It is with profound sadness that I send this message to members of several
lists with the news of the sudden death of William J. Gilmore-Lehne. Bill
Gilmore died Friday morning at home where he suffered a massive heart
attack. His wife, Lisa, called AAS President, Ellen Dunlap, at mid-day,
and Ellen informed the staff and research fellows of this shocking news.
AAS was Bill's academic home for several decades, where he did his
research, or as he would say, where he pursued "knowledge". Bill is best
known as the author of one of the seminal works in the field of
American book history, _Reading Becomes a Necessity of Life: Material and
Cultural Life in Rural New England, 1780-1835_ (Knoxville: Univ. of
Tennessee Press, 1989).
Bill received his Ph.D. from the University of Virginia in 1971 with a
disseration on Orestes A. Brownson and New England religious culture.
He was born in 1945 and died too soon. I do not have details on his
funeral or a possible memorial service but will post further information
as it becomes available.
Joanne D. Chaison *********************************
Research Librarian * email: jdc@mwa.org *
American Antiquarian Society * phone: (508) 755-5221 *
185 Salisbury Street * fax: (508) 753-3311 *
Worcester, Mass. 01609 *********************************