T. J. Rice Papers, 1916-1937, n.d. | Oberlin College Archives

Thomas Jefferson (T. J.) Rice was born November 27, 1854 in Pineville, Kentucky, the son of James and America Sexon Rice.  James Rice fought in the Civil War, and T. J. himself became a member of the Sons of Veterans in the early 1880s.  He was made captain of the U.S. Grant Camp No. 3 at Rock Port, Missouri in 1885 and the following year he was appointed to the staff of the state commander-in-chief.  In his youth T. J. went prospecting for silver in Colorado, where he encountered Native Americans, in whom he maintained a life-long interest.

In 1880 T. J. Rice married Amy Schuler of Rock Port, and in 1894 they moved to Oberlin to make their home so that their daughter, Minta Lee might study in the Oberlin Conservatory.  (Minta Lee died while a student at Oberlin High School in 1906.)  That year Rice purchased the photography studio on West College Street from photographer L. W. Upton.  Rice described his work as “the more artistic kind,” specializing in both indoor and outdoor photography, portraiture, and commercial photography.  He operated the studio from 1894 until 1937, when he sold his business to Andrew J. Stofan.  Stofan presented Rice’s extensive files of negatives and photographs documenting Oberlin students and activities to the College.  Rice was also involved in real estate until the time of his death in 1944.

Rice was passionately interested in nature and enjoyed hunting, fishing and walking.  He maintained a large apiary and garden at the Rice home on Oak Street in Oberlin.

T. J. Rice died on May 5, 1944.  He was survived by his wife, their son, Frank, of Oberlin, and their daughter, Helen, of Newark.

SOURCES CONSULTED

“Rice Makes Fine Success as Realtor and Photographer,” Oberlin News Publicity Section 2, July 24, 1924.

“T. J. Rice, Veteran Oberlin Business Man, Dies at 89,” Oberlin News-Tribune, May 11, 1944, 1.