Ernest Beaglehole
Encyclopedia
Ernest Beaglehole was a New Zealand psychologist and ethnologist best known for his work in establishing an anthropological baseline for numerous Pacific Island cultures.
and the psychological basis of property. While in London, Beaglehole met Pearl Maslin, a student from Wisconsin. After completing his PhD he was a recipient of the Commonwealth Fund Fellowship which funded his traveling to Yale for post-doctoral research. Pearl later joined him in New Haven and they were married on May 24, 1933. It was at Yale that he met Peter Buck, a Professor at Yale University, who "arranged for the Beagleholes to go to Pukapuka, a remote northern Cook Islands atoll, as part of his comprehensive Pacific island ethnographic survey".
, a noted researcher in his own right. Ernest was awarded a Doctorate in Letters in 1940, and in 1948 he was appointed chair of psychology and philosophy.
He continued his work throughout this period, publishing Some Modern Maoris as a follow-up to his previous work. He completed his scholarship in the field with the 1957 publication of Social Change in the South Pacific. Throughout his works he placed a great deal of emphasis on the facts of native cultures and the fading of these cultures over time.
Beaglehole's expertise was also called into practical use on multiple occasions during the 1950s. Most notably, Beaglehole was one of the primary authors of UNESCO's The Race Question
, an international statement by sociologists about the unscientific and immoral nature of racism
and race theories. He was later called upon by the ILO
in various capacities, initially as a field adviser and leader and later as chairman of the ILO Committee of Experts on Indigenous Labor.
Beaglehole died at the age of 59 in Wellington on October 23, 1965. He was survived by his wife Pearl and their four children.
Early life and education
Beaglehole was born to David Ernest Beaglehole and Jane Butler in Wellington as the first of four children. He attended Mount Cook until he left for Wellington College. He continued on to the Victoria University College, where his abilities first began to receive some notice, and he completed his Masters degree in 1928. He then traveled to London for his PhD work on acquisitivenessAcquisitiveness
Acquisitiveness is a phrenological faculty.-Definition:Acquisitiveness describes the greed to increase one's possessions, to acquire, hoard and save.It can be aimed on material or immaterial fields, depending on the development of other faculties...
and the psychological basis of property. While in London, Beaglehole met Pearl Maslin, a student from Wisconsin. After completing his PhD he was a recipient of the Commonwealth Fund Fellowship which funded his traveling to Yale for post-doctoral research. Pearl later joined him in New Haven and they were married on May 24, 1933. It was at Yale that he met Peter Buck, a Professor at Yale University, who "arranged for the Beagleholes to go to Pukapuka, a remote northern Cook Islands atoll, as part of his comprehensive Pacific island ethnographic survey".
Research and Achievements
Beaglehole's work on Pacific Island cultures produced many books. Following his research in Pukapuka, he published Ethnology of Pukapuka in 1938. He and his wife continued this research, leading to the pulication of Some Modern Hawaiians just a year later. Beaglehole returned to the Victoria University College as a senior lecturer alongside his brother John Cawte BeagleholeJohn Cawte Beaglehole
John Cawte Beaglehole, OM, CMG was a New Zealand historian whose greatest scholastic achievement was the editing of James Cook’s three journals of exploration, together with the writing of an acclaimed biography of Cook, published posthumously...
, a noted researcher in his own right. Ernest was awarded a Doctorate in Letters in 1940, and in 1948 he was appointed chair of psychology and philosophy.
He continued his work throughout this period, publishing Some Modern Maoris as a follow-up to his previous work. He completed his scholarship in the field with the 1957 publication of Social Change in the South Pacific. Throughout his works he placed a great deal of emphasis on the facts of native cultures and the fading of these cultures over time.
Beaglehole's expertise was also called into practical use on multiple occasions during the 1950s. Most notably, Beaglehole was one of the primary authors of UNESCO's The Race Question
The Race Question
The Race Question is the first of four UNESCO statements about issues of race. It was issued on 18 July 1950 following World War II and Nazi racism. The statement was an attempt to clarify what was scientifically known about race and a moral condemnation of racism...
, an international statement by sociologists about the unscientific and immoral nature of racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
and race theories. He was later called upon by the ILO
International Labour Organization
The International Labour Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that deals with labour issues pertaining to international labour standards. Its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland. Its secretariat — the people who are employed by it throughout the world — is known as the...
in various capacities, initially as a field adviser and leader and later as chairman of the ILO Committee of Experts on Indigenous Labor.
Beaglehole died at the age of 59 in Wellington on October 23, 1965. He was survived by his wife Pearl and their four children.
Awards and Honors
- Royal Society of New Zealand
- Hector Memorial Medal and Prize
- Polynesian Society
- British Psychological Society
- American Anthropological Association