Dr. William Burton Todd, bibliophile, celebrator of the English language, and analyst and educator of the history and publishing of the great English literature, died in Austin, Texas on August 27, 2011, at the age of 92. He lived a quiet and highly prolific life.
Dr. Todd was born April 11, 1919, in Chester, Pennsylvania. He was the eldest of five children, and was fortunate to love and marry two women in his life, bring four children in to this complex world, raise three children by marriage, foster six grandchildren, and play with two delightful great-grandchildren.
He distinguished himself academically after an early false start. Upon graduation from high school as Valedictorian, Bill enrolled at Lehigh University, his father's alma mater, intending to pursue a degree in engineering. After failing dismally, Bill was tested and it was determined he had a 1 in 300 chance of succeeding in any of the sciences. He switched to the humanities and never looked back. Upon graduation from Lehigh University with High Honors in 1940, Dr. Todd received a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army. He served with great pride with the 12th Infantry Regiment of the Fourth Division. His service culminated with his duties as regimental Utah Beach Control Officer, on D-Day 1945 in Normandy.
Bill was severely wounded advancing the beach, and spent two years rebuilding his life in VA Hospitals while decorated with a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. Following his retirement from the Army with the rank of Major, he resumed his studies at Lehigh, receiving his M.A. in 1947, and a Ph.D. with Honors from the University of Chicago in 1949. He was also a Fulbright scholar, recipient of a Guggenheim fellowship, an Oxford and Cambridge fellow, and Phi Beta Kappa.
Dr. Todd loved the life of the "analytical bibliographer and relentless technocrat." He was Professor and Department Chair of English at Salem College, NC, and Research Assistant at the Houghton Library of Harvard University, before moving his family to Texas to become a professor of English at the University of Texas at Austin. During his tenure at UT, Bill was also Director of Bibliographical Research, the first Kerr Centennial Chair Emeritus of English History and Culture, and Professor Emeritus of English.
Bill was instrumental in the creation of the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center and, ultimately, in the development of the University of Texas as one of the top ten library systems in the world. Bill held many different positions throughout the world as visiting professor, lecturer, educator, editor and researcher. He was the author of over 283 scholarly treatises, with an exploratory interest that ran from the Dead Sea Scrolls, to the White House Transcripts for the Watergate Hearings, to the Gutenberg Bible. He co-authored books with his second wife and colleague, Dr. Ann Bowden, including "Tauchnitz International Editions in English" and "A Bibliographical History of Sir Walter Scott." Ann and Bill were avid rare book collectors. Their publications and Tauchnitz collection were purchased by the German government as a gift to the British government at the opening of the new British Library. Bill and Ann bequeathed primary collections to the British Museum in London, the Getty Foundation Library in California, and the HR-HRC Library at the University of Texas for the benefit of all scholars.
Bill will be remembered for his vast knowledge, his mentorship, his wit, and his love of music. His "courage, competence and devotion," as described when he was awarded the Bronze Star, was never more evident than in the way he lived the last eleven years of his life in a wheelchair. Despite, or because of, his second return to rebuilding his life, Bill was playful and loving when seeing family and friends and continued to show tenacity and interest in the world around him. His gentle courage was truly an inspiration as well as the gift he gave us all.
Dr. Todd is survived by two of his siblings: Mary Pfeifer and David Todd; his children: Marilyn Guinn, Susan Kramer, Deborah Todd and Terence Todd; his stepchildren: Lee Ward, Suby Bowden and Ric Bowden; and his good friends Naomi Acha and Kevin MacDonnell. His first wife Mary Chestnut and his second wife Ann Bowden, as well as one of his grandchildren, predeceased Bill. There will be no funeral. Following cremation, Bill and Ann's ashes will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery, as per their mutual wishes. May Arlington receive them with gentleness and grace.
The family would like to express their gratitude to Dr. Pete Garcia, Internal Medicine; caregivers Naomi Acha, Felicia Hambric, Regina Ugorji, Wendy Hilmer, and Hasna Ahmed; and the staff at Emeritus (formerly Brighton Gardens) for their care of our father. [Published in Austin American-Statesman on September 2, 2011.]
