Skip to main content

Rice University Provost's Office Records: William E. Gordon

 Collection
Identifier: UA 091
Finding aid note: Stored off-site at the Library Service Center. Please request this material via woodson@rice.edu or call 713-348-2586.

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of 15 boxes of records from the provost’s office during Dr. Gordon’s tenure (1980-85).

Series I contains the On Campus-General files. They contain correspondence and documents pertaining to the non-academic departments of the university. The material includes budget information, computer/computing at Rice, including ICSA files, Fondren Library correspondence, promotion and teaching evaluations, space allocations and other files on non-academic departments such as Rice University Studies, Jefferson Davis and various other office files.

Series II contains the On Campus Academic files. They contain correspondence and documents that passed between the provost and the university academic departments.

Dates

  • 1980 - 1985

Access Restrictions

Permission to access these records must be obtained from the Provost’s Office. Form to request permission may be obtained from the Woodson Research Center.

Conditions Governing Access

Stored off-site at the Library Service Center. Please request this material via woodson@rice.edu or call 713-348-2586.

Use Restrictions

Permission to publish these records must be obtained from the Provost’s Office. Form to request permission may be obtained from the Woodson Research Center.

Biographical Note

William E. Gordon’s appointment as provost and vice president of Rice University began July 1, 1980. He retired July 1, 1985, although he continued to serve as provost until his replacement reported to work in spring 1986.

Gordon came to Rice from Cornell University in 1966 and taught space physics and astronomy, as well as electrical engineering, during his 19 years on the Rice faculty. Prior to his becoming provost and vice president in 1980, he served as dean of natural sciences (1975-80) and dean of science and engineering (1966-75).

He attained international prominence through his work on the Arecibo Ionospheric Observatory in Puerto Rico, a project he conceived, planned and directed during the first years after its completion, 1960-65. It is the world’s largest radar-radio-telescope, sometimes described as earth’s ear turned to outer space.

Recipient of numerous honors and awards, Dr. Gordon had the rare distinction of being a member of both the National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering. He was a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the American Geophysical Union, and past president of the International Union of Radio Science (1981-84).

Excerpted from press release of Rice University Information Services 2/22/1985; 4/2/1980.

Extent

11.25 Linear Feet (14 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Overview

These records reflect the daily business of the Provost's office under physicist and astronomer William E. Gordon’s leadership (1980-85). They reveal the daily business of the Provost's Office, which has the overall responsibility for the institution's educational and research programs.

Arrangement

The Provost Records for Dr. William E. Gordon are divided into two series, each with folders arranged alphabetically by name and then chronologically.

Missing Title

  1. Series I: On Campus – General, 1980-85. (Boxes 1-9A)
  2. Series II: On Campus – Academic Units, 1980-85. (Boxes 10-13)

Acquisition Information

Transferred from the Provost's Office 8/1989, 6/1990, 8/1990, and 7/1995.

Subjects

Record Groups

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Guide to the Rice University Provost's Office Records: William E. Gordon, 1980-1985
Status
Completed
Author
Sharon Link
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Woodson Research Center, Rice University, Houston, Texas Repository

https://library.rice.edu/woodson
Contact:
Fondren Library MS-44, Rice University
6100 Main St.
Houston Texas 77005 USA

Broaden your search:
Texas Archival Resources Online - statewide search of archival finding aids
ArchiveGrid - international search of archival finding aids
Scholarship.rice.edu - Rice University digital content

Harmful Content Statement
© 2023 Woodson Research Center
Fondren Library, Rice University
Physical Address: 6100 Main, Houston, Texas 77005-1827
Mailing Address: MS-44, P.O. Box 1892, Houston, Texas 77251-1892