William Rice (1821–1897) was a Methodist Episcopal minister, author, and from 1861 to his death in 1897, the President and Executive Director of the Springfield City Library Association.

William Rice II studied in the Springfield public schools and at Wilbraham Wesleyan Academy, graduating in 1840.

He received a Master of Arts from Wesleyan University in 1853, and was elected an honorary member of the Eclectic Society in 1857.

[5] The Reverend Rice began to suffer from chronic laryngitis, which made preaching every week very difficult, and he returned to Springfield in 1857.

[8] In 1880, he returned to the Bromfield Street Church, where he was minister 1854-55 to give a benediction at a special service.

In 1888, he read scripture at an anniversary celebration for the American Sunday School Union in Springfield.

[11] In 1895, he gave a prayer and read a paper on Jewish literature at a meeting of the Connecticut River Valley Theological Club at the Massasoit House in Springfield.

[15] Rice was a member of the American Historical Association, and he cultivated the museums surrounding the library to educate the public.

As part of these efforts, he served as vice president of the Connecticut Valley Historical Society.

In 1887, he accompanied former Massachusetts Governor George D. Robinson at the commencement exercises, where he gave a speech.

Edward Hyde earned a doctorate degree, and was a principle of multiple high schools before an early death in 1895.

[4] His funeral and memorial services were held at Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church in Springfield, where the family had a long association.