Warren E. Preece

Infobox Writer
name = Warren E. Preece
birthname = Warren Eversleigh Preece
birthdate = birth date|1921|4|17|mf=y
birthplace = Norwalk, Connecticut, United States
deathdate = death date and age|2007|4|11|1921|4|17|mf=y
deathplace = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
occupation = Editor, Encyclopedist
nationality = American
period = 1948-1979
genre = Nonfiction

Warren Eversleigh Preece (April 17, 1921 – April 11, 2007) was editor of "Encyclopædia Britannica" from 1964 to 1975, during the development of "Britannica 3" (the 15th edition). This 28-volume edition separated the content into three parts, the "Propædia" (Outline of Knowledge), "Micropædia" (Ready Reference) and "Macropædia" (Knowledge in Depth)."Preece, Warren E." "Encyclopædia Britannica 2006 Ultimate Reference Suite DVD".]

Preece was born in Norwalk, Connecticut and educated at Dartmouth College. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in 1943. After serving with the U.S. Army in the Philippines in World War II, he earned an M.A. degree from Columbia University in 1947.

Before joining "Britannica" he worked as a newspaper reporter and copy editor, an English teacher, and public relations director for U.S. Senator Thomas Dodd of Connecticut.

In 1957 he was hired by William Benton, publisher of "Britannica", as secretary to the board of editors. In 1964 he became editor of the encyclopedia. He held this position (with an interruption in 1968-69, the year of the "Britannica's" bicentennial) until 1975, the year after the publication of the 15th edition. The 15th edition was a major change in the encyclopedia, and Preece was an important figure in its development. After his resignation as editor, he continued to serve as vice chairman of the board of editors until 1979.

He was coauthor of "The Technological Order" (1962) and a contributor to "Britannica", notably on the topic of higher education. Preece, Warren E. A Report of the Discussion. "Technology and Culture", Vol. 3, No. 4, Proceedings of the "Encyclopaedia Britannica" Conference on the Technological Order (Autumn, 1962), pp. 466-485.] He was also associated with the Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions in Santa Barbara, California. Reeves, Richard (June 13, 1967). U.S. Think Tanks: In Santa Barbara Dialogue Is the Thing. "New York Times"]

He died on April 11, 2007 of heart failure in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.cite news| last = Fox| first = Margalit| title = Warren E. Preece, 85, Who Revamped Encyclopedia Britannica, Dies| url = http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/14/us/14preece.html| publisher = New York Times| date = 14 April 2007]

ee also

* History of the Encyclopædia Britannica
* William Benton, owner of the "Britannica" through most of Preece's tenure
* Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

References

External links

*cite encyclopedia| year = 2007| title = Warren E. Preece| url = http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9061243/Warren-E-Preece| encyclopedia = Encyclopædia Britannica| edition= 15^th edition| publisher = Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc From "Encyclopaedia Britannica" Online.

*cite encyclopedia| year = 2007| title = History of the 15th edition| url = http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-2112| encyclopedia = Encyclopædia Britannica| edition= 15^th edition| publisher = Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc From "Encyclopaedia Britannica" Online.
* [http://www.library.ucsb.edu/speccoll/sbauthors_pq.html Short biographical sketch of Warren Preece] from the Donald C. Davidson Library, at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/14/us/14preece.html?ex=1334203200&en=b65fe37550b09e82&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss "New York Times" obituary]