Dr. Todd was born April 11, 1919, in Chester, Pennsylvania. He was the eldest of five children, and was fortunate to love and marry two women in his life, bring four children in to this complex world, raise three children by marriage, foster six grandchildren, and play with two delightful great-grandchildren.
He distinguished himself academically after an early false start. Upon graduation from high school as Valedictorian, Bill enrolled at Lehigh University, his father's alma mater, intending to pursue a degree in engineering. After failing dismally, Bill was tested and it was determined he had a 1 in 300 chance of succeeding in any of the sciences. He switched to the humanities and never looked back. Upon graduation from Lehigh University with High Honors in 1940, Dr. Todd received a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army. He served with great pride with the 12th Infantry Regiment of the Fourth Division. His service culminated with his duties as regimental Utah Beach Control Officer, on D-Day 1945 in Normandy.
Bill was severely wounded advancing the beach, and spent two years rebuilding his life in VA Hospitals while decorated with a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. Following his retirement from the Army with the rank of Major, he resumed his studies at Lehigh, receiving his M.A. in 1947, and a Ph.D. with Honors from the University of Chicago in 1949. He was also a Fulbright scholar, recipient of a Guggenheim fellowship, an Oxford and Cambridge fellow, and Phi Beta Kappa.
Dr. Todd loved the life of the "analytical bibliographer and relentless technocrat." He was Professor and Department Chair of English at Salem College, NC, and Research Assistant at the Houghton Library of Harvard University, before moving his family to Texas to become a professor of English at the University of Texas at Austin. During his tenure at UT, Bill was also Director of Bibliographical Research, the first Kerr Centennial Chair Emeritus of English History and Culture, and Professor Emeritus of English.
Bill was instrumental in the creation of the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center and, ultimately, in the development of the University of Texas as one of the top ten library systems in the world. Bill held many different positions throughout the world as visiting professor, lecturer, educator, editor and researcher. He was the author of over 283 scholarly treatises, with an exploratory interest that ran from the Dead Sea Scrolls, to the White House Transcripts for the Watergate Hearings, to the Gutenberg Bible. He co-authored books with his second wife and colleague, Dr. Ann Bowden, including "Tauchnitz International Editions in English" and "A Bibliographical History of Sir Walter Scott." Ann and Bill were avid rare book collectors. Their publications and Tauchnitz collection were purchased by the German government as a gift to the British government at the opening of the new British Library. Bill and Ann bequeathed primary collections to the British Museum in London, the Getty Foundation Library in California, and the HR-HRC Library at the University of Texas for the benefit of all scholars.
Bill will be remembered for his vast knowledge, his mentorship, his wit, and his love of music. His "courage, competence and devotion," as described when he was awarded the Bronze Star, was never more evident than in the way he lived the last eleven years of his life in a wheelchair. Despite, or because of, his second return to rebuilding his life, Bill was playful and loving when seeing family and friends and continued to show tenacity and interest in the world around him. His gentle courage was truly an inspiration as well as the gift he gave us all.
Dr. Todd is survived by two of his siblings: Mary Pfeifer and David Todd; his children: Marilyn Guinn, Susan Kramer, Deborah Todd and Terence Todd; his stepchildren: Lee Ward, Suby Bowden and Ric Bowden; and his good friends Naomi Acha and Kevin MacDonnell. His first wife Mary Chestnut and his second wife Ann Bowden, as well as one of his grandchildren, predeceased Bill. There will be no funeral. Following cremation, Bill and Ann's ashes will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery, as per their mutual wishes. May Arlington receive them with gentleness and grace.
The family would like to express their gratitude to Dr. Pete Garcia, Internal Medicine; caregivers Naomi Acha, Felicia Hambric, Regina Ugorji, Wendy Hilmer, and Hasna Ahmed; and the staff at Emeritus (formerly Brighton Gardens) for their care of our father. [Published in Austin American-Statesman on September 2, 2011.]
