Franklin Pierce Rice was a self-taught printer and publisher who transcribed and printed and preserved vital records from Massachusetts and was a co-founder of the Worcester Society of Antiquity.

Early life and family

Franklin Pierce Rice was born 29 July 1852 in Marlborough, Massachusetts

Marlborough, Massachusetts

Marlborough is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 38,499 at the 2010 census. Marlborough became a prosperous industrial town in the 19th century and made the transition to high technology industry in the late 20th century after the construction of the...

 as the only son of Minot Rice and Mary Berry (Felton) Rice. He received his elementary education from his mother, and did not enter public school until he was eleven years old. After completion of his preparatory studies, he intended to enter the medical profession so he began the study of chemistry, anatomy and physiology; however he never completed these studies. He turned to writing and publishing the public records of Massachusetts as a profession. He was never married.

Career in publishing

In 1871 Rice purchased his first printing press. He was self-educated as a printer not apprenticing in any other shop. By himself and on his own press he set out to compile, preserve and print the vital records, many from colonial times, from the towns of Worcester County. The task of compiling and editing of records was continued by the Worcester Society of Antiquity, which was co-founded by Rice in 1875. Beginning in 1902, the Massachusetts Vital Records Act authorized the printing of the vital records prior to 1850 in all Massachusetts. By the time of the repeal of the Vital Records Act in 1918, Rice had compiled and published the vital records of more than 30 towns in Worcester County. He was also a contributing author to several newspapers and in encyclopedias on historical and antiquarian

Antiquarian

An antiquarian or antiquary is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient objects of art or science, archaeological and historic sites, or historic archives and manuscripts...

 topics. The movement begun by Rice to publish and preserve Massachusetts public records was an important factor in fostering interest in genealogy

Genealogy

Genealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members...

 and historic preservation

Historic preservation

Historic preservation is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance...

 in New England.

In addition to his work to found the Worcester Society of Antiquity (later to become the Worcester Historical Museum

Worcester Historical Museum

The Worcester Historical Museum, located in downtown Worcester, Massachusetts, was founded in 1875. This museum is the only institution devoted entirely to local history and artifacts. The scope of their collection ranges from colonial to twentieth century, encompassing manuscripts, textiles,...

), Rice was a member of the American Antiquarian Society

American Antiquarian Society

The American Antiquarian Society , located in Worcester, Massachusetts, is both a learned society and national research library of pre-twentieth century American History and culture. Its main building, known also as Antiquarian Hall, is a U.S. National Historic Landmark...

, the Colonial Society of Massachusetts

Colonial Society of Massachusetts

The Colonial Society of Massachusetts is a US non-profit educational foundation, founded in 1892, and established for the study of the history of Massachusetts. The period of study is from its settlement through the early nineteenth century. It is a member of the New England Regional Fellowship...

, the Worcester Natural History Society (serving as director from 1894 to 1909), and the Bunker Hill Monument Society

Bunker Hill Monument

-External links:****: cultural context**...

. Rice died on 3 January 1919 in Worcester, Massachusetts

Worcester, Massachusetts

Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....

.

Selected publications

• Rice, F.P. (ed.) (1882). Records of the Court of General Sessions of the Peace for Worcester, Massachusetts 1731-1737. Worcester Society of Antiquity, Worcester, MA. 197pp.
• Rice, F.P. (1883). Reminiscences of Reverend George Allen of Worcester. Putnam and Davis Publishers, Worcester, MA 127pp.
• Rice, F.P. (1885). An Account of the Discovery of a Mastodon's Remains in Northborough, Worcester County, Massachusetts. Worcester Natural History Society, Worcester, MA. 8pp.
• Rice, F.P. (1893). Dictionary of Worcester Massachusetts and Vicinity. F.S. Blanchard & Company, Worcester, MA. 135pp.
• Rice, F.P. (1899). The Worcester of Eighteen Hundred and Ninety Eight:Fifty Years a City. F.S. Blanchard & Company, Worcester, MA. 809pp.
• Rice, F.P. (compiler) (1907). Vital Records of the Town of Sutton, Massachusetts: To the End of the Year 1849. F. P. Rice. Publisher, Worcester, MA. 476pp.

Genealogy

Franklin Pierce Rice was a direct descendant of Edmund Rice

Edmund Rice (1638)

Edmund Rice , was an early immigrant to Massachusetts Bay Colony who was born in Suffolk, England, and lived in Stanstead, Suffolk and Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire prior to sailing with his family to America. He arrived in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in summer or fall of 1638, presumed to be first...

, an English immigrant to Massachusetts Bay Colony

Massachusetts Bay Colony

The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English settlement on the east coast of North America in the 17th century, in New England, situated around the present-day cities of Salem and Boston. The territory administered by the colony included much of present-day central New England, including portions...

, as follows:

• Franklin Pierce Rice, son of
• Minot Rice (1823 – ?), son of

• Abel Rice (1791 – 1855),, son of
• Jabez Rice (1746 – 1809), son of
• Jabez Rice (1702 – 1783), son of

• Caleb Rice (1666 – 1738), son of
• Joseph Rice (1638 – 1711), son of

• Edmund Rice
  Edmund Rice (1638)
  Edmund Rice , was an early immigrant to Massachusetts Bay Colony who was born in Suffolk, England, and lived in Stanstead, Suffolk and Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire prior to sailing with his family to America. He arrived in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in summer or fall of 1638, presumed to be first...
  
  (1594 – 1663)