Gass Biography
William Howard Gass was born in Fargo, North Dakota, in July 1924. He earned his undergraduate degree from Keynon College in 1947 and his PhD in philosophy from Cornell University in 1954 (Dissertation: “A Philosophical Investigation of Metaphor”). Gass taught philosophy at Purdue University before moving to Washington University in St. Louis, where he was a professor of philosophy (1969 - 1978) and the David May Distinguished University Professor in the Humanities (1979 - 1999). He also founded and directed the university’s International Writers Center (1990 - 2000). Upon Gass’ retirement from teaching in 2000, he became the David May Distinguished University Professor Emeritus in the Humanities. He lives in St. Louis, Missouri, with his wife, the architect Mary Henderson Gass.
- Wikipedia entry
- New York Review of Books entry
- Washington University Gass Papers entry
- Washington University Library Artwork entry
- Library Thing page
- Goodreads page
- St. Louis Walk of Fame entry
- Indiana’s Our Land, Our Literature entry
- Lannan Foundation entry
- New York Times entry
llustration by Charles Burns! for The Believer. Used with permission.