Rice, William Marsh, 1816-1900

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The life of William Marsh Rice -- cotton merchant, realtor, philanthropist, and entrepreneur extraordinaire -- is intimately connected with the early history and development of the city of Houston, his involvement in Houston's civic life spanning a period of some sixty years. Born in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1816, the enterprising young Rice moved to Houston in 1839 attracted by the wide-open possibilities of the young city, which had been founded only three years before. For the next twenty-five years, Houston served both as Rice's home and as a base for his numerous business interests. Even after Rice moved to New York in 1865, he remained deeply involved with Houston for he continued to maintain business ties with the city and, together with his wife, he made almost annual visits to the city until 1897. In 1891, nine years before his death, Rice completed the formulation of plans for his greatest legacy to Houston, his provisions for the founding of Rice Institute.

From the guide to the William Marsh Rice Collection MSS 140., 1831-1869, (Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Morris B. Finkelstein Papers 64-162., 1899-1957 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Marcy, William L. (William Learned), 1786-1857. Papers, 1820-1863. American Periodical Series I
referencedIn Andrew Forest Muir papers MS 17., ca. 1916-1969 Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University
referencedIn David B. Hill Papers, 1885-1910 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn Education -- Rice University. Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library
referencedIn Evans, Ira Hobart, 1844-1923. Ira Hobart Evans papers 1867-1913. The University of Tulsa, McFarlin Library
referencedIn Merchants and Planters Oil Company archives MS 260., 1894-1941, Bulk Dates 1930-1945 Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University
referencedIn Rice University. Early Rice Institute records, 1844-1941 (bulk 1880-1916) Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University
referencedIn Biography -- Rice, William Marsh. Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library
referencedIn Certificate of Partnership between Richard J. French, William Marsh Rice and Ebenezer B. Nichols MS 004., 1852 Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University
creatorOf William Marsh Rice Collection MSS 140., 1831-1869 Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Libary
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Brown, John H. person
associatedWith Evans, Ira Hobart, 1844-1923. person
associatedWith Finkelstein, Morris B. person
associatedWith Hill, David Bennett, 1843-1910 person
associatedWith Marcy, William L. (William Learned), 1786-1857. person
associatedWith Merchants and Planters Oil Company corporateBody
associatedWith Muir, Andrew Forest, 1916-1969 person
associatedWith Rice, Frederick Allyn, 1830-1901 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Houston (Tex.)
Subject
Civil war
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1816-03-14

Death 1900-09-23

Information

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