POLEMAN, Horace Irvin. Philadelphia 5.9.1905 — Washington DC 8.11.1965. U.S. Indologist. Librarian in Washington, D.C. Son of Thomas Bennett Poleman and Ida Van Zandt. Studies at University of Pennsylvania: 1927 Phi Beta Kappa graduate, A.B. 1927, M.A. 1929 in classical languages, Ph.D. 1933 in Indic Studies (under W. N. Brown). In 1928-29 teacher. In 1933-38 research Associate in American Council of Learned Associate preparing the manuscript catalogue, in 1934-35 also Instructor in Sanskrit and Research Fellow at University of Pennsylvania, in 1937-38 Research fellow at Yale. From 1938 working in Congress Library: 1938-42 Special Consultant of Indic Studies, 1942-49 and again 1952-55 Head of South Asia Section in the Oriental Division, 1955-65 A. W. Hummel’s successor as the head of Oriental Division. In 1949-52 Cultural Officer at American Embassy in New Delhi. Married 1939 Jenny Elizabeth Falk (apparently died in 1997 when 81), two sons.

Publications: Diss. The Aurdhvadehika-Paddhati by Nārāyaṇa Bhaṭṭa. Manuscript 1933.

– “The Ritualistic Continuity of Ṛgveda X, 14-18”, JAOS 54, 1934, 276-281; with Ph. Q. Roche: “Aspects of Caesarean Section in India”, JAOS 59, 1939, 17-21; “The Preta Concept in Hindu Thought and Ritual”, Dr. C. Kunhan Raja Pres. Vol. 1945, 44-47; “Middle Eastern Studies”, ArO 16:3, 1949, 213-224; reviews.

– A Census of Indic Manuscripts in the United States and Canada. 29+542 p. A.O.S. 12. New Haven 1938.

– Edited: Indic Studies in America. ACLS Bulletin 28, 1939, 1-241.

– A Survey of Tibetan Xylographs and Manuscripts in Institutions and Private Collections in the United States and Canada. 38 p. 1961.

Sources: *W.N. Brown, J. of Asian St. 26, 1966, 3f.; JAOS 85, 1965, 618; Dir. Am. Sch. 3rd ed. 1957; *Nat. Cyclop. 53, 19??, 202; parents in ancestors.familysearch.org.