Woodson Research Center Special Collections & Archives
Hours, Contact Us, Mission, Scope of Collections, Advisory Board, Volunteers and Interns, Service Commitments
We collect and make accessible:Subject strengths:
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| We are open to the public and invite research in all our materials. | The Woodson Research Center houses rare books, such as the first edition of Issac Newton's Principia, published in 1687. |
Normal Hours: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Some materials are stored off-site; please call ahead for specific information, 713-348-2586.
Contact Us:
| E-mail address: woodson@rice.edu or use Information Request Form | Phone: 713.348.2586 Fax: 713.348.6172 |
| Mailing address: Woodson Research Center Fondren Library - MS 44 Rice University P O Box 1892 Houston, TX 77251-1892 | Physical address: Rice University Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library 6100 Main St. Houston, TX 77005 |
Woodson Research Center Staff:
| Lee Pecht, Head of Special Collections | 713.348.2120 | pecht@rice.edu |
| Amanda York Focke, Asst. Head of Special Collections | 713.348.2124 | afocke@rice.edu |
| Philip Montgomery, Archivist/Special Collections Librarian | 713.348.2542 | pmontgom@rice.edu |
Mission:
The mission of the Woodson Research Center, like that of its parent body, the Fondren Library of Rice University in Houston, Texas, is to support the institutional, research and public service programs of the University. The Center collects, organizes, preserves and describes official records of the University, special collections of rare books and manuscripts; it makes these materials available for Rice faculty, students and alumni, as well as local, national and international researchers via exhibitions, lectures, and other public events, and by publishing print and web-based materials highlighting the department's primary source collections. The Woodson Research Center’s strong service tradition and commitment to technology enhances access to and aids in the preservation of rare materials, and facilitates long-distance study and teaching.
Scope of Collections:
Woodson’s collections include the institutional records of Rice University created or used in the course of institutional business; special collections of rare books, personal as well as institutional papers, photographs, audio, video and artifacts materials with the following main areas of interests: Rice University personalities; history of science and humanities; United States Southern history and Civil War; British history and drama; Houston and Texas entrepreneurs, business, performing arts, religion and political activities.
Volunteers and Interns:
Volunteers and interns at the Woodson Research Center work in many ways to ensure the long-term physical stability of our rare books, archives, and manuscripts, so that they will remain available to researchers. Book box making, mylar encapsulation of fragile paper, manuscript research and indentification of photographs are just a few of the tasks taken on by volunteers.
Service committments:
- WRC staff will answer reference queries from the Woodson website (sent to the woodson@rice.edu address) in full within one business day, or will send an acknowledgement of the query within one business day if the answer will require more time or more information from the patron.
- WRC staff will greet each reading room patron with a smile and conduct basic opening and closing reference interviews with them to be sure their research needs are met, meaning that they found what they were looking for or if we do not have what they need we were able to suggest research alternatives.
- WRC staff will maintain an informative website, posting new information (such as finding aids for WRC collections and exhibit information) as soon as it becomes available, checking the site on a bi-weekly basis for broken links and outdated information.
