William Bruce Lincoln grew up was in Suffield, Connecticut. In 1960, he earned his bachelor of arts degree from the College of William & Mary, a public research university in Williamsburg, Virginia. He continued to receive a Doctor of Philosophy in Russian history from the University of Chicago in 1966.

In 1967 Bruce joined the faculty of Northern Illinois University, where he taught Russian history until his retirement. He authored 12 books during his time at NIU. Several became featured book club adoptions. Some of his books sold more than 100,000 copies. Bruce published more than 50 articles and reviews and received many research grants and awards, including a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1982. He was considered one of the nation's top Russian scholars. 

On April 9, 2000, W. Bruce Lincoln passed away due to complications related to cancer. With memorial contributions, his family created the W. Bruce Lincoln Memorial Fund. The Fund is a Donor Advised Fund at the DeKalb County Community Foundation and makes annual grants that align with his charitable interests. The memory of Bruce lives on through this Fund and creates a lasting legacy of love and support for the community.