Guide to the Rice family papers MS.R.045
Finding aid prepared by Phil Brigandi, 2004.
Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries
(cc) 2004
The UCI Libraries
P.O. Box 19557
University of California, Irvine
Irvine 92623-9557
spcoll@uci.edu
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries
Title: Rice family papers
Creator:
Rice family
Identifier/Call Number: MS.R.045
Physical Description:
4.8 Linear Feet
(9 boxes and 4 oversize folders)
Date (inclusive): 1812-1972
Date (bulk): 1875-1919
Abstract: This collection comprises materials from the James S. and Cora Rice family of Tustin, California, and other relatives, including
Harvey M. Rice, father of James and an Ohio author and legislator; Nettie Rice, sister of James and the first wife of James
Irvine I; and the family of J.H. Martin of Carson Valley, Nevada. It also includes material from the Polish-born Shakespearean
actress Helena Modjeska who had a summer home in the Santa Ana Mountains of Orange County. The collection includes correspondence,
documents, ephemera, newspaper clippings, and photographs.
Language of Material:
English
.
Access
Collection open for research.
Publication Rights
Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and
their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact the Head of Special Collections and University Archives.
Preferred Citation
Rice Family papers. MS-R45. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California. Date accessed.
For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this
collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Harvey M. Rice, 1966
Processing Information
Processed by Phil Brigandi, 2001.
Biography
The Rice family was an important ranching family in Orange County and figured prominently in the growth and development of
Tustin. The family is especially noteworthy for its connections to the James Irvine family and to the actress Helena Modjeska.
Harvey M. Rice (1800-1891) was born in Massachusetts and settled in Cleveland, Ohio in 1824, when the community was still
a small, frontier town. He worked as a teacher, a newspaper editor, and later as an attorney. In his retirement, he wrote
historical sketches and travel pieces, including
Life from the Pacific Slope, or First Impressions, which documents an 1869 overland journey to California. He served as an Ohio legislator in the 1830s and as a State Senator
in the 1850s. He was noted for having written Ohio's original "common school" law in 1851, a bill later copied by other states.
Harvey was honored in later years for his pioneering work in public education, and a statue honoring him was erected in Cleveland
in 1899.
Harvey and his wife Maria's daughter, Henrietta Maria (Nettie) Rice (1841-1874), was the first wife of James Irvine I (1827-1886),
the founder of the famous Irvine Ranch in Orange County, California. She was the mother of James Irvine II (1867-1947), who
was responsible for much of the development of the ranch in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Harvey and Maria Rice's son, James S. Rice (1846-1930), worked in the furniture business in Cleveland with one of his older
brothers for 11 years before coming to Southern California in January 1877. His first California venture was raising stock
on the Irvine Ranch in partnership with his brother-in-law, James Irvine I. After approximately one year he bought land near
Tustin, where he planted oranges. Later he bought 50 acres on First Street, near Tustin, which he planted in grapes. During
the Southern California real estate boom of the late 1880s he subdivided and sold much of his ranch, but for many years he
retained a 12-acre parcel for oranges. At various times he was also engaged in growing walnuts, celery, and sugar beets in
Orange County, and was involved in the early development of Laguna Beach. In 1872, while still in Ohio, James married Coralinn
(Cora) Barlow (1850-1919). Cora was a noted singer and actress, and James was well regarded for his musical talents, whistling,
and imitations. They often performed for benefits and social events in Orange County and became close friends of the country's
most noted actress of the day, Polish-born Helena Modjeska, who also lived in Orange County. Cora's brother, Charles Barlow,
settled in the Bakersfield area, where he went on to serve as the local Congressman.
James and Cora Rice had four children: James W., Merrill, Harvey, and Percy F. James W. (ca. 1874-ca.1950) followed in his
father's footsteps both as a rancher and as a musician. In approximately 1905 he acquired his own ranch on 17th Street in
Tustin. In 1908 he married Reubel Martin (b. 1883), the daughter of Nevada pioneers, who had been educated at Mills College
in Oakland. James W. and Reubel had two children, James W. Rice, Jr. and Harvey M. Rice (1913-1974). Reubel Rice's father,
J. Henry Martin, had settled in the Carson Valley in Nevada in the 1860s. He was a farmer and a teamster, and he engaged in
various business activities in Carson City and in the mining camps of western Nevada and eastern California, including Bodie,
California. By the 1880s Martin was active in politics and served as State Senator, representing Douglas County in the late
1890s. He married Katie F. Child, whose family seems to have settled in Nevada in the 1850s.
