Edgar Odell Lovett
Encyclopedia
Edgar Odell Lovett was an American educator and education administrator.
He was the first president of Rice Institute (now Rice University
) in Houston, Texas. Lovett was recommended to the post by Woodrow Wilson
, then president of Princeton University
.
, to Zephania and Maria Elizabeth (née Spreng) Lovett. After graduating from Shreve High School, he earned his B.A. at Bethany College
in Bethany, West Virginia
, in 1890. Lovett taught and studied at West Kentucky College, in Mayfield, Kentucky
, and completed his first doctorate degree at the University of Virginia
in 1895. He completed his second doctorate in mathematics under the instruction of Sophus Lie
at the University of Leipzig
. In 1897, Lovett lectured at Johns Hopkins University
, the University of Virginia, and the University of Chicago
. In September 1897 he became an instructor at Princeton University, and in December he married Mary Ellen Hale. Mary Ellen was the daughter of the founder and head of West Kentucky College and the two met while he was there from 1890 to 1892 (Mary Ellen graduated from West Kentucky in 1892). He worked his way from instructor to assistant professor of mathematics (1898), professor (1900), and finally the head of the Department of Mathematics and Astronomy at Princeton (1908).
He announced his retirement from Rice in 1941, but stayed on through World War II, and finally resigned in 1946. He was succeeded by William Vermilion Houston.
Mary Ellen became homebound with severe arthritis and rarely left their residence at the Plaza Hotel in Houston from 1929 until her death in 1952. Lovett died in 1957 at Houston hospital after a two week illness, and is buried at Glenwood Cemetery
in Houston, Texas.
Adelaide graduated from Rice Institute, the went to study at the Sorbonne
in Pairs, her mother stayed in Paris with her. In 1922 she earned her diplome de la Sorbonne, and returned to Houston. Later that year she married Walter Browne "W." Baker (son of James A. Baker and brother of James A. Baker, Jr.), a prominent Houston banker (he was awarded the Department of the Navy's Distinguished Civilian Service for his service during World War II in managing the purchasing of equipment for the Navy). Adelaide was a co-founder and first president of the Houston Junior League in 1924.
Henry Malcolm graduated from Rice and then obtained a law degree from Harvard University
. After returning to Houston he joined the law firm of Baker & Botts
(Baker, Botts, Parker & Garwood, now Baker Botts) in 1924 (with James A. Baker, Jr., father of James Addison Baker, III
), and served as chairman of the Rice University board of trustees 1967 to 1973, and on the Board of Advisors of Harvard Law School from 1965 to 1971. Henry and his wife Martha Wicks set up the Henry Malcolm Lovett Endowment Fund for the Fondren Library and the Martha and Henry Malcolm Lovett Distinguished Service Professor of Musicology at Rice.
Lovett Boulevard in SW Houston which runs from Taft Street west to just south of Westheimer Road was named in his honor.
He was the first president of Rice Institute (now Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
) in Houston, Texas. Lovett was recommended to the post by Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
, then president of Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
.
Early life and career
Lovett was born in Shreve, OhioShreve, Ohio
Shreve is a village in Wayne County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,582 at the 2000 census. Shreve is served by a branch of the Wayne County Public Library.-Geography:Shreve is located at ....
, to Zephania and Maria Elizabeth (née Spreng) Lovett. After graduating from Shreve High School, he earned his B.A. at Bethany College
Bethany College (West Virginia)
Bethany College is a private liberal arts college located in Bethany, West Virginia, United States. Founded in 1840, Bethany is the oldest institution of Higher Education in West Virginia.-Location:...
in Bethany, West Virginia
Bethany, West Virginia
Bethany is a town in Brooke County, West Virginia, United States. It is part of the Weirton–Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 985 at the 2000 census. The Town of Bethany is home to Bethany College.-History:...
, in 1890. Lovett taught and studied at West Kentucky College, in Mayfield, Kentucky
Mayfield, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 10,349 people, 4,358 households, and 2,667 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,549.8 people per square mile . There were 4,907 housing units at an average density of 734.8 per square mile...
, and completed his first doctorate degree at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
in 1895. He completed his second doctorate in mathematics under the instruction of Sophus Lie
Sophus Lie
Marius Sophus Lie was a Norwegian mathematician. He largely created the theory of continuous symmetry, and applied it to the study of geometry and differential equations.- Biography :...
at the University of Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
. In 1897, Lovett lectured at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
, the University of Virginia, and the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
. In September 1897 he became an instructor at Princeton University, and in December he married Mary Ellen Hale. Mary Ellen was the daughter of the founder and head of West Kentucky College and the two met while he was there from 1890 to 1892 (Mary Ellen graduated from West Kentucky in 1892). He worked his way from instructor to assistant professor of mathematics (1898), professor (1900), and finally the head of the Department of Mathematics and Astronomy at Princeton (1908).
He announced his retirement from Rice in 1941, but stayed on through World War II, and finally resigned in 1946. He was succeeded by William Vermilion Houston.
Family
Lovett and his wife would have two daughters, Adelaide (b.October 27, 1898) and Ellen Kennedy (1905–1906) and two sons Henry Malcolm (January 2, 1902 – June 11, 1997) and Laurence Alexander (b.1911).Mary Ellen became homebound with severe arthritis and rarely left their residence at the Plaza Hotel in Houston from 1929 until her death in 1952. Lovett died in 1957 at Houston hospital after a two week illness, and is buried at Glenwood Cemetery
Glenwood Cemetery (Houston, Texas)
The Glenwood Cemetery is located at 2525 Washington Avenue in Houston, Texas. It was the first cemetery in Houston to be professionally designed and opened in 1871. The cemetery is situated between Washington Avenue on the North side and Memorial Drive on the South side, the latter overlooking...
in Houston, Texas.
Adelaide graduated from Rice Institute, the went to study at the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
in Pairs, her mother stayed in Paris with her. In 1922 she earned her diplome de la Sorbonne, and returned to Houston. Later that year she married Walter Browne "W." Baker (son of James A. Baker and brother of James A. Baker, Jr.), a prominent Houston banker (he was awarded the Department of the Navy's Distinguished Civilian Service for his service during World War II in managing the purchasing of equipment for the Navy). Adelaide was a co-founder and first president of the Houston Junior League in 1924.
Henry Malcolm graduated from Rice and then obtained a law degree from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. After returning to Houston he joined the law firm of Baker & Botts
Baker Botts
Baker Botts L.L.P. is a major United States-based international law firm of around 800 attorneys, with a long, prominent history, significant political connections, boasting more than half of the Fortune 100 companies among its clients. Headquartered in One Shell Plaza in Downtown Houston, Texas,...
(Baker, Botts, Parker & Garwood, now Baker Botts) in 1924 (with James A. Baker, Jr., father of James Addison Baker, III
James Baker
James Addison Baker, III is an American attorney, politician and political advisor.Baker served as the Chief of Staff in President Ronald Reagan's first administration and in the final year of the administration of President George H. W. Bush...
), and served as chairman of the Rice University board of trustees 1967 to 1973, and on the Board of Advisors of Harvard Law School from 1965 to 1971. Henry and his wife Martha Wicks set up the Henry Malcolm Lovett Endowment Fund for the Fondren Library and the Martha and Henry Malcolm Lovett Distinguished Service Professor of Musicology at Rice.
Lovett Boulevard in SW Houston which runs from Taft Street west to just south of Westheimer Road was named in his honor.