This online exhibit discusses and explores the huge decisions Rice University made concerning coeducation and desegregation during the time period of 1957 to 1970. Rice University underwent many changes including the creation of the residential colleges, which included allowing women to live on campus for the first time, the acceptance of Black students into the university, and the establishment of required tuition for all students. You can explore both of these topics below.

While this exhibit tackles the complex topic of desegregation, it was created before the university established the Task Force on Slavery, Segregation, and Racial Injustice. To find a much more in-depth account of desegregation and the many complex aspects of the university and its founder's relationship with the Black community, you should explore the work of the task force, which you can access through the button below.

Rice University students conducted the research behind this exhibit and developed the online presentation as part of coursework and practica lead by the university's Humanities Research Center in 2014 and 2016. The students include: Edna Otuomagie (2016) and Samhita Sunya, Itohan Idumwonyi, Danni Vasquez, and Matthew Holloway (2014).

Edna Otuomagie talked with various members of the Rice community who either attended or worked at Rice during this time period. She sought advice from and conferred with the centennial historian Dr. Melissa Kean; the Center for the Study of Women, Gender, and Sexuality; and previous workers on this research project. 

This exhibit was created for a previous exhibit platform and was migrated with some editing, streamlining, and restructuring in 2024.