Jack Tobin (anthropologist)
Encyclopedia
Jack Adair Tobin, Ph.D.
(June 15, 1920 – June 19, 2010) was an American
anthropologist who devoted much of his life to the people of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
Tobin served in the United States Navy
during World War II
and was a survivor of the Attack on Pearl Harbor
on December 7, 1941. He enrolled at the University of Hawaii
following the end of World War II, earning a bachelor's degree
in anthropology
. He studied under Dr. Leonard Mason, a leading specialist on Micronesia
, who instilled Tobin's interest in the Marshall Islands
.
In the early 1950s, Tobin attended a research trip to Arno Atoll
. He became a district anthropologist for the Marshall Islands, then part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
, shortly after the Arno research trip. He left the Marshalls and completed his doctorate
in anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley
. He returned to the Marshall Islands, where he worked as a community development officer.
Tobin moved to Honolulu, Hawaii
, upon his retirement. In 2002, he released his best known book, Stories from the Marshall Islands.
Jack Tobin died in Honolulu on June 18, 2010.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
(June 15, 1920 – June 19, 2010) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
anthropologist who devoted much of his life to the people of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
Tobin served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and was a survivor of the Attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
on December 7, 1941. He enrolled at the University of Hawaii
University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
following the end of World War II, earning a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
. He studied under Dr. Leonard Mason, a leading specialist on Micronesia
Micronesia
Micronesia is a subregion of Oceania, comprising thousands of small islands in the western Pacific Ocean. It is distinct from Melanesia to the south, and Polynesia to the east. The Philippines lie to the west, and Indonesia to the southwest....
, who instilled Tobin's interest in the Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
.
In the early 1950s, Tobin attended a research trip to Arno Atoll
Arno Atoll
Arno Atoll is a coral atoll of 133 islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district of the Ratak Chain of the Marshall Islands. Its total land area is only . Unlike most other atolls, Arno encloses three different lagoons, a large central one, and two smaller ones in the north and...
. He became a district anthropologist for the Marshall Islands, then part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
The Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands was a United Nations trust territory in Micronesia administered by the United States from 1947 to 1986.-History:...
, shortly after the Arno research trip. He left the Marshalls and completed his doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
. He returned to the Marshall Islands, where he worked as a community development officer.
Tobin moved to Honolulu, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, upon his retirement. In 2002, he released his best known book, Stories from the Marshall Islands.
Jack Tobin died in Honolulu on June 18, 2010.