John Francis Marchment Middleton
Encyclopedia
John Francis Marchment Middleton (22 May 1921 – 27 February 2009) was a British
professor
of anthropology
in the United States, specializing in Africa. He was director of the International African Institute
in 1973-1974 and in 1980-1981. His work on the Lugbara
religion is considered a classic of African anthropology.
Middleton was born and grew up in London
, England
. He received his bachelor of arts degree
from the University of London
in 1941. After World War II
he returned to school and received his bachelor of science degree from Oxford University in 1949, and a doctorate
in anthropology in 1953, also from Oxford. Middleton did his field work for his Ph.D. with the Lugbara in Uganda
, beginning in 1949.
From 1953 to 1954, Middleton was a lecturer in anthropology at the University of London. From 1954 to 1956, he was a senior lecturer at the University of Cape Town
, South Africa
. In 1956, he returned to the University of London where he taught until 1963, during fieldwork in Zanzibar
in 1958. From 1963 to 1966, he was a professor at Northwestern University
in Evanston, Illinois
, and he did fieldwork in Nigeria
. In 1966 he started teaching at New York University
, but that year he was offered a professorship at Yale University
, which he accepted, so for a while he taught at both institutions. In 1972, Middleton left Yale to accept appointment as professor of African anthropology at the School of Oriental and African Studies
at the University of London. This also enabled him to resume fieldwork, which he did in 1976 and 1977 in Ghana
. In 1981, he returned to Yale, doing fieldwork in Kenya
in 1986. Middleton continued to teach at Yale as a professor emeritus until his death in 2009.
During his long career, he was a visiting professor at the University of Virginia
, the University of Oregon
, University of Lagos
in Nigeria, and the École pratique des hautes études
in Paris
. He was editor in chief of the Encyclopedia of Africa South of the Sahara (1997) and of the expanded New Encyclopedia of Africa (2007).
Middleton died on Friday, 27 February 2009, at the Yale-New Haven Hospital
of head trauma after falling from a seizure two weeks before.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
in the United States, specializing in Africa. He was director of the International African Institute
International African Institute
The International African Institute was founded in 1926 in London for the study of African languages...
in 1973-1974 and in 1980-1981. His work on the Lugbara
Lugbara people
The Lugbara are an ethnic group who live mainly in the West Nile region of Uganda and in the adjoining area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
religion is considered a classic of African anthropology.
Middleton was born and grew up in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He received his bachelor of arts degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
in 1941. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he returned to school and received his bachelor of science degree from Oxford University in 1949, and a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in anthropology in 1953, also from Oxford. Middleton did his field work for his Ph.D. with the Lugbara in Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, beginning in 1949.
From 1953 to 1954, Middleton was a lecturer in anthropology at the University of London. From 1954 to 1956, he was a senior lecturer at the University of Cape Town
University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, and is the oldest university in South Africa and the second oldest extant university in Africa.-History:The roots of...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. In 1956, he returned to the University of London where he taught until 1963, during fieldwork in Zanzibar
Zanzibar
Zanzibar ,Persian: زنگبار, from suffix bār: "coast" and Zangi: "bruin" ; is a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania, in East Africa. It comprises the Zanzibar Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of the mainland, and consists of numerous small islands and two large ones: Unguja , and Pemba...
in 1958. From 1963 to 1966, he was a professor at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
in Evanston, Illinois
Evanston, Illinois
Evanston is a suburban municipality in Cook County, Illinois 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, bordering Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, and Wilmette to the north, with an estimated population of 74,360 as of 2003. It is one of the North Shore communities that adjoin Lake Michigan...
, and he did fieldwork in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. In 1966 he started teaching at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, but that year he was offered a professorship at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, which he accepted, so for a while he taught at both institutions. In 1972, Middleton left Yale to accept appointment as professor of African anthropology at the School of Oriental and African Studies
School of Oriental and African Studies
The School of Oriental and African Studies is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the University of London...
at the University of London. This also enabled him to resume fieldwork, which he did in 1976 and 1977 in Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
. In 1981, he returned to Yale, doing fieldwork in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
in 1986. Middleton continued to teach at Yale as a professor emeritus until his death in 2009.
During his long career, he was a visiting professor at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
, the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
, University of Lagos
University of Lagos
The University of Lagos - popularly known as Unilag - is a federal government university with a main campus located at Akoka, Yaba and a college of medicine located at Idi-Araba, all in Lagos, Lagos State, southern Nigeria...
in Nigeria, and the École pratique des hautes études
École pratique des hautes études
The École pratique des hautes études is a Grand Établissement in Paris, France. It is counted among France's most prestigious research and higher education institutions....
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. He was editor in chief of the Encyclopedia of Africa South of the Sahara (1997) and of the expanded New Encyclopedia of Africa (2007).
Middleton died on Friday, 27 February 2009, at the Yale-New Haven Hospital
Yale-New Haven Hospital
Yale-New Haven Hospital , Connecticut's largest hospital with 966 beds, is located in New Haven, Connecticut.The hospital is owned and operated by the Yale New Haven Health System, Inc...
of head trauma after falling from a seizure two weeks before.
Awards
- 2001 Thomas Henry Huxley Memorial Medal by the Royal Anthropological InstituteRoyal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and IrelandThe Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland is the world's longest established anthropological organization, with a global membership. Since 1843, it has been at the forefront of new developments in anthropology and new means of communicating them to a broad audience...
- 2007 Distinguished Africanist Award by the African Studies AssociationAfrican Studies AssociationThe African Studies Association is an association of scholars and professionals in the United States and Canada with an interest in the continent of Africa. Started in 1957, the ASA is the leading organization of African Studies in North America. The associations headquarters are Rutgers...
Selected works
- 1953 The central tribes of the north-eastern Bantu; the Kikuyu, including Embu, Meru, Mbere, Chuka, Mwimbi, Tharaka, and the Kamba of Kenya International African Institute, London, OCLC 3416265
- 1960 Lugbara religion; ritual and authority among an East African people International African Institute, Oxford University Press, London OCLC 361464
- 1961 Land Tenure in Zanzibar H.M. Stationery Office, London, OCLC 4170330
- 1965 The Lugbara of Uganda Holt, Rinehart and Winston, New York, OCLC 492118
- 1992 The World of the Swahili: An African Mercantile Civilization Yale University Press, New Haven, ISBN 0-300-05219-7