Keesing, Felix Maxwell, 1902-1961

Felix Maxwell Keesing was born 5 January 1902 in Taiping (Penang), Straits Settlements, British Malay. He attended University of New Zealand, Yale University (1928/1929) and the University of Chicago (1929/1930), receiving his Doctor of Letters (D Litt.) from the University of New Zealand in 1933. He worked as director of research in the Pacific dependencies for the Institute of Pacific Relations. In the summer of 1934, he began teaching at the University of Hawaii. He wrote his book, The Philippines, a nation in the making, in collaboration with the American Council of the IPR. During his career at the University of Hawaii, Dr.Keesing served as department chair for the combined department of Anthropology and Sociology, 1939/1940 and 1940/1941. In 1942, Dr. Keesing left the University of Hawaii for the Office of Strategic Services in Washington, D.C., and became a teaching associate at Columbia University, Naval School of Military Government and Administration. He joined the faculty at Stanford University in 1943. In 1948, President Truman appointed him to the Commission on the South Pacific, where he served until 1957. Dr. Keesing returned to Stanford University after his service on the Commission. He died of a heart attack on 22 April 1961.

From the description of Felix M. Keesing papers, 1926-1941. (University of Hawaii at Manoa). WorldCat record id: 663199836