T.J. Rice Papers

Collection

Identifier: RG 30-297

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The photographic output of T.J. Rice at Oberlin between 1894 and 1937 can be found throughout the Photographs record group (32), where they were placed after the College received it sometime after 1937 from Andrew J. Stofan, who purchased Rice’s business and all of his negatives and prints.

The only items in the T.J. Rice Papers are two record books in which Rice recorded the names of his clients, the numbers of their orders, and sometimes the amounts received. Record book 1 is undated, while record book 2 covers 1916-1937, with job numbers between 1583 and 88451. Thus record book 1 may cover a period before 1916.

Dates

Creation: 1916-1937, undated

Creator

Rice, Thomas Jefferson (T.J.) (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Unrestricted.

Biographical Sketch

Thomas Jefferson (T.J.) Rice was born November 27, 1854 in Pineville, Kentucky, the son of James and America Sexon Rice. James Rice fought in the Civil War, and T.J. himself became a member of the Sons of Veterans in the early 1880s. He was made captain of the U.S. Grant Camp No. 3 at Rock Port, Missouri in 1885 and the following year he was appointed to the staff of the state commander-in-chief.

In 1880 T.J. Rice married Amy Schuler of Rock Port, and in 1894 they moved to Oberlin to make their home so that their daughter, Minta Lee, might study in the Oberlin Conservatory. Minta Lee Rice (1888-1906) died while a student at Oberlin High School. That year Rice purchased the photography studio on West College Street from photographer L. W. Upton. Rice described his work as “the more artistic kind,” specializing in both indoor and outdoor photography, portraiture, and commercial photography. He operated the studio from 1894 until 1937, when he sold his business to Andrew J. Stofan. Stofan presented Rice’s extensive files of negatives and photographs documenting Oberlin students and activities to the College. Rice was also involved in real estate until the time of his death in 1944.

Rice was passionately interested in nature and enjoyed hunting, fishing and walking. He maintained a large apiary and garden at the Rice home on Oak Street in Oberlin.

T.J. Rice died on May 5, 1944. He was survived by his wife, their son, Frank, of Oberlin, and their daughter, Helen, of Newark.

SOURCES CONSULTED

“Rice Makes Fine Success as Realtor and Photographer,” Oberlin News Publicity Section 2, July 24, 1924.

“T. J. Rice, Veteran Oberlin Business Man, Dies at 89,” Oberlin News-Tribune, May 11, 1944, 1.

Note written by Anne Cuyler Salsich.

Extent

1.47 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Method of Acquisition

The record books were donated to the College around 1937 by Andrew J. Stofan, prior to the establishment of the Archives in 1966. They may have been kept by the Library for the intervening years. They were not accessioned.