A. P. Elkin
Adolphus Peter Elkin
Early life
Elkin was born at
Clerical and anthropological career
Elkin was ordained deacon in 1915 and priest in 1916.
Elkin became interested in Australian Aboriginal culture and although no anthropology was taught in Australia at the time, his master's thesis—which he completed successfully in 1922—was on this subject and he lectured on it at St John's. In 1922 he married Sara (Sally) Thompson, an Irish nursing sister whom he had met during an influenza epidemic.[2] He was Rector of St John the Evangelist Church, Wollombi from 1922 and 1925 and during this period he also lectured for the University of Sydney in the Hunter Region on Aboriginal culture.
In 1925, Elkin resigned from his post at Wollombi and began studying anthropology at
Elkin became an activist for the amelioration of Aboriginal Australians, whom he saw as best served by being assimilated into European society. In 1934 he successfully lobbied for the reprieve of Dhakiyarr (Tuckiar) Wirrpanda, a Yolngu man who had been sentenced to death for murder.[2]
Professor of anthropology
Following Radcliffe-Brown's resignation from
Retirement and honours
After his retirement in 1966, Elkin was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 1966 Birthday Honours. In 1970 he received an honorary doctorate of letters from the University of Sydney.
Death
Elkin died at a meeting at the university, survived by his wife and two sons.[2]
See also
References
- ^ Crockford's Clerical Directory, 1973-74, 85th Edition, p 288.
- ^ ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 17 August 2008.
- ^ "Oceania Publications". University of Sydney. Archived from the original on 9 August 2008. Retrieved 17 August 2008.
- ^ Telfer, E. J. (1939). Amongst Australian Aborigines: forty years of missionary work: the story of the United Aborigines Mission by. Sydney: E. J. Telfer. p. 227. p.188
- ISBN 978-0-646-49556-9, (United Aborigines Mission missionary 1940-1955).
- ^ Dawn, Aborigines Welfare Board of NSW