Merrill (ca.1876-ca.1919) inherited some of his parents' musical talents but seems to have become estranged from his family.
Harvey (1879-1900) was considered a promising young man, but he died at the age of 21 due to consumption. Percy F. (1882-1950)
became an inventor and patented several devices, including improvements for printing presses, radio tuners, and automotive
transmissions. He lived in Orange County for most of his life.
Chronology
Missing Title
| 1824 |
Harvey M. Rice settles in Cleveland, Ohio. |
| 1851 |
Harvey M. Rice drafts Ohio's common school law. |
| 1866 |
Nettie Rice marries James Irvine I. |
| 1866 |
James S. Rice enters the furniture business in Cleveland in partnership with his older brother. |
| 1870 |
Harvey M. Rice publishes Letters from the Pacific Slope, describing his first visit to California in 1869. |
| 1872 |
James S. Rice marries Coralinn (Cora) Barlow. |
| 1874 |
James S. Rice makes his first visit to California. |
| 1877 |
James S. and Cora Rice move to Southern California; after living briefly on the Irvine Ranch, they settle in Tustin. |
| 1887 |
James S. Rice subdivides his property and places it on the market as Rice's Addition to Tustin. |
| 1888 |
J.H. Martin runs for the Nevada State Senate. |
| 1896 |
Harvey Rice loses an arm in a shooting accident. |
| 1896 |
J.H. Martin is elected to the Nevada State Senate to represent Douglas County. |
| 1899 |
Reubel Martin enrolls at Mills College. |
| 1899 |
A statue in honor of Harvey M. Rice is unveiled in Cleveland. |
| 1903 |
Percy Rice invents an automated paper feeder for printing presses, his first important invention. |
| 1920 |
James S. Martin serves as Chairman of the Orange County Democratic Central Committee. |
Collection Scope and Content Summary
This collection comprises materials from the James S. and Cora Rice family of Tustin, California, and other relatives, including
Harvey M. Rice, father of James and an Ohio author and legislator; Nettie Rice, sister of James and the first wife of James
Irvine I; and the family of J.H. Martin of Carson Valley, Nevada. It also includes material from the Polish-born Shakespearean
actress Helena Modjeska who had a summer home in the Santa Ana Mountains of Orange County. The collection includes correspondence,
documents, ephemera, newspaper clippings, and photographs.
Arrangement
This collection is organized into four series.
- Series 1. Rice family material, 1812-1972. 2.4 linear ft.
- Series 2. Helena Modjeska material, 1879-1970. 0.2 linear ft.
- Series 3. Martin family material, 1822-1907. 0.5 linear ft.
- Series 4. Photographs, 1854-1961. 1.7 linear ft.
Related Material
Additional material on Helena Modjeska may be found in the Helena Modjeska Collection (MS-R37).
Rice family material Series 1.
1812-1972
Physical Description: 2.4 Linear Feet
General Physical Description note: no content
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series contains material from the Rice family, primarily James S. and Cora Rice and their children, and documents their
activities in Orange County. Some of these items relate to the Irvine family. Materials consist primarily of clippings, ephemera,
and documents along with a small amount of correspondence. Included among the James S. and Cora Rice ephemera are several
posters announcing upcoming theatrical events in Orange County from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, along with an
advertising brochure from the sale of the subdivision of the Rice Ranch in Tustin during the real estate boom of 1887. The
folder of Tustin material includes a complete 1886 title report on a number of lots in downtown Tustin, a portion of which
were owned by James. The Harvey Rice folder includes information on his activities in Ohio and the statue raised in his honor
in 1899. The Percy Rice folder contains information on several of his inventions.
box 1, folder 1
Irvine family, clippings, correspondence, ephemera
ca.1870-1953
box 1, folder 2-8, box 2, box 8, folder 7-10
box 2
Two stereoscope viewers
ca. 1890
box 2
Opera glasses recovered after the San Francisco fire by Stella Preble
1906
box 8, folder 7-10
Books belonging to Rice family members
1863-1916.
Physical Description: 12 items in 4 folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
Scope and Contents note
Includes cookbooks, primers, lesson and advice books.
box 1, folder 2
Calling cards
1878-1881 and undated.
Scope and Contents note
Some may be from Martin family materials in Series 3.
box 1, folder 3
Ephemera, printed
1883-1923 and undated.
