H. Brett Melendy
Encyclopedia
Howard Brett Melendy is a prominent American historian, writer, researcher, publisher, autobiographer, dean
, history professor, and filipinologist. Melendy was a professor and administrator at the San José State University
in California
and the University of Hawai'i. As a professor, he taught about the history of California and United States history. He was the first chairman of the history department of San José State University. He was a life member of the American Historical Association
.
, in 1924. His parents were Howard Burton and Pearl Marjorie Brett Melendy. He lived in Humboldt County
during the first twenty-six years of his life. In 1952, H. Brett Melendy married Marian Ethel Robinson with whom he had three children: Brenda Dale Melendy, who lives in Kingsville, Texas, Darcie Brett Melendy Hoff who lives in Walnut Creek
, California, and Lisa Marie Melendy who lives in East Hampton
, Massachusetts
. Melendy was a ruling elder of the Presbyterian Church.
degree in English from Stanford University
. In 1948, he gained his M.A.
in education
from the Stanford University School of Education
. In 1952, he earned his PhD
in history
from Stanford University.
. From 1967 to 1968, he became a fellow in academic administration of the American Council on Education
. From 1968 to 1969, he served as associate or assistant vice-president of San José State University. From 1969, he became interim
or acting academic vice-president of San José State University. From 1970 to 1973, he became vice-president of the University of Hawai'i in Honolulu, while he was working as a professor in the History Department of the University of Hawai’i in Manoa
. He was recognized as an emeritus professor at the University of Hawai’i.
In 1979, he returned to San José State University to act as emeritus professor and then as dean of undergraduate studies until 1981. From 1981 to 1983, he was the associate academic vice-president for undergraduate studies of San José State University, then as university archivist
from 1983 to 1987, and later as interim dean for academic development from 1986 to 1987. In 1993, he was recognized as an emeritus professor at San José University.
at the age of 83 while at his home in Cupertino
, California
. A memorial service was held for him at the Forum at Rancho San Antonio in Cupertino.
Melendy’s writings include major books about the social conditions and politics in twentieth-century California
and Hawai’i, Hawaiian history, and Asian immigration to the United States. His research focused on the multiple ethnic group
s in the United States
. Among his works are Governors of California: Peter H. Burnett to Edmund G. Brown (1965, with Benjamin F. Gilbert as co-author), Oriental Americans (1972), Asians in America: Filipinos, Koreans, and East Indians (1977), Chinese and Japanese Americans (1984), Hawaii, America's Sugar Territory 1898–1959 (1999, with Rhoda Armstrong Hackler as co-author), Walter Francis Dillingham, 1865–1963, Hawaiian Entrepreneur and Statesman (1996), The Federal Government's Search for Communists in the Territory of Hawaii (2002), and the autobiographical book or memoir
Growing Up Along California's North Coast: Boyhood Days in Humboldt County during the 1930s (2004). As a publisher, Melendy published the Hawaiian Journal of History and many other professional journals. He was an article contributor to several encyclopedia
s.
The materials and records Melendy collected while acting as the university archivist of San José State University from 1983 to 1987 are composed of academic journals, newspaper clippings, photographs, and handwritten and typewritten papers. The materials and records, with the majority encompassing the years 1955 to 1985, have been preserved and named as The San José State University Faculty Papers of H. Brett Melendy, 1928-1985.
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
, history professor, and filipinologist. Melendy was a professor and administrator at the San José State University
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and the University of Hawai'i. As a professor, he taught about the history of California and United States history. He was the first chairman of the history department of San José State University. He was a life member of the American Historical Association
American Historical Association
The American Historical Association is the oldest and largest society of historians and professors of history in the United States. Founded in 1884, the association promotes historical studies, the teaching of history, and the preservation of and access to historical materials...
.
Family and religion
Melendy was born in Eureka, CaliforniaEureka, California
Eureka is the principal city and the county seat of Humboldt County, California, United States. Its population was 27,191 at the 2010 census, up from 26,128 at the 2000 census....
, in 1924. His parents were Howard Burton and Pearl Marjorie Brett Melendy. He lived in Humboldt County
Humboldt County, California
Humboldt County is a county in the U.S. state of California, located on the far North Coast 200 miles north of San Francisco. According to 2010 Census Data, the county’s population was 134,623...
during the first twenty-six years of his life. In 1952, H. Brett Melendy married Marian Ethel Robinson with whom he had three children: Brenda Dale Melendy, who lives in Kingsville, Texas, Darcie Brett Melendy Hoff who lives in Walnut Creek
Walnut Creek, California
Walnut Creek is an incorporated city located east of the city of Oakland. It lies in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. While not as large as neighboring Concord, Walnut Creek serves as the business and entertainment hub for the neighboring cities within central Contra Costa...
, California, and Lisa Marie Melendy who lives in East Hampton
Easthampton, Massachusetts
Easthampton is the second largest city in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The town is on the southeastern edge of an area called the Pioneer Valley near the five colleges in the college towns of Northampton and Amherst, MA...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. Melendy was a ruling elder of the Presbyterian Church.
