Woodson Research Center, archive located in Fondren Library at Rice University
The Woodson Research Center is a rare book library and archive located in Fondren Library at Rice University in Houston. It holds more than 700 collections of old documents, photographs, maps, and manuscripts focused on the history of Texas, Houston, and the university itself.
Named after Benjamin N. Woodson, the center documents Houston and Texas history from the 1800s to today. Its collections show major developments in the region, including the oil industry, the Civil War era, and the founding of Rice University.
The center preserves stories from Houston's different communities, including Chinese American, Jewish, and African American archives. Visitors can trace how various groups lived and organized themselves through newspapers, recordings, and collections from local organizations spanning many decades.
The center is located on the first floor of Fondren Library and is open Monday through Friday from nine in the morning to four in the afternoon. Visitors should arrange an appointment with staff beforehand, as many collections require special handling and advance notice.
Following disasters like Hurricane Harvey, the center actively rescued and preserved damaged historical materials from local communities. These recovery efforts demonstrate its commitment to safeguarding important archives for future generations.
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