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Gen David Prescott Barrows

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Gen David Prescott Barrows Veteran

Birth
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA
Death
5 Sep 1954 (aged 81)
Walnut Creek, Contra Costa County, California, USA
Burial
Claremont, Los Angeles County, California, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
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David Prescott Barrows was born in Chicago on June 27, 1873. The family moved to California in 1874, and Barrows was reared on a ranch in Ventura County. After his graduation from Pomona College in 1894, he received his M. A. degree from the University of California in 1895 in political science and his Ph.D. degree in anthropology from the University of Chicago in 1897. Particularly interested in the life and customs of the American Indians, he spent almost every summer during the period 1890-1899 in research work among the tribes of southern California and the Colorado desert, and the thesis for his doctoral degree was entitled, The Ethno-Botany of the Coahuilla Indians of Southern California.

Barrows taught history in the state school in San Diego. In 1900, he got an assignment as superintendent of schools for Manila by William Howard Taft, president of the Philippine Commission. His career in Philippines was eventful as he was designated to the post of Chief of the Bureau of Non-Christian Tribes of the Philippine Islands, and also reconnoitered many unknown areas in the Philippines. In 1903, as general superintendent of education for the Islands, he was instrumental in total reorganization of the educational system. After his return from Philippines, he worked for the University of California, holding the post of professor of education and then Dean of the Graduate School, in 1910. In 1911, he became professor of political science, and in 1913, was the Dean of the Faculties.

He later became President of the University of California. He went on many travels, publishing works of his findings in countries such as Morocco and the Philippines.

During the First World War, he served in various capacities as Member of the American Commission for Relief in Belgium, as a major of cavalry unit serving in the Philippines, and as an intelligence officer in Philippines and Siberia with the American Expeditionary Forces. He served in the defense establishments till 1919. Even after he returned to the University of California, he worked with the National Guard of the United States, till 1937 where he reached the rank of Major general. From December 1919 to June 1923, he was the elected president of the University of California. He traveled for one year to Africa, Timbuktu and Sudan. He returned from Africa in 1924 and held the post of chairman of the Department of Political Science and continued to teach till he retired in 1943. He wrote many syndicated articles for journals, newspapers, The World in Review, participated in radio talks, and also wrote many books on his experiences in Philippines and Africa. The book on his visit to Africa titled, "Berbers And Blacks: Impressions Of Morocco, Timbuktu And The Western Sudan" is very informative about Morocco and some of the important aspects narrated by him are explained in the next section.[5] His post retirement activity also covered public service, in various capacities, such as on the Board of Trustees of Mills College, the California State Commission on Rural Credit and Land Colonization, the East Bay Municipal Utility District, and the Board of Trustees of California College in China. During the Second World War, as he was not eligible for active service, he was appointed as consultant to the Secretary of War and the Office of Strategic Services.

After a long and highly distinguished career he died at the age of 81, on September 5, 1954. His papers can be found in the University Archives to the Manuscripts Division.
David Prescott Barrows was born in Chicago on June 27, 1873. The family moved to California in 1874, and Barrows was reared on a ranch in Ventura County. After his graduation from Pomona College in 1894, he received his M. A. degree from the University of California in 1895 in political science and his Ph.D. degree in anthropology from the University of Chicago in 1897. Particularly interested in the life and customs of the American Indians, he spent almost every summer during the period 1890-1899 in research work among the tribes of southern California and the Colorado desert, and the thesis for his doctoral degree was entitled, The Ethno-Botany of the Coahuilla Indians of Southern California.

Barrows taught history in the state school in San Diego. In 1900, he got an assignment as superintendent of schools for Manila by William Howard Taft, president of the Philippine Commission. His career in Philippines was eventful as he was designated to the post of Chief of the Bureau of Non-Christian Tribes of the Philippine Islands, and also reconnoitered many unknown areas in the Philippines. In 1903, as general superintendent of education for the Islands, he was instrumental in total reorganization of the educational system. After his return from Philippines, he worked for the University of California, holding the post of professor of education and then Dean of the Graduate School, in 1910. In 1911, he became professor of political science, and in 1913, was the Dean of the Faculties.

He later became President of the University of California. He went on many travels, publishing works of his findings in countries such as Morocco and the Philippines.

During the First World War, he served in various capacities as Member of the American Commission for Relief in Belgium, as a major of cavalry unit serving in the Philippines, and as an intelligence officer in Philippines and Siberia with the American Expeditionary Forces. He served in the defense establishments till 1919. Even after he returned to the University of California, he worked with the National Guard of the United States, till 1937 where he reached the rank of Major general. From December 1919 to June 1923, he was the elected president of the University of California. He traveled for one year to Africa, Timbuktu and Sudan. He returned from Africa in 1924 and held the post of chairman of the Department of Political Science and continued to teach till he retired in 1943. He wrote many syndicated articles for journals, newspapers, The World in Review, participated in radio talks, and also wrote many books on his experiences in Philippines and Africa. The book on his visit to Africa titled, "Berbers And Blacks: Impressions Of Morocco, Timbuktu And The Western Sudan" is very informative about Morocco and some of the important aspects narrated by him are explained in the next section.[5] His post retirement activity also covered public service, in various capacities, such as on the Board of Trustees of Mills College, the California State Commission on Rural Credit and Land Colonization, the East Bay Municipal Utility District, and the Board of Trustees of California College in China. During the Second World War, as he was not eligible for active service, he was appointed as consultant to the Secretary of War and the Office of Strategic Services.

After a long and highly distinguished career he died at the age of 81, on September 5, 1954. His papers can be found in the University Archives to the Manuscripts Division.


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