Lilian Jennette Rice
Encyclopedia
Lilian Jeannette Rice was an eco-conscious, early 20th century American architect.
Rice was the daughter of Julius and Laura Rice and was born in National City, California
, ten miles north of the Mexican border in south bay, San Diego County. In 1906, she entered the University of California and successfully completed her Bachelor of Letters Degree in Social Science with a major in architecture in 1910. In 1911 she completed a course in teaching there. She returned to National City where she later taught geometric drawing at the then named Russ High School now San Diego High School
and then at San Diego State Teachers College, now San Diego State University
. In 1921, she was chosen by Richard Requa, of the firm of Requa and Jackson, to be the lead planner on the new development at Rancho Santa Fe in San Diego County. From 1922 until 1927 this project consumed much of her time. After her association with Requa and Jackson, Rice opened her own architectural firm in 1928 after she became licensed as an architect in the prior year. In 1931 she gained membership into the San Diego Chapter of the American Institute of Architecture, one of only a few women admitted up to that time. In July 1938 she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer by La Jolla's Dr. Ross Paull and on December, 22nd she succumbed to the cancer. At the time she was a permanent resident of Rancho Santa Fe. She was cremated and her remains were interred at La Vista Memorial Park Cemetery in National City. In later years the Rice family headstones were vandalized, but well-meaning volunteers replaced the violated headstones. It was at this time that Lilian J. Rice's birth date was incorrectly assigned. While the current headstone notes 1888 as Rice's birth date, this is inaccurate. Contemporaneous birth announcements in the National City Record and the San Diego Union, plus Lilian Rice's birth certificate prove unequivocally that she was born on June 12, 1889.
Among her historic designs are the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe (1922), the Rancho Santa Fe Garden Club (1937), the Fleet-Rice-Hoyt House (1936–1937) and the Martha Kinsey Residence (1936) in La Jolla, and the ZLAC Rowing Club clubhouse (1932) on Mission Bay
in San Diego. Rice was a member of the ZLAC Rowing Club, Crew IV, and president of the club in 1915-1916.
The Lilian J. Rice Elementary School in Chula Vista, California
is named for her.
Rice was the daughter of Julius and Laura Rice and was born in National City, California
National City, California
National City is a city in San Diego County, California. The population was 58,582 at the 2010 census, up from 54,260 at the 2000 census. National City is the second oldest city in San Diego County and has a historic past.-History:...
, ten miles north of the Mexican border in south bay, San Diego County. In 1906, she entered the University of California and successfully completed her Bachelor of Letters Degree in Social Science with a major in architecture in 1910. In 1911 she completed a course in teaching there. She returned to National City where she later taught geometric drawing at the then named Russ High School now San Diego High School
San Diego High School
San Diego High School is an urban public educational complex comprising six small schools located on the southern edge of Balboa Park, in San Diego, California. It is part of the San Diego Unified School District. It is the oldest high school in the San Diego Unified School District and one of the...
and then at San Diego State Teachers College, now San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
. In 1921, she was chosen by Richard Requa, of the firm of Requa and Jackson, to be the lead planner on the new development at Rancho Santa Fe in San Diego County. From 1922 until 1927 this project consumed much of her time. After her association with Requa and Jackson, Rice opened her own architectural firm in 1928 after she became licensed as an architect in the prior year. In 1931 she gained membership into the San Diego Chapter of the American Institute of Architecture, one of only a few women admitted up to that time. In July 1938 she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer by La Jolla's Dr. Ross Paull and on December, 22nd she succumbed to the cancer. At the time she was a permanent resident of Rancho Santa Fe. She was cremated and her remains were interred at La Vista Memorial Park Cemetery in National City. In later years the Rice family headstones were vandalized, but well-meaning volunteers replaced the violated headstones. It was at this time that Lilian J. Rice's birth date was incorrectly assigned. While the current headstone notes 1888 as Rice's birth date, this is inaccurate. Contemporaneous birth announcements in the National City Record and the San Diego Union, plus Lilian Rice's birth certificate prove unequivocally that she was born on June 12, 1889.
Among her historic designs are the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe (1922), the Rancho Santa Fe Garden Club (1937), the Fleet-Rice-Hoyt House (1936–1937) and the Martha Kinsey Residence (1936) in La Jolla, and the ZLAC Rowing Club clubhouse (1932) on Mission Bay
Mission Bay
Mission Bay may refer to:Australia*the former name of Minjilang, Northern TerritoryNew Zealand*Mission Bay, New Zealand, a suburb of Auckland...
in San Diego. Rice was a member of the ZLAC Rowing Club, Crew IV, and president of the club in 1915-1916.
The Lilian J. Rice Elementary School in Chula Vista, California
Chula Vista, California
Chula Vista is the second largest city in the San Diego metropolitan area, the seventh largest city in Southern California, the fourteenth largest city in the State of California, and the seventy seventh largest city in the U.S....
is named for her.
Further reading
- "Lilian J. Rice: Architect of Rancho Santa Fe, California", Diane Y. Welch; May, 2010; Schiffer Books http://www.schifferbooks.com/newschiffer/book_template.php?isbn=9780764334566