Rice House

Rice House is named for Richard Austin Rice, who was a Professor of Modern Languages and also the founder of the Art Department at Williams College. The house was first on the corner of Main and Spring Streets before it was moved to its present location, South of Jesup Hall, where it is now used by the Black Student Union. Some additional information was in the College Archives abut Rice House, however this information was inaccurate. It said Richard Rice lived there until 1925. However, biographical information shows Rice left Williamstown in 1911! Rice actually died in Was

hington, D.C. in 1925. At Archives, there were a few articles and old trustee minutes that simply mention the house, but nothing in depth.

A lead was found when Ebony Chatman ‘99 told us that Dr. Robert Peck, the Athletic Director, once lived in Rice House. Bob Peck said that he lived there between 1971 and 1978. A man named Russ Carpenter moved there after him and then it was given to the BSU. Members of the BSU and the 2002-2003 governing board spent last winter study further uncovering the history of the BSU and its members, which resulted in a comprehensive list of all the past Black Students of Williams from the acceptance of the first to present day. This years board will be working on making this new found information into a book to be shared for years to come.