Starr, Frederick, 1858-1933

Starr was born in Auburn, NY, Sept. 2, 1858; graduated from Lafayette College in 1882, and received his Ph. D in 1885; professor of biology, Coe College, 1883-87; Curator of Ethnology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, 1889-91; professor and Dean of the Science Dept., Pomona College, 1891; assoc. professor, Univ. of Chicago, 1895-1923; publications related to Mexico include: Some first steps in human progress (1895), American Indians (1898), Indians of Southern Mexico (1898), Readings from modern Mexican authors (1904), and In Indian Mexico (1908); died Aug. 14, 1933.

From the description of Collection of material relating to Mexico, 1860-1930. (University of California, Los Angeles). WorldCat record id: 38514977

Anthropologist, author, editor, and educator.

From the description of Frederick Starr papers, 1927-circa 1930. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70980525

Alumnus, Class of 1882.

From the description of Mexican papers. 1900-1921. (Lafayette College). WorldCat record id: 52850984

From the description of [Articles, book reviews, etc.]. 1918-1920. (Lafayette College). WorldCat record id: 52968550

From the description of Congo Free State. 1908-1909. (Lafayette College). WorldCat record id: 52733817

From the description of [Anthropology]. 1894-1920. (Lafayette College). WorldCat record id: 52933078

From the description of [Miscellaneous]. 1888-1925. (Lafayette College). WorldCat record id: 52968625

African American anthropologist, college teacher, and author.

From the description of Frederick Starr collection, 1906-1928. (Moorland-Spingarn Resource Center). WorldCat record id: 70941302

Anthropologist. S.B., Lafayette College, 1882; S.M. and Ph. D., 1885. Professor of biological sciences, Coe College, 1884-87. Head, Department of Ethnology, American Museum of Natural History, 1889-91. Assistant professor of anthropology, University of Chicago, 1892-95; associate professor, 1895-1923. Curator of the anthropological section, Walker Museum, University of Chicago, 1895-1923.

From the description of Papers, 1868-1935 (inclusive), 1892-1923 (bulk). (University of Chicago Library). WorldCat record id: 52250118

Frederick Starr (1858-1933) was an American anthropologist and ethnologist. He taught biology at Coe College and geography at Chautauqua University and worked as a classifier in the Dept. of Ethnology at the American Museum of Natural History. In 1891 he taught geology and anthropology at Pomona College and the following year organized the Anthropology Dept. at the University of Chicago where he taught until his retirement in 1923.

From the guide to the Frederick Starr papers, 1833-1925, 1920-1925, (The New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division.)

Frederick Starr (1858-1933) was professor of anthropology at the University of Chicago from 1892 until his retirement in 1923. Starr was born in Auburn, New York, the fourth son of a Presbyterian minister. He was educated at the University of Rochester and received a Ph.D. in geology from Lafayette College in 1885. He served in various academic posts including registrar and professor of geography at Chautauqua where he became acquainted with William Rainey Harper. In 1892, Harper asked Starr to help organize a program in anthropology at the new University of Chicago. Starr taught anthropology in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology under the leadership of Head Professor Albion W. Small. He was an active and popular lecturer throughout his tenure at the University, combining a heavy teaching load with extensive travel. He also served as curator of the Walker Museum from 1895 until retirement. Starr's reputation was not based on his scholarship, but on a popular and controversial lecture style which did much to create an interest in the study of culture. Fay-Cooper Cole, Starr's successor at the University, praised him in the Dictionary of American Biography for "The wide interest he personally created in the subject of anthropology, and the appreciation of other peoples which he engendered in his students." Starr retired from active teaching in 1923 His students gave him a sum of money, which he used to buy a house in Seattle. Starr remained active during the last ten years of his life, making a number of trips to the Orient and lecturing throughout the western United States. He died in Tokyo of bronchial pneumonia in August 1933.

From the guide to the Starr, Frederick. Liberian Research Collection, 1792-1914, (Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library 1100 East 57th Street Chicago, Illinois 60637 U.S.A.)

Frederick Starr (1858-1933) was an American anthropologist and ethnologist.

He taught biology at Coe College and geography at Chautauqua University and worked as a classifier in the Dept. of Ethnology at the American Museum of Natural History. In 1891 he taught geology and anthropology at Pomona College and the following year organized the Anthropology Dept. at the University of Chicago where he taught until his retirement in 1923.

From the description of Frederick Starr papers, 1833-1925, bulk (1920-1925). (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122408383

Biography

Starr was born in Auburn, New York, September 2, 1858; graduated from Lafayette College in 1882, and received his Ph.D in 1885; professor of biology, Coe College, 1883-87; Curator of Ethnology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, 1889-91; professor and Dean of the Science Department, Pomona College, 1891; associate professor, University of Chicago, 1895-1923; publications related to Mexico include: Some first steps in human progress (1895), American Indians (1898), Indians of Southern Mexico (1898), Readings from modern Mexican authors (1904), and In Indian Mexico (1908); died August 14, 1933.

From the guide to the Frederick Starr collection of material relating to Mexico, 1860-1930, (University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.)

