Þór Whitehead
Encyclopedia
Þór Whitehead (born August 19, 1943) is an Iceland
ic historian. He is currently a professor at the University of Iceland
.
Whitehead has written extensively on the history of Iceland
during World War II
and the Cold War
. His best known work is the multi-volume series "Ísland í síðari heimsstyrjöld" ("Iceland in the Second World War"). He has also written about other episodes in Icelandic history
, such as the Icelandic government's rejection of Jewish refugees during the war, and the racist
policies of banning black soldiers from the American-garrisoned Naval Air Station Keflavik
.
degree from the University of Iceland, an MA
from the University of Georgia
and his Dr. Phil
from Oxford University.
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic historian. He is currently a professor at the University of Iceland
University of Iceland
The University of Iceland is a public research university in Reykjavík, Iceland, and the country's oldest and largest institution of higher education. Founded in 1911, it has grown steadily from a small civil servants' school to a modern comprehensive university, providing instruction for about...
.
Whitehead has written extensively on the history of Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
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 the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
. His best known work is the multi-volume series "Ísland í síðari heimsstyrjöld" ("Iceland in the Second World War"). He has also written about other episodes in Icelandic history
History of Iceland
-Early history:In geological terms, Iceland is a young island. It started to form about 20 million years ago from a series of volcanic eruptions on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge...
, such as the Icelandic government's rejection of Jewish refugees during the war, and the racist
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...
policies of banning black soldiers from the American-garrisoned Naval Air Station Keflavik
Naval Air Station Keflavik
United States Naval Air Station Keflavik is a former NATO facility at Keflavík International Airport, Iceland. It is located on the Reykjanes peninsula on the south-west portion of the island...
.
Education
Whitehead received a BABachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from the University of Iceland, an MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
from the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
and his Dr. Phil
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
from Oxford University.
Academic career
- Research lecturer, University of Iceland, 1978–1981
- Professor of history, University of Iceland, Reykjavík , Iceland, 1981-
- Director, Institute of History, University of Iceland, 1983–1985
- Fulbright Research Fellow and Visiting Scholar, School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, Washington, DC, United States, 1986
- Humboldt Fellow, Militärgeschichtliches Forschungsamt der Bundeswehr, Freiburg, Germany, 1986–1988
- Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Iceland, 1989–1991
- Visiting Research Professor, Université Paul-Valéry, Montpellier III, Montpellier, France, 1992–1993
- Chairman, Department of History, 1994–1995
- Humboldt Fellow, Militärgeschichtliches Forschungsamt der Bundeswehr, Freiburg, Germany, 1996–1997
- Visiting Research Professor, Université Paul-Valéry, Montpellier III, Montpellier, France, 2002–2003, 2005–2006,
- Chairman, Department of History and Archaeology, University of Iceland 2006-2007