Dr. William Burton Todd, bibliophile, celebrator of the English language, and analyst and educator of the history and publishing of the great English literature, died in Austin, Texas on August 27, 2011, at the age of 92. He lived a quiet and highly prolific life.
Dr. Todd was born April 11, 1919, in Chester, Pennsylvania. He was the eldest of five children, and was fortunate to love and marry two women in his life, bring four children in to this complex world, raise three children by marriage, foster six grandchildren, and play with two delightful great-grandchildren.
He distinguished himself academically after an early false start. Upon graduation from high school as Valedictorian, Bill enrolled at Lehigh University, his father's alma mater, intending to pursue a degree in engineering. After failing dismally, Bill was tested and it was determined he had a 1 in 300 chance of succeeding in any of the sciences. He switched to the humanities and never looked back. Upon graduation from Lehigh University with High Honors in 1940, Dr. Todd received a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army. He served with great pride with the 12th Infantry Regiment of the Fourth Division. His service culminated with his duties as regimental Utah Beach Control Officer, on D-Day 1945 in Normandy.
Bill was severely wounded advancing the beach, and spent two years rebuilding his life in VA Hospitals while decorated with a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. Following his retirement from the Army with the rank of Major, he resumed his studies at Lehigh, receiving his M.A. in 1947, and a Ph.D. with Honors from the University of Chicago in 1949. He was also a Fulbright scholar, recipient of a Guggenheim fellowship, an Oxford and Cambridge fellow, and Phi Beta Kappa.
Dr. Todd loved the life of the "analytical bibliographer and relentless technocrat." He was Professor and Department Chair of English at Salem College, NC, and Research Assistant at the Houghton Library of Harvard University, before moving his family to Texas to become a professor of English at the University of Texas at Austin. During his tenure at UT, Bill was also Director of Bibliographical Research, the first Kerr Centennial Chair Emeritus of English History and Culture, and Professor Emeritus of English.
Bill was instrumental in the creation of the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center and, ultimately, in the development of the University of Texas as one of the top ten library systems in the world. Bill held many different positions throughout the world as visiting professor, lecturer, educator, editor and researcher. He was the author of over 283 scholarly treatises, with an exploratory interest that ran from the Dead Sea Scrolls, to the White House Transcripts for the Watergate Hearings, to the Gutenberg Bible. He co-authored books with his second wife and colleague, Dr. Ann Bowden, including "Tauchnitz International Editions in English" and "A Bibliographical History of Sir Walter Scott." Ann and Bill were avid rare book collectors. Their publications and Tauchnitz collection were purchased by the German government as a gift to the British government at the opening of the new British Library. Bill and Ann bequeathed primary collections to the British Museum in London, the Getty Foundation Library in California, and the HR-HRC Library at the University of Texas for the benefit of all scholars.
Bill will be remembered for his vast knowledge, his mentorship, his wit, and his love of music. His "courage, competence and devotion," as described when he was awarded the Bronze Star, was never more evident than in the way he lived the last eleven years of his life in a wheelchair. Despite, or because of, his second return to rebuilding his life, Bill was playful and loving when seeing family and friends and continued to show tenacity and interest in the world around him. His gentle courage was truly an inspiration as well as the gift he gave us all.
Dr. Todd is survived by two of his siblings: Mary Pfeifer and David Todd; his children: Marilyn Guinn, Susan Kramer, Deborah Todd and Terence Todd; his stepchildren: Lee Ward, Suby Bowden and Ric Bowden; and his good friends Naomi Acha and Kevin MacDonnell. His first wife Mary Chestnut and his second wife Ann Bowden, as well as one of his grandchildren, predeceased Bill. There will be no funeral. Following cremation, Bill and Ann's ashes will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery, as per their mutual wishes. May Arlington receive them with gentleness and grace.
The family would like to express their gratitude to Dr. Pete Garcia, Internal Medicine; caregivers Naomi Acha, Felicia Hambric, Regina Ugorji, Wendy Hilmer, and Hasna Ahmed; and the staff at Emeritus (formerly Brighton Gardens) for their care of our father. [Published in Austin American-Statesman on September 2, 2011.]
