John H. Kemble
Encyclopedia
John Haskell Kemble was a professor of History at Pomona College
and an influential American maritime historian.
. He received his bachelor of arts degree at Stanford University
in 1933, his master's degree and Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley
in 1934 and 1937.
, where he remained for his entire career. He was promoted to full professor in 1951 and appointed professor emeritus in 1977.
During World War II, he served in the United States Navy
from 1941 to 1946, rising to the rank of lieutenant commander in the Naval Reserve.
Kemball was a Rockefeller Fellow, 1947-48; Visiting lecturer in history at the University of California, Los Angeles
, 1948-49. In 1952-53, he held the academic post at the Naval War College
, which the following year was named the Ernest J. King Professor of Maritime History
. He was a Guggenheim Fellow in 1956-57. In 1967, he was visiting professor of history at the University of Texas.
Kemball served as secretary-treasurer of the Pacific Coast branch of the American Historical Association
in 1941-42 and 1945-49. In addition, he was a member of the California Historical Resources Commission in 1976-79. He served as president of the Historical Society of Southern California in 1967-70. A founding member of the North American Society for Oceanic History
, he served as a vice president from 1975 to 1990. He served as a member of the Secretary of the Navy's Advisory Committee on Naval History, from 1961.
A close associate of Professor Robert G. Albion
, Kemble was one of the original faculty members of the Frank C. Munson Institute of American Maritime History
at Mystic Seaport
, where Kemble House is named for him.
He died on 19 February 1990 and his papers were deposited at the Huntington Library.
Pomona College
Pomona College is a private, residential, liberal arts college in Claremont, California. Founded in 1887 in Pomona, California by a group of Congregationalists, the college moved to Claremont in 1889 to the site of a hotel, retaining its name. The school enrolls 1,548 students.The founding member...
and an influential American maritime historian.
Early life and education
The son of Ira Oscar Kemball and his wife, Caroline Haskell, John Haskell Kemble was born on 17 June 1912 in Marshalltown, IowaMarshalltown, Iowa
Marshalltown is a city in and the county seat of Marshall County, Iowa, United States. The population was 27,552 in the 2010 census, an increase from the 26,009 population in the 2000 census. -History:...
. He received his bachelor of arts degree at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1933, his master's degree and Ph.D. 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...
in 1934 and 1937.
Academic career
In 1937, he joined the faculty at Pomona CollegePomona College
Pomona College is a private, residential, liberal arts college in Claremont, California. Founded in 1887 in Pomona, California by a group of Congregationalists, the college moved to Claremont in 1889 to the site of a hotel, retaining its name. The school enrolls 1,548 students.The founding member...
, where he remained for his entire career. He was promoted to full professor in 1951 and appointed professor emeritus in 1977.
During World War II, he 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...
from 1941 to 1946, rising to the rank of lieutenant commander in the Naval Reserve.
Kemball was a Rockefeller Fellow, 1947-48; Visiting lecturer in history at the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
, 1948-49. In 1952-53, he held the academic post at the Naval War College
Naval War College
The Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
, which the following year was named the 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”...
. He was a Guggenheim Fellow in 1956-57. In 1967, he was visiting professor of history at the University of Texas.
Kemball served as secretary-treasurer of the Pacific Coast branch of 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...
in 1941-42 and 1945-49. In addition, he was a member of the California Historical Resources Commission in 1976-79. He served as president of the Historical Society of Southern California in 1967-70. A founding member of the North American Society for Oceanic History
North American Society for Oceanic History
The North American Society for Oceanic History is the national organization in the United States of America for professional historians, underwater archeologists, archivists, librarians, museum specialists and others working in the broad field of maritime history...
, he served as a vice president from 1975 to 1990. He served as a member of the Secretary of the Navy's Advisory Committee on Naval History, from 1961.
A close associate of Professor Robert G. Albion
Robert G. Albion
Robert G. Albion was Harvard's first professor of Oceanic History and inspired two generations of maritime historians in the United States...
, Kemble was one of the original faculty members of the Frank C. Munson Institute of American Maritime History
Frank C. Munson Institute of American Maritime History
The Frank C. Munson Institute of American Maritime History was established at Mystic Seaport, Connecticut, in 1955 to provide graduate-level summer courses in maritime history. The name was later changed to the Munson Institute of Maritime Studies, to include literature and other aspects in the...
at Mystic Seaport
Mystic Seaport
Mystic Seaport, the Museum of America and the Sea, in Mystic, Connecticut, is notable both for its collection of sailing ships and boats, and for the re-creation of crafts and fabric of an entire 19th century seafaring village...
, where Kemble House is named for him.
He died on 19 February 1990 and his papers were deposited at the Huntington Library.
Published works
- The Panama Route, 1848-1869 (1943)
- San Francisco Bay: A Pictorial Maritime History, (1957)
- Journal of a Cruise to California and the Sandwich Islands, 1841-1844 by William D. Myers, edited by J.H. Kemball (1955)
- Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana Junior, edited by J.H. Kemball (1964)
- To California and the South Seas: The Diary of Albert G. Osbun, 1849-1851 edited by J.H. Kemball (1966)
- Sketches of California and Hawaii, 1842-1843 by William H. Meyers, edited by J.H. Kemball (1970)
- A Naval Campaign in the Californias, 1846-1849 edited by J.H. Kemball