President's House - Mains

Edgar Odell Lovett's Presidential Papers document his lengthy tenure in office, from 1912-1945. The papers, housed in 62 Hollinger boxes, include his speeches, general office correspondence and records, construction records of the new Rice Institute, academic department records and financial matters. The collection is arranged in four series.

The first series, Planning the Institute, chronicles the beginning of Rice through correspondence, reports, faculty selection and building records. Opening of the Institute and Book of the Opening, the second series, includes correspondence regarding the formal opening of Rice and the official record of the opening, Book of the Opening. The third series is the President's Office Records, which detail the everyday records generated by the president's office--fiscal matters, speeches given by Lovett, correspondence and general office records. Academic Departments constitute the fourth series and document the general office matters of the departments.

Arranged in four sub-series of Correspondence, World Tour Reports [detailing Lovett's visits to international educational facilities], Faculty Selection, and Construction Records. The records give a detailed account of the many facets involved in beginning an institute for higher learning. The bulk of the materials are among the construction records of correspondence, bids, specifications, contracts, blueprints, and expense/time sheets.