McKennan, Robert Addison, 1903-1982

Staff Only

Biography

Robert Addison McKennan was born on Dec. 20, 1903, in Helena, Montana. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1925, after which he became an instructor in citizenship at the College. From 1927-1929 he did graduate work at Harvard University. After spending a summer with Walapai Indians in northwestern Arizona in 1929, he did field research in Alaska among the Indians of Upper Tanana River until 1930. After his return, he was hired as an instructor in sociology at Dartmouth College, before being promoted to assistant professor in 1934, and professor of sociology in 1938, a position he held until his retirement in 1969. McKennan received his Ph.d in Anthropolgy from Harvard University in 1933, and continued to do field work in Canada and Alaska. He was also a member of the Dartmouth Alumni Council from 1950-1954, and of the Dartmouth College Athletic Association. McKennan died in 1982.

Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:

Oral history interview with Robert McKennan.

Collection

Identifier: DOH-239

DOH-239

Date(s): 1974-12-03

Abstract Robert McKennan, Class of 1925, Sociology Department 1930-1961, Professor of Anthropology Emeritus 1961-1969. Oral history interview documenting his career at Dartmouth College. Professor McKennan describes how undergraduate life was in the 1920s, and the nature of the "Problems of Citizenship Course." He speaks of tensions in the Sociology Department between the young and old sociologists, the relations between the Museum and the faculty and the problems with the Museum. He talks about the...

Robert McKennan papers

Collection

Identifier: ML-50

ML-50

Date(s): 1930 to 1973

Abstract

Robert A. McKennan (1903-1982), professor of sociology and antrhopology. Dartmouth College Class of 1925. The collection consists of papers related to his career teaching sociology and antrhopology at Dartmouth College and establishing the Northern Studies and Arctic Seminar programs at the College.