The collection documents Ole Rice's activities for the years 1888 to 1923. Composed of correspondence, addresses, personal papers, financial records, papers relating to his professional activities, and extensive reference files kept for his library work and on topics of a more general nature, the collection encompasses both Rice's professional and private life.
The BIOGRAPHICAL FILE contains a biographical sketch, newspaper clippings relating to Rice's professional activities, and a number of obituaries of Rice and his wife, Hildor.
The chronologically arranged CORRESPONDENCE series consists almost exclusively of incoming letters, some of which are written in Norwegian. The majority is personal correspondence, although included are some correspondence with his publisher and several letters from persons seeking professional advice. The correspondence dated 1923 is comprised strictly of letters of condolence sent to Ruth Rice.
The PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES series documents various aspects of Rice's career. The Teaching and Principalship file covering his earliest activities consists primarily of school catalogs and calendars of events. The Department of Public Instruction file contains a small amount of correspondence, statements issued by State Superintendent of Schools C.P. Cary, to department members, as well as clippings relating to attacks on Cary's administration. Also included is a Purchase List for High School Libraries, issued by the Department in 1919, probably compiled by Rice. Rice's participation in various conferences is documented by the material in the Library Associations file. The Projects file contains handwritten notes and reading lists, presumably for use in Rice's own work. The Publications and Reviews file is comprised of notices and reviews of the books written or edited by Rice.
The ADDRESSES series is arranged chronologically, with the exception of a few addresses which were arranged by Rice himself by subject and place. The addresses were delivered at professional conferences, to civic groups, at high schools, etc., and treat a number of subjects, most notably library use, education, and various aspects of Norwegian life. Several are written in Norwegian; many are written in shorthand. Other addresses can be found in the Reference Files.
Several aspects of Rice's private life are documented in the PERSONAL PAPERS series, including his membership in the Mozart Club and the Mutual Benefit Anti-Tuberculosis Fraternity, which was organized to provide benefits to its members in case of tuberculosis. This file is comprised of the fraternity's constitution, as well as data gathered concerning the incidence of the disease. Also included in this series are various notebooks and a scrapbook containing clippings on a number of subjects, pasted over biology class notes. The Miscellaneous Family Papers contain Mrs. Rice's school records and teaching certificates, several items concerning Ruth Rice, and a bound volume, written in Norwegian, dated August, 1858, which appears to be a journal kept by Rice's mother.
The FINANCIAL RECORDS provide information on Rice's insurance, retirement fund, and bonds holdings. The account books for the years 1896 to 1923, with a gap between May and December, 1914, and the receipts, which include bills and cancelled checks, offer a detailed view of his domestic expenses. Also included are royalty statements and book orders for Rice's book Lessons on the Use of Books and Libraries, published by Rand McNally.
The series entitled REFERENCE FILES consists of files dealing with library work and those concerning topics of a more general nature. The file headings used by Rice have been retained, with the exception of the addition of a Miscellaneous file for topics whose bulk did not warrant a separate file. The files contain primarily notes, many in shorthand, articles and clippings. Most titles reflect the subject matter of the file. A brief description of those that do not follows. Books Read consists of annotated evaluations of books, furnished with Dewey Decimal classification numbers. Humor contains clippings related to library work. Lessons concerns the use of reference materials and of the library in education. Library Personnel outlines the tasks of the Supervisor of School Libraries and the State Library Clerk, the two positions held by Rice. Literature and Newspapers examine their use in education. The file on Normal Schools concerns the function of Normal School libraries. Reading deals with the promotion of reading and its effects on students; Reading Circle concerns the program instituted by the Department of Public Instruction whereby reading lists were sent to discussion groups throughout the state of Wisconsin. Topics for Talks on library-related subjects supplements the Addresses series. Commencement includes notes for and remarks and speeches delivered by Rice at high school graduations. Education contains statistics of education and high school growth in the state of Wisconsin. The file on Col. Hans C. Heg, a Civil War hero of Norwegian descent, includes minutes of the committee which was formed to erect a monument to him, as well as a list of contributors.
The CERTIFICATES consist of Rice's diplomas from Northern Indiana Normal School, 1888, and the University of Wisconsin, 1899, his Wisconsin State Teacher's Certificate, 1896, and his certificate of appointment to the position of State Library Clerk, 1907.
