William Marsh Rice business and estate ledgers

This collection consists of William Marsh Rice and his family's business and estate ledgers. Some of which document his history of enslavement and his investment in and profits from the plantation economy.

William Marsh Rice was born in Springfield, Massachusetts on March 14, 1816. In the 1830s Rice moved to Houston, Texas, where he started out in business as a merchant and later would partner with a wealthy Houston businessman, Ebenezer B. Nichols, establishing William M. Rice and Company. In 1860 Rice was listed as one of the wealthiest Texas men at that time and in the same record it was indicated that 15 enslaved people were included as Rice’s property. Rice was murdered on September 23, 1900 by Patrick Jones. The Rice Institute opened on September 23, 1912 on the anniversary of Rice's murder, funded by his estate.

The original materials are held by the Woodson Research Center in Fondren Library. Search the finding aid/inventory for the William Marsh Rice business and estate ledgers, UA 102.