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Hogbin, Herbert Ian Priestley (1904 - 1989)

Archival/Heritage SourcesPublished Sources
Anthropologist
Born: 17 December 1904  Bawtry, Yorkshire, England.  Died: 2 August 1989  Potts Point, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Herbert Ian P. Hogbin was born Herbert William Hogbin but changed his name by deed poll in 1926. As an anthropologist, Hogbin went on many expeditions including Rennell Is. (1927), Ontong-Java (1928-29), Malaita (1933), Guadalcanal (1933) and New Guinea (1934-35, 1946-50). Herbert Hogbin was Reader in Anthropology at the University of Sydney (1948-69) and a Professorial Fellow at Macquarie University (1970-79).

Career Highlights
Alternative Names: Hogbin, Herbert William (Birth name)
Herbert Ian Priestly Hogbin (then legally known as Herbert William Hogbin) migrated to Australia with his family when he was still quite young. After completing his schooling, Hogbin graduated with double Honours in English and Geography at the University of Sydney (1926). The following year Hogbin was assisting A.R. Radcliff-Brown in his expeditions to Rennell Island and Ontaga-Java. He also completed a Diploma of Education in that year. This was followed by a Masters of Arts in anthropology (sociology and linguistics) and a trip to London as part of his Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship to complete a Doctor of Philosophy (Anthropology) at the London School of Economics. His dissertation was published in 1934 as Law and Order in Polynesia.

Hogbin returned to Australia in 1931, and took up the post of acting anthropology lecturer at the University of Sydney. However Hogbin actually spent most of the following 3 years conducting field studies in Melanesia (Malaita and Guadalcanal) and in New Guinea (Wogeo). He resigned from the University in 1933, but was offered a permanent lectureship in 1936. His teaching was put on hold during the war years.

In 1942 Herbert Hogbin was appointed to the Prime Minister’s Committee on National Morale where his investigations included the effects of troops on civilian life. The following year saw Hogbin work as an adviser to the British Solomons Government. There he was directed to help the Solomon Islands and their people rehabilitate after the war and was appointed a Captain in the British Solomons Islands Defence Force. In 1944 the Australian Imperial Forces enlisted Hogbin as an assistant to the Research Directorate and made him a lieutenant-colonel.

Once his war duties were over, Hogbin retuned to the anthropology department at the University of Sydney (1946) and was promoted to Reader. He continued his field work until 1950 and retired from the University in 1970. He then began lecturing at Macquarie University, a position he held for a further ten years. During this time he also served as an External Examiner for the University of Papua-New Guinea. Throughout his career, Herbert Hogbin published many reports, articles and books which contributed greatly to the field of anthropology

Contributors: We would like to thank Geoffrey Gray, Terry Beavan and the University of Sydney Archives for information and references they have provided for this entry.

Chronology
1914Migrated to Australia with his family
1926Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)) completed at the Unviersity of Sydney
1927Diploma of Education (DipEd) completed at the University of Sydney
1927Anthropological expedition to Rennell Island in the South Pacific
1928Master of Arts (MA) completed at the University of Sydney
1928 - 1929Anthropological research expedition to Ongtong-Java
1931Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) completed at the University of London
1931 - 1932Acting Lecturer in Anthropology at the University of Sydney
1933Anthropological research expedition to Guadalcanal and Malaita
1934 - 1935Anthropological research expedition to New Guinea
1936 - 1948Lecturer in Anthropology at the University of Sydney
1942Member of the Committee on National Morale, Australia
1943Advisor and Capatin in the British Solomons Islands Defence Force
1944Wellcome Medal received
1944 - 1946Advisor and Member of the Research Directorate of the Australian Defence Forces
1946 - 1950Anthropological research expedition to New Guinea
1948 - 1949Fellow of the Australian National University
1948 - 1969Reader in Anthropology at the University of Sydney
1971Anthropological Editor of the Encyclopaedia of Papua New Guinea

 

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Structure based on ISAAR(CPF) - click here for an explanation of the fields.Prepared by: McCarthy, G.J.
Created: 20 October 1993
Modified: 7 August 2006

Published by The University of Melbourne eScholarship Research Centre on ASAPWeb, 1994 - 2007
Originally published 1994-1999 by Australian Science Archives Project, 1999-2006 by the Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre
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Updated: 26 February 2007
http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs/biogs/P002068b.htm

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