A History of Rice University, Draft A Chapters IX and X and Notes to Chapters I-X

This collection consists of materials used by Fredericka Meiners for writing her 1982 book A History of Rice University: The Institute Years, 1907-1963. In order of use in the process, there are audio cassettes of interviews conducted by Meiners of William H. Masterson on Oct. 11, 1977, and of Gaylord and Louise Johnson on Feb. 20 and March 27, 1978. Both sets of audiiotapes are accompanied by typed transcripts of the interviews. Next are folders containing two typed copies, A and B, of the first draft of the book with a note that author’s preface and acknowledgements are to be added later. Labeling indicates that copy A was read by Frank Vandiver and G. H. Richter. Copy B was circulated to Norman Hackerman, Nancy Parker, Robert Herring, and Ray Hoagland. In addition to these drafts, there are three typed versions, each representing a separate stage of correcting and revising. First is a draft with an editor’s preface written by Katherine Drew and Fredericka Meiners’ author’s preface and acknowledgements added. Next is a retyped draft incorporating earlier corrections and revisions and adding others (by Meiners), dated 1981. The third of these drafts is a plastic-bound copy noted “for estimate only.”

The collection next includes layout material representing book design by Richard Hendel of Chapel Hill, NC. This is followed by the full text printed with sheets folded and gathered but not bound. The remaining items include suggestions and criticisms from Eula Goss Wintermann addressed to Katherine Drew (dated Nov. 16, 1979), from Edwin P. Neilan, also addressed to Katherine Drew (dated Oct. 15, 1979), and from Ray Hoagland addressed to Katherine Drew (dated Dec. 28, 1979. Additionally, there are comments from Ray Hoagland addressed to Malcolm Lovett, dated Nov. 17, 1981. Included is a photocopied portion of the last 22 pages of the manuscript with critical comments by Ray Hoagland (dated Oct. 1981). In longhand on 33 pages of yellow legal pad are corrections and comments by Eula Goss Wintermann apparently intended for Fredericka Meiners. The collection finally includes a small amount of publicity announcing publication of the book and a proof sheet of the copyright page with corrections.