Fondren Digital Collections (FDC) support the research needs of the Rice community and beyond by providing high-quality digital content of rare or unique materials held by Fondren Library.

The FDC is home to digital files of original photographs, letters, drawings, rare publications, and other physical formats, presented in various file formats -- jpg files, pdf files, some of which are full-text searchable - all of which can be accessed on the web.

How to use the FDC

• Browse -- similar to viewing a table of contents and making a viewing selection)
• Searching -- a keyword search will bring up a list of relevant items, which can in turn be clicked to reveal an image of the item and descriptive information.

Woodson materials in the FDC

• William Ward Watkin collection: photographs, correspondence, and architectural drawings.
• Watkin was the original Supervising Architect, Rice Institute and First Chairman, Rice Architecture Dept. His papers reflect his architectural and academic careers, especially as they relate to the early development of the Rice Institute.
• For example, a keyword search in Watkin's papers for "Lovett Hall photographs" will bring a list of photographs and drawings of the administration building as it was planned and then as it was built, as well as correspondence related to the building.
  

• In addition to the online Watkin materials in the FDC, view the full guide to the original Watkin papers available at the Woodson Research Center.
  
  
• Visit the overview exhibit The Life and Work of William Ward Watkin.