Charles Hucker
Encyclopedia
Charles O. Hucker was a Professor of Chinese language
and history
at the University of Michigan
. He was regarded as one of the foremost historians of Imperial China and a leading figure in the promotion of academic programs in Asian Studies
during the 1950s and 1960s.
Born in St. Louis, Hucker graduated from the University of Texas, and served in the Army Air Corps
during the Second World War, where he rose to the rank of major and was awarded the Bronze Star
. He completed a Ph.D. in Chinese language
from the University of Chicago
, was a fellow of the Rockefeller Foundation
, a senior fellow of the National Endowment for the Humanities
, and a frequent consultant to the U.S. Office of Education, foundations, and various colleges and universities. Hucker was awarded an honorary doctorate of humanities
from Oakland University
in 1974. Before joining the University of Michigan in 1965 where he was the chair of the Department of Far Eastern Languages and Literatures, Hucker taught at the University of Chicago, the University of Arizona
, and Oakland University. Throughout his teaching career, Hucker was an active member of many professional associations. Hucker was among a small number of American scholars of Chinese history who visited scholarly centers in China in 1979 under the joint auspices of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences
and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
.
At the time of his retirement from the University of Michigan in 1983, Hucker was regarded as one of the foremost historians of imperial China and a leading promoter of academic programs in Asian Studies during the 1950s and 1960s. In his honor, the University established the Charles O. Hucker professorship in the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures. Hucker was particularly noted for his "A Dictionary of Official Titles in Imperial China," regarded as the most comprehensive guide to traditional Chinese government in a Western language, as well as his study of the Censorial system in Ming Dynasty China. He also wrote "China's Imperial Past," a general history of Imperial
China. He was a contributor to Encyclopædia Britannica
, Encyclopedia Americana
, and the Cambridge History of China.
In retirement, Hucker and his wife, the former Myrl Henderson, whom he wed in 1943, lived in Tucson, Arizona
, where he was a volunteer in schools and hospitals. Hucker also wrote plays and short stories, several of which have been published or produced. Hucker died on November 14, 1994, in Odessa, Texas
at the age of 75. In addition to his wife, Hucker was also survived by a brother and a sister.
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
and history
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. He was regarded as one of the foremost historians of Imperial China and a leading figure in the promotion of academic programs in Asian Studies
Asian studies
Asian studies, a term used usually in the United States for Oriental studies and is concerned with the Asian peoples, their cultures, languages, history and politics...
during the 1950s and 1960s.
Born in St. Louis, Hucker graduated from the University of Texas, and served in the Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
during the Second World War, where he rose to the rank of major and was awarded the Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
. He completed a Ph.D. in Chinese language
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
from the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, was a fellow of the Rockefeller Foundation
Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization and private foundation based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The preeminent institution established by the six-generation Rockefeller family, it was founded by John D. Rockefeller , along with his son John D. Rockefeller, Jr...
, a senior fellow of the National Endowment for the Humanities
National Endowment for the Humanities
The National Endowment for the Humanities is an independent federal agency of the United States established by the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities. The NEH is located at...
, and a frequent consultant to the U.S. Office of Education, foundations, and various colleges and universities. Hucker was awarded an honorary doctorate of humanities
Humanities
The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
from Oakland University
Oakland University
Oakland University is a public university co-founded by Matilda Dodge Wilson and John A. Hannah whose campus is located in central Oakland County, Michigan, United States in the cities of Auburn Hills and Rochester Hills. It is the only major research university in Oakland County, from which OU...
in 1974. Before joining the University of Michigan in 1965 where he was the chair of the Department of Far Eastern Languages and Literatures, Hucker taught at the University of Chicago, the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
, and Oakland University. Throughout his teaching career, Hucker was an active member of many professional associations. Hucker was among a small number of American scholars of Chinese history who visited scholarly centers in China in 1979 under the joint auspices of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences , established in 1977, is the premier and highest academic research organization in the fields of philosophy and social sciences as well as a national center for comprehensive studies in the People's Republic of China. It was described by Foreign Policy...
.
At the time of his retirement from the University of Michigan in 1983, Hucker was regarded as one of the foremost historians of imperial China and a leading promoter of academic programs in Asian Studies during the 1950s and 1960s. In his honor, the University established the Charles O. Hucker professorship in the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures. Hucker was particularly noted for his "A Dictionary of Official Titles in Imperial China," regarded as the most comprehensive guide to traditional Chinese government in a Western language, as well as his study of the Censorial system in Ming Dynasty China. He also wrote "China's Imperial Past," a general history of Imperial
China. He was a contributor to Encyclopædia Britannica
Encyclopædia Britannica
The Encyclopædia Britannica , published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., is a general knowledge English-language encyclopaedia that is available in print, as a DVD, and on the Internet. It is written and continuously updated by about 100 full-time editors and more than 4,000 expert...
, Encyclopedia Americana
Encyclopedia Americana
Encyclopedia Americana is one of the largest general encyclopedias in the English language. Following the acquisition of Grolier in 2000, the encyclopedia has been produced by Scholastic....
, and the Cambridge History of China.
In retirement, Hucker and his wife, the former Myrl Henderson, whom he wed in 1943, lived in Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
, where he was a volunteer in schools and hospitals. Hucker also wrote plays and short stories, several of which have been published or produced. Hucker died on November 14, 1994, in Odessa, Texas
Odessa, Texas
Odessa is a city in and the county seat of Ector County, Texas, United States. It is located primarily in Ector County, although a small portion of the city extends into Midland County. Odessa's population was 99,940 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Odessa, Texas Metropolitan...
at the age of 75. In addition to his wife, Hucker was also survived by a brother and a sister.