Lyle Stanton "Stan" Shelmidine (1906-1966) was a popular and highly respected professor of Near and Far East History at the College of Puget Sound (now University of Puget Sound), in Tacoma, Washington, 1936-1966. He also served as Chair of the History Department. Shelmidine was an acknowledged expert on Near Eastern history and Islamic studies. He authored many articles, speeches and papers on history and world affairs. He maintained a lifelong interest in Turkey and was acquainted with Kemal Ataturk and other Turkish notables.
He was the originator of the idea for the Brown & Haley Lecture Series at the University. Shelmidine was a member of the Tacoma Philharmonic Board, the Tacoma Art League, Tacoma Drama League, English Speaking Union and the World Affairs Council.
Shelmidine was born in Spencer, Iowa, earned a bachelor's degree from Grinnell College (1930) and a master's degree and PhD (1939) from University of Iowa. He was instructor in history and English at the American College in Tarsus, Turkey. with the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. While teaching in Turkey, he was employed by the Methodist Mission Board. He also studied Islamic subjects at Princeton University. Shelmidine was also a visiting professor at the University of Washington, the University of Montana, and the University of Puerto Rico.
During World War II, Shelmidine served as a Commander in the United States Navy as an Executive Officer on the Island of Midway. He also served an assignment in the Intelligence Service in Turkey. He was involved in writing a military history of World War II.
From the guide to the Lyle S. Shelmidine Papers, 1936-1966, (University of Puget Sound Archives)
