Invitations, programs, correspondence, testimonials and general information related to the inauguration of Rice University's second president, William Vermillion Houston, on April 10, 1947. This material was created and maintained by the Presidential Inaugural Committee.

The collection consists of 1948 and 1949 correspondence with Brady Tyson, editor of the Rice Thresher; his editorials favoring admission of qualified African Americans to Rice Institute; and newspaper reports on the Tyson material and public response to it. The content ends with President Huston’s letter to the editor of the Thresher, pointing out that Rice was chartered for white students only.