Clarence H. Haring
Encyclopedia
Clarence Henry Haring was an important historian of Latin America and the pioneer who initiated the study of South American colonial institutions among scholars in the United States.
in 1907. Selected for a Rhodes Scholarship
in 1907, he studied under Professor Sir Charles Harding Firth
at Oxford University from 1907–1910, where he was a member of New College
. (A great grandson, Whitney Haring-Smith, was himself a Rhodes Scholar, selected in 2007.) Under Firth's guidance, Haring produced his first book on The Buccaneers in the West Indies in the XVII Century. This research laid the groundwork for Haring's life long work on the history of the Spanish Empire and in Latin America. While at Oxford, Haring also studied briefly at the Humboldt University of Berlin
in 1909.
as an instructor in history and began work on his doctoral dissertation on Trade and Navigation between Spain and the Indies in the Time of the Habsburgs under the direction of Professor Roger Merriman. In 1912, while he was still working on his dissertation, Bryn Mawr College
appointed him head of its history department and in 1913, he married Helen Louise Garnsey, with whom he later had two sons, Philip, who was a professor of political science at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, and Peter.
In 1915, Haring went to Clark University
for a year and, in 1916, was appointed to the history faculty at Yale University
, where he remained until 1923. In 1918, after completing extensive research in the archives at Seville, Haring published his doctoral dissertation, which had been awarded the David A. Wells Prize at Harvard for the best dissertation in economics.
In 1923, Harvard University
appointed him Robert Woods Bliss Professor of Latin American History, a post he held until he retired thirty years later in 1953. While at Harvard, he played a key role in the newly emerging field of Latin American studies by serving as chairman of the Committee on Latin America for the American Council of Learned Societies
from 1932 to 1942 and worked on a joint committee on Latin America of the Social Science Research Council
. In 1935, he organized the Bureau of Economic Research at Harvard and, in the same year, served as a delegate to the Second General Assembly of the Pan American Institute for Geography and History.
Appointed professor emeritus at Harvard, the United States Naval War College invited him to take up its chair in maritime history for the academic year 1953-54. While Haring was occupying this academic post, the Secretary of the Navy formally named it, gaving its occupants the title of Ernest J. King Professor of Maritime History
in honor of Fleet Admiral Ernest King
. In 1955, Haring was visiting professor at the University of Puerto Rico
.
After his death in 1960, the American Historical Association
established in his memory the Clarence H. Haring Prize in Latin American History.
• Trade and Navigation between Spain and the Indies in the Time of the Habsburgs (1918)
• South American Progress (1934)
• The Spanish empire in America (1947)
• Empire in Brazil (1958)
Early life and education
The son of a businessman, Henry Getman Haring, and Amelia Stoneback, Clarence Haring received his bachelor of arts degree in modern languages from Harvard UniversityHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1907. Selected for a Rhodes Scholarship
Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as...
in 1907, he studied under Professor Sir Charles Harding Firth
Charles Harding Firth
Sir Charles Harding Firth was a British historian.Born in Sheffield, he was educated at Clifton College and at Balliol College, Oxford...
at Oxford University from 1907–1910, where he was a member of New College
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
. (A great grandson, Whitney Haring-Smith, was himself a Rhodes Scholar, selected in 2007.) Under Firth's guidance, Haring produced his first book on The Buccaneers in the West Indies in the XVII Century. This research laid the groundwork for Haring's life long work on the history of the Spanish Empire and in Latin America. While at Oxford, Haring also studied briefly at the Humboldt University of Berlin
Humboldt University of Berlin
The Humboldt University of Berlin is Berlin's oldest university, founded in 1810 as the University of Berlin by the liberal Prussian educational reformer and linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt, whose university model has strongly influenced other European and Western universities...
in 1909.
Academic career
In 1910, Haring returned to Harvard UniversityHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
as an instructor in history and began work on his doctoral dissertation on Trade and Navigation between Spain and the Indies in the Time of the Habsburgs under the direction of Professor Roger Merriman. In 1912, while he was still working on his dissertation, Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr College is a women's liberal arts college located in Bryn Mawr, a community in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, ten miles west of Philadelphia. The name "Bryn Mawr" means "big hill" in Welsh....
appointed him head of its history department and in 1913, he married Helen Louise Garnsey, with whom he later had two sons, Philip, who was a professor of political science at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, and Peter.
In 1915, Haring went to Clark University
Clark University
Clark University is a private research university and liberal arts college in Worcester, Massachusetts.Founded in 1887, it is the oldest educational institution founded as an all-graduate university. Clark now also educates undergraduates...
for a year and, in 1916, was appointed to the history faculty at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, where he remained until 1923. In 1918, after completing extensive research in the archives at Seville, Haring published his doctoral dissertation, which had been awarded the David A. Wells Prize at Harvard for the best dissertation in economics.
In 1923, Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
appointed him Robert Woods Bliss Professor of Latin American History, a post he held until he retired thirty years later in 1953. While at Harvard, he played a key role in the newly emerging field of Latin American studies by serving as chairman of the Committee on Latin America for the American Council of Learned Societies
American Council of Learned Societies
The American Council of Learned Societies , founded in 1919, is a private nonprofit federation of seventy scholarly organizations.ACLS is best known as a funder of humanities research through fellowships and grants awards. ACLS Fellowships are designed to permit scholars holding the Ph.D...
from 1932 to 1942 and worked on a joint committee on Latin America of the Social Science Research Council
Social Science Research Council
The Social Science Research Council is a U.S.-based independent nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing research in the social sciences and related disciplines...
. In 1935, he organized the Bureau of Economic Research at Harvard and, in the same year, served as a delegate to the Second General Assembly of the Pan American Institute for Geography and History.
Appointed professor emeritus at Harvard, the United States Naval War College invited him to take up its chair in maritime history for the academic year 1953-54. While Haring was occupying this academic post, the Secretary of the Navy formally named it, gaving its occupants the title of Ernest J. King Professor of Maritime History
Ernest J. King Professor of Maritime History
In May 1948, the President of the Naval War College Admiral Raymond Spruance recommended a plan to establish a civilian professorship of maritime history at the Naval War College. Approved by Secretary of the Navy John L. Sullivan on 29 December 1948, the post was not filled “for lack of funds”...
in honor of Fleet Admiral Ernest King
Ernest King
Fleet Admiral Ernest Joseph King was Commander in Chief, United States Fleet and Chief of Naval Operations during World War II. As COMINCH, he directed the United States Navy's operations, planning, and administration and was a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was the U.S...
. In 1955, Haring was visiting professor at the University of Puerto Rico
University of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
.
After his death in 1960, the American Historical Association
American Historical Association
The American Historical Association is the oldest and largest society of historians and professors of history in the United States. Founded in 1884, the association promotes historical studies, the teaching of history, and the preservation of and access to historical materials...
established in his memory the Clarence H. Haring Prize in Latin American History.
Published works
• The Buccaneers in the West Indies in the XVII Century (1910)• Trade and Navigation between Spain and the Indies in the Time of the Habsburgs (1918)
• South American Progress (1934)
• The Spanish empire in America (1947)
• Empire in Brazil (1958)