Ira Gruber was born in Philadelphia Pennsylvania January 6, 1934. Pottstown Pennsylvania was the town of residence. In 1951 Ira Gruber began studies at Duke University. While at Duke University Ira Gruber was a part of the United States Naval Reserve. July of 1955 Ira Gruber was called to active duty. He served on the USS Wiltsie were he was appointed a crypto security officer. Ira Gruber was released of active duty June 1957. Ira Gruber completed his undergraduate studies at Duke University (1955), and also received his PhD from Duke in 1961.
In 1961-62 Dr. Gruber was an instructor of history at Duke University. 1962-65 Dr. Gruber was a fellow at the Institute of Early American History and Culture. 1965-66 Dr. Gruber was an assistant professor of History at Occidental College. 1966 to 2008 Ira Gruber was professor of history at Rice University (Houston). During the time at Rice, Dr. Gruber was Masterson Department of History Chair from 1983-87. Rice University being a residential college system, Dr. Gruber served as Hanszen College Master from 1968-73. In 1979 Dr. Gruber held the position of John F. Morrison Professor at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. This position was as a visiting professor and ended in 1980. Dr. Gruber took another visiting professor position with the U.S. Military Academy in 1984-85. Ira Gruber retired from Rice University in 2008.
Ira Gruber received the George R. Brown Award for Superior Teaching twice, once in 1974 and again in 2001. While publishing many articles, this major writings have been on Early American History and Warfare. His major books are: The Howe Brothers and the American Revolution, Warfare in Western World: Military Operations Since 1871, and John Peebles' American War: The Diary of a Scottish Grenadier .
From the guide to the Ira Gruber Academic Career Papers UA 204., 1953-2008, (Woodson Research Center)
