Overview This material covers the architectural career of the Ms. Strange's father, William Ward Watkin, including his private architecture practice and well as his relationship with Rice Institute as Supervising Architect, touching briefly on his personal life. The material was gathered by Ms. Strange and much of it served as research for the book: William Ward Watkin and The Rice Institute by Patrick James Nicholson (published 1991 by Gulf Pub. Co.).

Abstract: This collection consists of architectural drawings done by Ruth Y. McGonigle during her private practice in Brownsville, TX. She designed mostly residential houses with the exception of a few public buildings.

Overview The papers detail the academic and architectural career of William Ward Watkin. Included in the collection are personal information, business correspondence, construction photographs and architectural drawings of the early Rice Institute, and drawings of projects from his private architectural career.