[5] In September 1897 he became an instructor at Princeton University, and in December he married Mary Ellen Hale.

He oversaw the acquisition of a new site for the campus, the initial architectural planning, the development of the curriculum, and the recruitment of faculty and students.

Additionally, Lovett went on a world tour to study the workings of universities and technological institutes in Europe and Japan.

[7] Lovett announced his retirement from Rice in 1941, but stayed on through World War II, finally resigning on March 1, 1946.

[10] 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.

[12][13] Henry Malcolm Lovett graduated from Rice and then obtained a law degree from Harvard University.