Transcripts of diaries and letters, 1861-1862

The Diaries and Correspondence series includes personal diaries and account books kept by William North Rice during his time as a Wesleyan University student, and correspondence from family members, friends, colleagues, and fellow alumni from throughout his life. Diaries date from Rice's years as a student at Wesleyan, and include information about academics, social life, campus groups, and other Wesleyan-related observations. Some transcripts, made by Rice's grandson, are available in this collection as well. The "Letters Home from Wesleyan" were mainly written to Rice's father, William Rice, who served on the Wesleyan Board of Trustees. Some of these letters also include paragraphs separately addressed to other family members. Other letters were specifically addressed to other family members. Other correspondence addresses the issue of coeducation at Wesleyan during its first phase of admitting female students. There is also congratulatory correspondence regarding Rice's 50th anniversary of graduation from Wesleyan and his 80th birthday. Rice also corresponded frequently with his son about Wesleyan topics. The final part of this series consists of letters arranged by the last name of the correspondent. Most of these writers were Wesleyan alumni, and most only wrote one or two letters. Topics include opinions on trustee matters, campus politics, selection of presidents, alumni affairs, coeducation, student discipline, and faculty recruitment.