Frederick Starr (1858-1933) was professor of anthropology at the University of Chicago from 1892 until his retirement in 1923. Starr was born in Auburn, New York, the fourth son of a Presbyterian minister. He was educated at the University of Rochester and received a Ph.D. in geology from Lafayette College in 1885. He served in various academic posts including registrar and professor of geography at Chautauqua where he became acquainted with William Rainey Harper.

In 1892, Harper asked Starr to help organize a program in anthropology at the new University of Chicago. Starr taught anthropology in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology under the leadership of Head Professor Albion W. Small. He was an active and popular lecturer throughout his tenure at the University, combining a heavy teaching load with extensive travel. He also served as curator of the Walker Museum from 1895 until retirement.

Starr's reputation was not based on his scholarship, but on a popular and controversial lecture style which did much to create an interest in the study of culture. Fay-Cooper Cole, Starr's successor at the University, praised him in the Dictionary of American Biography for "The wide interest he personally created in the subject of anthropology, and the appreciation of other peoples which he engendered in his students." Starr retired from active teaching in 1923. His students gave him a sum of money, which he used to buy a house in Seattle. Starr remained active during the last ten years of his life, making a number of trips to the Orient and lecturing throughout the western United States. He died in Tokyo of bronchial pneumonia in August 1933.

From the guide to the Starr, Frederick. Papers, 1868-1935, (Special Collections Research Center University of Chicago Library 1100 East 57th Street Chicago, Illinois 60637 U.S.A.)

Frederick Starr, Ph.D., was an anthropologist, college professor, writer and world traveler.

Born in Auburn, New York on September 2, 1858, Frederick Starr was the son of the Reverend Frederic and Helen Starr. He received both his Bachelor of Arts in Science and his Ph.D. degree from Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania.

Between 1883 and 1892, Starr taught at several colleges in the United States, and was employed for a time by the Museum of Natural History in New York City. In 1892 however, he was asked to organize the work of anthropology at the newly established University of Chicago. Thus began a thirty-one year relationship which benefited both the Department of Anthropology and Starr, who became a world-renown figure.

To further his anthropological work, Starr traveled widely. He visited various parts of the United States, Mexico, the Philippines, Japan, Korea and Africa; returning several times to the last three. His trips were often lengthy expeditions which enabled him to become totally immersed in the culture he was studying. At times his lack of communication during these sojourns resulted in his being reported "missing".

Starr wrote extensively about his travels and research. Some of his best known works are: Some Steps in Human Process (1895), American Indians (1895), Indians of Southern Mexico (1898), Philippine Studies (1909), Korean Buddhism (1918), Fujiyama, the Sacred Mountain of Japan (1924), The Truth About the Conao (1907), Congo Natives (1912) and Liberia (1913). The last three books can be found in the Library Division of the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center.

According to biographical sources, Starr was a colorful personality who never wore an overcoat, never used the telephone, and created controversy by introducing his students to marijuana cigarettes. He generated strong emotions at both ends of the spectrum. His "frank and fearless" expression of opinion earned him enemies. To his students however, he was a revered and beloved figure. His classes were always crowded, a fact probably attributable as much to his popularity as to the lack of any competition. Preferring to be a "Lone Star", he would not hire additional faculty for the Anthropology Department.

As an indication of their esteem, former students presented Starr with a gift of money upon his retirement in1923, sufficient enough for him to purchase a house in Seattle, Washington. The location, it is said, was selected because it was geographically closer to Japan, a country which occupied his research and travel right up to the time of his death.

Frederick Starr is credited with fostering a wide interest in the subject of anthropology, and engendering in his students the appreciation of other people and cultures. In recognition of his work he received many decorations and honors during his lifetime, including: officer of the Order of Leopold; A Chevalier of the Order of the Crown of Italy; A Member of the Order of the Sacred Treasure of Japan.

• 1858 September 2: Born in Auburn, New York the fourth child of seven children born to the Reverend Frederick Starr and Helen Strachan Mills Starr.
• 1882: Graduated with a BA in Science from Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania.
• 1885: Received Ph.D. from Lafayette College.
• 1883 - 1887 : Taught Biology at Coe College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
• 1888 - 1889 : Served as Registrar and Professor of Geography at Chautauqua University, Chautauqua, New York.
• 1889: Employed as Curator of Ethnological Subjects at the American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York.
• 1891: Accepted the position of Professor of Geology and Dean of the Science Department of Pomona College, Claremont, California.
• 1892 - 1895 : Became Associate Professor in Anthropology at the University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
• 1904: Traveled to northern Japan--in preparation for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis--and brought back a representative group of Ainu, an aboriginal tribe in Japan.
• 1905: Undertook a year-long expedition to the African Congo, now known as Zaire. During the course of this trip he traveled 22,000 miles and visited 28 tribes.
• 1907: The Truth About the Congo originally published by Forbes and Company; reprinted in 1969 by Negro University Press.
• 1912: Traveled to Liberia to study its history, people and problems.
• 1913: Liberia written and published by Frederick Starr, Chicago.
• 1923: Became Professor Emeritus, retired from the faculty of the University of Chicago; moved to Seattle, Washington. While visiting Japan, survived an earthquake which destroyed Tokyo.
• 1933 August 14: Died of bronchial pneumonia in Tokyo during another trip to Japan.

From the guide to the Frederick Starr Collection, 1906-1928, (Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, Howard University)