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F. K. Lehman

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F. K. Lehman
Born
Frederic Kris Lehman

February 5, 1924
DiedFebruary 10, 2016(2016-02-10)(aged 92)
NationalityAmerican
Alma materColumbia University
OccupationAnthropologist
SpouseSheila Lehman
Academic career
InstitutionsUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign
Main interestsBurma studies
Notable worksThe Structure of Chin Society(1963)

F. K. Lehman(February 5, 1924[1][2]– February 10, 2016; bornFrederic Kris Lehman;also known by his Burmese nameU Chit Hlaing,or sometimes asF. K. L. Chit Hlaing) was an American anthropologist and professor emeritus atUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign.[3]Widely known as one of the founding fathers ofBurma studiesin the United States,[4]he taught at theUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–Champaignfrom 1952 until his retirement in 2009.

Early life

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Frederic Kris Lehman was born in 1924 inNew York City.Born into a family of gem merchants, he spent his childhood inCalcutta,India andLashio,Burma. In 1941, he returned to New York City.[5]

Education

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Lehman obtained a BA in Mathematics (1949) fromNew York Universityand a PhD (1959) in Anthropology and Linguistics fromColumbia University.[6]

Career

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Lehman taught at theUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–Champaignfrom 1952 until his retirement in 2009 at the age of 85. He supervised dozens of graduate students at the University of Illinois. He conducted ethnographic research among many ethnic groups of Burma, including theChin,Mizo(Lushai),Shan,Karen,Kayah,Burmese,Thai,andYunnanese.[5]

Lehman also played an instrumental role in the founding of the Center for Burma Studies atNorthern Illinois University.

Personal life

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F. K. Lehman married Sheila Geyer in New York City on September 10, 1956. They had two sons, Mark Alexander Lehman (married to Sandra Edwards) and Charles Frederic Albert Lehman. His grandchildren are Tamisha LaShawn McClendon, Brandon Alexander Lehman, and Cameron Alexander Lehman.[1]

He was more often known asKris Lehmanto his close friends and family.[1]

Death

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Lehman died on February 10, 2016, at the age of 92.[7]

Publications

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Lehman published more than 60 articles. He also published two monographs, which are:[8]

  • 1963.The Structure of Chin Society.Urbana: University of Illinois Press. (2nd ed. 1981. Calcutta: Firma KLM for Tribal Research Centre.)
  • 1967. “Kayah Society as a Function of the Shan-Burma-Karen Context.” InContemporary Change in Traditional Societies,vol. 1, ed. J. H. Steward, 1–104. Urbana: University of Illinois Press.

See also

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References

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  1. ^abcFrederic Lehman.By The News-Gazette, Feb. 28, 2016.
  2. ^In Memoriam: F.K. Lehman (F. K. L. U Chit Hlaing), 1924-2016.H-Net: Humanities & Social Sciences Online.
  3. ^Gatewood, John. 2007.Frederic Kris Lehman (U Chit Hlaing): Anthropologist and Teacher.Bethlehem, Pennsylvania: Lehigh University.
  4. ^Schober, Juliane.The legacy of F. K. Lehman (F. K. L. U Chit Hlaing) for the study of religion and the secular in Burma.In:Journal of Burma Studies.2011; Vol. 15, No. 1. pp. 43-58.
  5. ^abSchober, Juliane.Where to Begin? A Brief Intellectual Biography of F. K. Lehman (F. K. L. U Chit Hlaing).The Journal of Burma StudiesVol. 15 No. 1 (2011), pp. 1–6. Center for Burma Studies, Northern Illinois University.
  6. ^F. K. L. Chit Hlaing (F. Kris Lehman),Northern Illinois University.
  7. ^In Memoriam: F.K. Lehman (F. K. L. U Chit Hlaing).Northern Illinois University.
  8. ^"Bibliography of F. K. Lehman’s Published Works."Journal of Burma Studies15, no. 1 (2011): 59-67. doi:10.1353/jbs.2011.0007.
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