Scope and Contents note
Includes a series of Niagara Falls postcards, business advertisements, and a brochure for Peralta Hall seminary for young
ladies (Berkeley, Calif.).
box FB-028, folder 9
Brochure, "Last blazes on the Oregon Trail"
1907
box FB-028, folder 9
Sheet music and advertisement, "Pacoima"
1923
box FB-028, folder 9
Tourist motor map of California, undated
box 1, folder 4
Orange County clippings and ephemera
1910-1928 and undated
box 1, folder 5
Political ephemera
1880-1936 and undated
box 1, folder 6
Santa Ana clippings
1926 and undated
box FB-031, folder 5
Scrapbook pages of clippings on Rice family members, undated
box 1, folder 7
Theatrical material
1886-1926 and undated
box 1, folder 8
Tustin clippings and documents
1886-1965 and undated.
Scope and Contents note
Includes 1886 title abstract for property in Tustin.
box 1, folder 9
Rice, Harvey. Documents, correspondence, clippings, and ephemera
1812-1899 and undated
box 1, folder 10
Clippings
1912-1972 and undated
box 1, folder 11
Documents and correspondence
1878-1929 and undated
box 1, folder 12
Ephemera
1868-1927 and undated
box 9, folder 1-2
Portrait paintings of the father and mother of Cora (Mrs. James S.) Rice, undated
Physical Description: 2 folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 1, folder 13
Correspondence
1888-1919 and undated
box FB-031, folder 4
Sheet music for
Bergeuse logusta for violin and piano by James W. Rice
1906
box 1, folder 14
Rice, James W. and Reubel family. Documents and ephemera
1901-1943 and undated
box 1, folder 15
Rice, Percy. Documents, correspondence, and clippings
1925-1953
box 1, folder 17
Rice, Walter Percival. Biographical brochure and ephemera
1929
Helena Modjeska material Series 2.
1879-1970
Physical Description: 0.2 Linear Feet
General Physical Description note: no content
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series comprises material collected by the Rice family about their friend, Helena Modjeska. It includes a number of letters
from Modjeska and several theatrical programs. It also includes information on her home, "Arden," in Modjeska Canyon in the
Santa Ana Mountains, both during Modjeska's occupancy and following her death when the home was being operated as a commercial
resort. It also contains a small amount of material from Modjeska's husband, Count Charles Bozenta, and her son, Ralph Modjeska.
box 3, folder 1-2
To James S. and Cora Rice
1890-1908 and undated.
Physical Description: 2 folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 3, folder 3
Miscellaneous outgoing, undated
box 3, folder 4
From Julia Marlowe to Helena Modjeska, undated
box 3, folder 5
Home, "Arden," brochures
ca. 1910
box 3, folder 6
Poems about Modjeska by James S. Rice and anonymous author
1893-1899 and undated
box 3, folder 7
Programs and articles
1879-1970 and undated
box 3, folder 8
Bozenta, Count Charles, correspondence
1880-1892
Martin family material Series 3.
1822-1907
Physical Description: 0.5 Linear Feet
General Physical Description note: no content
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series contains material from the family of J.H. and Katie (Child) Martin, parents of Reubel Rice, wife of James W. Rice.
It consists primarily of J.H.'s business correspondence from the 1870s and 1880s documenting some of his activities in western
Nevada and eastern California. It also contains a journal written by a Martin ancestor, Sarah Hinman, a teacher in Vermont
in the mid-1860s, and a few documents from J.H.'s father, Reuben Martin. Additional material from Reubel following her marriage
into the Rice family may be found in Series 1.
box 3, folder 9
Hinman, Sarah, journal
1864-1865
box 3, folder 10
General
1875-1885 and undated
box 3, folder 11
Blanchard, Henry C. (Bodie, Calif.)
1880-1881
box 3, folder 12
Boone, Harvey (Bodie, Calif.)
1879
box 3, folder 13
Huntington, Hopkins & Co. (Sacramento, Calif.)
1881
box 3, folder 14
Ogg, Con (Bodie, Calif.)
1879-1880
box 3, folder 15
Reynolds, E.
1880 and undated
box 3, folder 16
Robson, William (Lundy, Calif.)
1883
box 3, folder 18
Smith Bros. (Teals Marsh, Nev.)
1881
box 3, folder 19
Correspondence, miscellaneous incoming
1863-1882
box 3, folder 20
Correspondence, outgoing
1866
box 3, folder 22
Documents and ephemera
1877-1918 and undated
box 3, folder 23
Invoices and receipts
1876-1890 and undated
box 4, folder 1
Child family genealogical notes, undated
box 4, folder 2
General
1865-1877 and undated
box 4, folder 3
Haskins, W.L.G. (Tustin, Calif.)
