Rice, Warner Grenelle, 1899-

Warner Grenelle Rice was born on July 25, 1899 in Aurora, Illinois. He received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Illinois in 1920 and a Master of Arts from there in 1922. He was awarded another Master of Arts degree and a doctorate in 1927 from Harvard University where he served as an instructor in English until 1929.

In 1929, Rice began a long association with the University of Michigan with his appointment as associate professor of English. He was promoted to professor in 1936. In 1947, he was named acting chairman and then chairman of the Department of English Language and Literature succeeding Louis Bredvold. In addition to his duties in the English department, he was named Director of the University Library in 1941. He held this position until 1953 when he resigned to concentrate on his duties as department chair and professor of English. He retired from the chair and active teaching in 1968 although he remained interested in the affairs of the university.

Rice's research interests included Milton, biblical illustrations and the commemorative state services added to the Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England in 1662. He served as president of the Milton Society and was a member of the Renaissance Society of America.

After his retirement from the University of Michigan, he served as a consultant to the New York State Education Department from 1969 to 1971. He held visiting professorships at the University of Pittsburgh (1971), Texas Christian University (1971-1972) and Pennsylvania State University (1972-1973).

Warner G. Rice died on January 22, 1997. His wife of 66 years, Mary Wallace Rice died on October 1, 1996. His two daughters live in Evanston, Illinois and San Mateo, California.

From the guide to the Warner G. Rice papers, 1916-1995, 1916-1995, (Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan)