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 J. Dodd, Thomas Dodd of Connecticut. In 1957 he was hired by William Benton (senator), 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 of the Encyclopædia Britannica, 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 ''Encyclopædia 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.

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* From ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' Online. * From ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' Online.
Short biographical sketch of Warren Preece
from the Davidson Library, Donald C. Davidson Library, at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
''New York Times'' obituary
{{DEFAULTSORT:Preece, Warren E. Contributors to the Encyclopædia Britannica American book editors Writers from Norwalk, Connecticut 1921 births 2007 deaths Dartmouth College alumni Columbia University alumni American people of Welsh descent United States Army personnel of World War II American expatriates in the Philippines

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