The collection contains records and printed material on the early land holdings and dealings of William Marsh Rice and the Rice Institute in 45 Texas counties and 4 Louisiana parishes. The collection also contains records and printed material concerning early Rice Institute campus construction, legal matters (including judicial settlements and statements), institutional housekeeping (including receipts and invoices from 1891-1907), and campus area property and construction.

The collection consists primarily of business and personal correspondence of three particular descendants of William Marsh Rice and of the spouse of one of them. Also included are a few items from 1929 and 1930 associated with other family members.

The business records of William Marsh Rice comprise data on his personal investments, his estate records and those of the Institute: ledgers; journals; cash books; day books; check registers; tax records; bank statements; land surveys; payroll and student accounts; letters to and from Rice himself, family members, business associates, employees, and the administrators of his estate.