1901-1906
box 4, folder 5
Documents, ephemera, and clippings
1905-1916 and undated
box 4, folder 7
Martin Rice, Reubel, school papers and report cards
1892-1901 and undated
box 4, folder 8
Martin, Reuben, documents
1822-1866
Photographs Series 4.
1854-1961
Physical Description: 1.7 Linear Feet
General Physical Description note: no content
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series comprises photographs from all of the various branches of the Rice family. Numerous portraits and snapshots depict
family members, including two portraits of Nettie Rice Irvine, the wife of James Irvine I. Photographs in this series depict
the Rice family home and ranch; communities in Orange County such as Tustin and Newport Beach; and portraits and photographs
of Helena Modjeska and her home in the Santa Ana Mountains.
box 4, folder 9
Irvine, Nettie Rice (Mrs. James)
1867 and undated.
Physical Description: 2 prints.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 4, folder 10-11, box 5
box 4, folder 10
In Nevada
1874 and undated.
Physical Description: 8 prints.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 4, folder 11
People
1854-1911 and undated.
Physical Description: 27 prints.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 5
Martin Rice, Reubel. Album
ca.1900-1910.
Scope and Contents note
Primarily photographs of Mills College and Carson City area; includes cyanotype prints.
box 4, folder 12
Actors who appeared with Modjeska
1907 and undated.
Physical Description: 4 prints.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 4, folder 13
Home, "Arden"
ca. 1888-1902 and undated.
Physical Description: 6 prints.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 4, folder 14
Portraits
1890-1905 and undated.
Physical Description: 16 prints.
General Physical Description note: no content
Scope and Contents note
Primarily Modjeska in stage roles and Count Bozenta.
box 6, folder 1
Modjeska, Ralph
1892-1916 and undated.
Physical Description: 3 prints.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 6, folder 2
In California
1906 and undated.
Physical Description: 13 prints.
General Physical Description note: no content
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of the Mt. Lowe railway and San Francisco after the earthquake.
box 6, folder 3
In Ohio, undated
Physical Description: 4 prints.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 6, folder 4
In Orange County
1891-1933 and undated.
Physical Description: 16 prints.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 6, folder 5
People
1920-1961 and undated.
Physical Description: 68 prints.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 5
Framed portraits
ca. 1930-1960.
Physical Description: 5 items.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 6, folder 6
Portraits
1911-1919 and undated.
Physical Description: 35 prints.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 6, folder 7
Stage roles
1886-1900 and undated.
Physical Description: 7 prints.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 6, folder 8
Rice, Harvey
1898 and undated.
Physical Description: 12 prints.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 6, folder 9
Rice, Harvey and Maria, undated
General Physical Description note: 7 prints, including 1 ambrotype and 1 tintype.
box 7, folder 1
Rice, James S.
1870-1921 and undated.
Physical Description: 42 prints.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 5
Album
ca.1900.
Scope and Contents note
Primarily photographs of the Rice Ranch in Tustin.
box 5
Cartes-de-visite album of family portraits
ca.1870-1880
box 7, folder 2
Friends, Orange County
1896-1921 and undated.
Physical Description: 11 prints.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 7, folder 3
Boyd, Dr. J. P., undated
Physical Description: 3 prints.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 7, folder 4
Home, Tustin
1887-1918 and undated.
Physical Description: 38 prints.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 7, folder 5
Sons
1885-1910 and undated.
Physical Description: 6 prints.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 7, folder 6
Rice, James W. family
1892-1912 and undated.
Physical Description: 20 prints.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 7, folder 7
Rice, Merrill
1897 and undated.
Physical Description: 9 prints.
General Physical Description note: no content
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs of his "wave motor" prototype and its trial at Laguna Beach.
box 7, folder 8, box 8, folder 1
box 8, folder 1
Album
1912-1942 and undated.
Scope and Contents note
Primarily ranching photographs and photographs of some of Percy Rice's inventions.
box 7, folder 8
Photographs
ca. 1898-1929 and undated.
Physical Description: 14 prints
General Physical Description note: no content
box 8, folder 2
Bridge collapse, Ohio(?)
ca.1880.
Physical Description: 8 cards.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 8, folder 3
California
ca.1880.
Physical Description: 2 cards.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 8, folder 4
Chicago fire
1871.
Physical Description: 9 cards.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 8, folder 5
Niagara Falls
ca.1880.
Physical Description: 5 cards.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 8, folder 6
United States and England
ca.1880.
Physical Description: 6 cards.
General Physical Description note: no content