Dr. Todd was born April 11, 1919, in Chester, Pennsylvania. He was the eldest of five children, and was fortunate to love and marry two women in his life, bring four children in to this complex world, raise three children by marriage, foster six grandchildren, and play with two delightful great-grandchildren.
He distinguished himself academically after an early false start. Upon graduation from high school as Valedictorian, Bill enrolled at Lehigh University, his father's alma mater, intending to pursue a degree in engineering. After failing dismally, Bill was tested and it was determined he had a 1 in 300 chance of succeeding in any of the sciences. He switched to the humanities and never looked back. Upon graduation from Lehigh University with High Honors in 1940, Dr. Todd received a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army. He served with great pride with the 12th Infantry Regiment of the Fourth Division. His service culminated with his duties as regimental Utah Beach Control Officer, on D-Day 1945 in Normandy.
Bill was severely wounded advancing the beach, and spent two years rebuilding his life in VA Hospitals while decorated with a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. Following his retirement from the Army with the rank of Major, he resumed his studies at Lehigh, receiving his M.A. in 1947, and a Ph.D. with Honors from the University of Chicago in 1949. He was also a Fulbright scholar, recipient of a Guggenheim fellowship, an Oxford and Cambridge fellow, and Phi Beta Kappa.
Dr. Todd loved the life of the "analytical bibliographer and relentless technocrat." He was Professor and Department Chair of English at Salem College, NC, and Research Assistant at the Houghton Library of Harvard University, before moving his family to Texas to become a professor of English at the University of Texas at Austin. During his tenure at UT, Bill was also Director of Bibliographical Research, the first Kerr Centennial Chair Emeritus of English History and Culture, and Professor Emeritus of English.
Bill was instrumental in the creation of the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center and, ultimately, in the development of the University of Texas as one of the top ten library systems in the world. Bill held many different positions throughout the world as visiting professor, lecturer, educator, editor and researcher. He was the author of over 283 scholarly treatises, with an exploratory interest that ran from the Dead Sea Scrolls, to the White House Transcripts for the Watergate Hearings, to the Gutenberg Bible. He co-authored books with his second wife and colleague, Dr. Ann Bowden, including "Tauchnitz International Editions in English" and "A Bibliographical History of Sir Walter Scott." Ann and Bill were avid rare book collectors. Their publications and Tauchnitz collection were purchased by the German government as a gift to the British government at the opening of the new British Library. Bill and Ann bequeathed primary collections to the British Museum in London, the Getty Foundation Library in California, and the HR-HRC Library at the University of Texas for the benefit of all scholars.
Bill will be remembered for his vast knowledge, his mentorship, his wit, and his love of music. His "courage, competence and devotion," as described when he was awarded the Bronze Star, was never more evident than in the way he lived the last eleven years of his life in a wheelchair. Despite, or because of, his second return to rebuilding his life, Bill was playful and loving when seeing family and friends and continued to show tenacity and interest in the world around him. His gentle courage was truly an inspiration as well as the gift he gave us all.
Dr. Todd is survived by two of his siblings: Mary Pfeifer and David Todd; his children: Marilyn Guinn, Susan Kramer, Deborah Todd and Terence Todd; his stepchildren: Lee Ward, Suby Bowden and Ric Bowden; and his good friends Naomi Acha and Kevin MacDonnell. His first wife Mary Chestnut and his second wife Ann Bowden, as well as one of his grandchildren, predeceased Bill. There will be no funeral. Following cremation, Bill and Ann's ashes will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery, as per their mutual wishes. May Arlington receive them with gentleness and grace.
The family would like to express their gratitude to Dr. Pete Garcia, Internal Medicine; caregivers Naomi Acha, Felicia Hambric, Regina Ugorji, Wendy Hilmer, and Hasna Ahmed; and the staff at Emeritus (formerly Brighton Gardens) for their care of our father. [Published in Austin American-Statesman on September 2, 2011.]
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