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Rice Center for Community Design + Research records

 Collection
Identifier: UA 0181
Finding aid note: Stored off-site at the Library Service Center. Please request this material via woodson@rice.edu or call 713-348-2586.

Scope and Contents

The Center’s publications are of four main types: technical reports, represented by detailed methodology and findings of non-proprietary projects; research summaries, which present in capsule form the results of community-oriented research Technical Reports; research profiles, which summarize economics and demographics of regions; and research briefs, which describe various office activity centers in Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio.

In addition the collection includes publications of the Center’s Joint Center for Urban Mobility Research, Real Estate Markets Briefs, and occasional Center newsletters, research papers, working papers, surveys, and proposals, as well as conference reports of importance to the Center’s advancement.

Included with these materials generated by the Center are records of two projects of the University of Louisville Urban Studies Center which served as precursors to much of the early research completed at the Rice Center.

Dates

  • Creation: 1968 - 1987

Creator

Access Restrictions

This material is open for research. Stored off-site at the Library Service Center. Please request this material via woodson@rice.edu or call 713-348-2586.

Conditions Governing Access

Stored off-site at the Library Service Center. Please request this material via woodson@rice.edu or call 713-348-2586.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish material from the Rice Center for Community Design + Research collection must be obtained through the Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library.

Biographical / Historical

Beginning in 1973, the Rice Center for Community Design + Research was an organization within the School of Architecture at Rice University. In 1978 it was expanded to the entire University, and the name was shortened to Rice Center. Its purpose was to conduct research for both public and private entities. Internally it created research projects judged beneficial to the Houston and Texas community. These independent research projects were funded by substantial foundation grants and private contributions. In approximately 1975 it was designated a National Center of Research Excellence by the Urban Mass Transit Administration and received long term support for transportation research. This collection includes the Rice Center projects that were published; additional projects took place that were not published. It also includes material created at the University of Louisville that served as examples of the kinds of research anticipated.

Donald L. Williams, the first Executive Director, became President and COO in 1978, remaining in that position until 1985 when he resigned to return to the private sector. The Center continued to operate through 1991.

Extent

9 Linear Feet ( (9 boxes) )

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The collection consists of both published and unpublished records of projects undertaken by the Rice Center for Community Design + Research, subsequently the Rice Center. It also includes records of two projects of the University of Louisville which served as precursors to much of the early research completed at the Rice Center.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Part of the collection was separated from John Margrave’s papers in July 2004. The remainder was donated by Donald L. Williams, Executive Director of the Rice Center for Community Design + Research 1972-1977 and President, COO 1978-1985. The latter materials were donated Dec. 13, 2007.

Title
Guide to the Rice Center for Community Design + Research records, 1968-1987
Status
Unprocessed Addenda
Author
Mary Tobin
Date
2015
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Woodson Research Center, Rice University, Houston, Texas Repository

Contact:
Fondren Library MS-44, Rice University
6100 Main St.
Houston Texas 77005 USA
713-348-2586