Biography:

James Calhoun Rice was born in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi, on August 4, 1889. He was the son of Lent Irwin and Anne Pressgrove Rice. James Rice received his preliminary education in the rural schools of Tallahatchie County, graduating from Charleston High School. He then attended Mississippi College and the University of Mississippi, after which he completed graduate studies at the University of Galveston. Rice later earned a doctor of medicine degree at Tulane University Medical School.

Dr. Rice subsequently established a medical practice at Natchez and in 1925 was co-founder with Dr. John Chamberlain and Dr. Charles Chamberlain of the Chamberlain-Rice Hospital, which later became Natchez General. Dr. Rice was one of the first specialists in radiology in the state of Mississippi. During his career, he taught nursing classes and was an instructor in general medical services. A Democrat, he was elected without opposition to the Mississippi Senate and served one term. Dr. Rice was a member of the Natchez Civic Club and in 1939 was awarded a citizenship trophy by the City of Natchez and Adams County for "outstanding civic progressiveness." He retired in 1964.

Folder List:

• Personal correspondence, October 21, 1939–December 31, 1971 (folder 1)
• Correspondence and material concerning Lake St. John, Louisiana, August 8, 1955–February 5, 1962; n.d. (folders 2–3)
• Correspondence concerning the health of one of Dr. Rice's patients, Miss Willie Allen, March 16, 1951–November 14, 1951 (folder 4)
• Letters to the editor of the Natchez Democrat, February 6, 1948–April 1, 1958; n.d. (folders 5–10)
• Summary of the educational background of Dr. James C. Rice (folder 11)
• Letters of reference, March 31, 1943; September 15, 1956 (folder 12)
• General warranty deed of conveyance of land, September 17, 1921 (folder 13)
• Speeches to the Civitan Club and to the citizens of Natchez (Folder 14)
• Miscellaneous material (folder 15)
• Scrapbook containing various news articles