 – 1970/71
5 6
Jewelry orders, 1985-2005 (includes order forms,
correspondence, 3 brass owl pins)
5 7
Inventory of gifts to and property of Club,
1931-1990
5 8
Loan Closet, 1990-1991