Tau Beta Pi key, wood, handmade, signed by the 1939 Rice "Engineophytes"., 1939

Item — Box: 42

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

This collection contains a wide variety of realia from Rice University's history, including a variety of jewelry pieces, clothing, athletics-related materials, and various other objects.

Dates

Creation: 1939

Creator

From the Collection: Rice University. (Organization)

Access Restrictions

This material is available for research.

Conditions Governing Access

Boxes 1-25, 27-30, 32, 35-37, 39, 43, 44, 46-52, 54, 56-58, 60-62, 64, 67-128, as well as all unboxed and oversize items are stored onsite mostly in the vault at the Woodson Research Center.

Boxes 26, 31, 33, 34, 38, 40-42, 45, 53, 55, 59, 63, 65, and 66 stored offsite at the Library Service Center and require 24-hour notice for retrieval. Please contact the Woodson Research Center at 713-348-2586 or woodson@rice.edu for more information.

Extent

From the Collection: 191 Linear Feet (178 boxes plus oversize items)

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

General

This item was donated by (and probably made by) John Treanor Smith, class of 1940. His signature is on the back. The front bears the title "Engineophytes 1939" and the signatures of all the members, who were apparently the original members of this society. The plaque is in the general shape of the Tau Beta Pi 'bent' (symbol) with an "R" on top and an "I" at the bottom. From papers associated with the foundation of the Rice Tau Beta Pi chapter, this item dates from the time when a Rice Engineering Honor Society was first being formed and was petitioning for entry into the Tau Beta Pi. They called the group the "Engineophytes" and all members were required to make a wooden plaque such as this. Donated on 10/24/1990.