Education
From 1942 to 1945, Melendy studied at Humboldt State College. In 1946, he obtained his Bachelor of ArtsBachelor 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 in English from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
. In 1948, he gained his M.A.
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...
in education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
from the Stanford University School of Education
Stanford University School of Education
The Stanford University School of Education , is one of the seven schools of Stanford University. It is the second-oldest school of education in the United States, after NYU...
. In 1952, he earned his PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
from Stanford University.
Career
In 1955, Melendy started his teaching career at San José State College. He later became the head of the college’s History Department. In 1962 and 1974, he received grants from the American Philosophical SocietyAmerican Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society, founded in 1743, and located in Philadelphia, Pa., is an eminent scholarly organization of international reputation, that promotes useful knowledge in the sciences and humanities through excellence in scholarly research, professional meetings, publications,...
. From 1967 to 1968, he became a fellow in academic administration of the American Council on Education
American Council on Education
The American Council on Education is a United States organization, established in 1918, comprising over 1,800 accredited, degree-granting colleges and universities and higher education-related associations, organizations, and corporations....
. From 1968 to 1969, he served as associate or assistant vice-president of San José State University. From 1969, he became interim
Interim
Interim is an album by British rock band The Fall, compiled from live and studio material and released in 2004. It features the first officially released versions of "Clasp Hands", "Blindness" and "What About Us?" — all of which were later included on the band's next studio album Fall Heads Roll —...
or acting academic vice-president of San José State University. From 1970 to 1973, he became vice-president of the University of Hawai'i in Honolulu, while he was working as a professor in the History Department of the University of Hawai’i in Manoa
Manoa
thumb|240px|right|Vintage shot of University of Hawaii, Manoa240px|thumb|right|Vintage photo of Manoa ValleyMānoa is a valley and a residential neighborhood of Honolulu CDP of the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, United States; the community is approximately three miles east and inland from...
. He was recognized as an emeritus professor at the University of Hawai’i.
In 1979, he returned to San José State University to act as emeritus professor and then as dean of undergraduate studies until 1981. From 1981 to 1983, he was the associate academic vice-president for undergraduate studies of San José State University, then as university archivist
Archivist
An archivist is a professional who assesses, collects, organizes, preserves, maintains control over, and provides access to information determined to have long-term value. The information maintained by an archivist can be any form of media...
from 1983 to 1987, and later as interim dean for academic development from 1986 to 1987. In 1993, he was recognized as an emeritus professor at San José University.
Death
In 2008, Melendy died of cancerCancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
at the age of 83 while at his home in Cupertino
Cupertino, California
Cupertino is an affluent suburban city in Santa Clara County, California in the U.S., directly west of San Jose on the western edge of the Santa Clara Valley with portions extending into the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The population was 58,302 at the time of the 2010 census. Forbes...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. A memorial service was held for him at the Forum at Rancho San Antonio in Cupertino.
Works
Melendy’s writings include major books about the social conditions and politics in twentieth-century California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and Hawai’i, Hawaiian history, and Asian immigration to the United States. His research focused on the multiple ethnic group
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
s in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Among his works are Governors of California: Peter H. Burnett to Edmund G. Brown (1965, with Benjamin F. Gilbert as co-author), Oriental Americans (1972), Asians in America: Filipinos, Koreans, and East Indians (1977), Chinese and Japanese Americans (1984), Hawaii, America's Sugar Territory 1898–1959 (1999, with Rhoda Armstrong Hackler as co-author), Walter Francis Dillingham, 1865–1963, Hawaiian Entrepreneur and Statesman (1996), The Federal Government's Search for Communists in the Territory of Hawaii (2002), and the autobiographical book or memoir
Memoir
A memoir , is a literary genre, forming a subclass of autobiography – although the terms 'memoir' and 'autobiography' are almost interchangeable. Memoir is autobiographical writing, but not all autobiographical writing follows the criteria for memoir set out below...
Growing Up Along California's North Coast: Boyhood Days in Humboldt County during the 1930s (2004). As a publisher, Melendy published the Hawaiian Journal of History and many other professional journals. He was an article contributor to several encyclopedia
Encyclopedia
An encyclopedia is a type of reference work, a compendium holding a summary of information from either all branches of knowledge or a particular branch of knowledge....
s.
The materials and records Melendy collected while acting as the university archivist of San José State University from 1983 to 1987 are composed of academic journals, newspaper clippings, photographs, and handwritten and typewritten papers. The materials and records, with the majority encompassing the years 1955 to 1985, have been preserved and named as The San José State University Faculty Papers of H. Brett Melendy, 1928-1985.
External links
- Filipino Americans by H. Brett Melendy, Countries and Their Cultures, at everyculture.com
- California's Discrimination Against Filipinos, 1927-1935 by H. Brett Melendy at questia.com