THOMAS, Calvin E. near Lapeer, Mich. 28.10.1854 — New York City 4.11.1919. U.S. Linguist and Germanist. Son of farmer Stephen Van Rensselaer Thomas (1831–1905, later lawyer and politician) and Caroline Louisa Lord (1831–1878). Graduated A.B. 1874, A.M. 1877, LL.D. 1904 – all at University of Michigan, 1877-78 further studies at…
STRENG, Frederick John. Seguin, Texas 30.9.1933 — Dallas 21.6.1993 (when 59). U.S. Scholar of Religion. Son of a Lutheran minister, Adolph Carl Streng (1901–1973), and Elizabeth M. Hein. Studies at Texas Lutheran College (B.A. 1955), Southern Methodist University (M.A. 1956) and University of Chicago (B.Div. 1960, under Eliade et al.),…
SMITH, Ray Caldwell. 20.7.1872 — India 1922. Rev. U.S. Presbyterian Missionary in India. Son of Rev. George B. Smith (1841–1941) and Anna Elizabeth Caldwell (1842–1906). Studies at San Francisco Theological Seminary. Soon after marriage to India. In 1914 in Fatehpur, then at Landour Language School in Mussoorie. Married 1900 Huetta…
SINGER, Milton Borah. Warsaw, Poland 15.7.1912 — Chicago 5.12.1994, when 82. U.S. Anthropologist of India. Born in a Jewish family in Poland, son of Julius Singer and Esther Greenberg. The family emigrated to the U.S.A. in 1920, settling in Detroit, 1921 naturalized. Studies of psychology (B.A. 1934) and philosophy (M.A.…
SILVERSTONE, Marilyn (Bhikshuni Ngawang Chödrön). London 9.3.1929 — near Kathmandu 28.9.1999. U.S. Photojournalist and Buddhist Nun. Daughter of Murray Silverstone (1895–1965), a film director and the son of a Polish immigrant to the U.S.A., for a while working in London, and his wife Dorothy. Grew up in Scarsdale, NY, graduated…
NAKAMURA, Susumu Winston. California 17.3.1908 — Berkeley 15.6.1989. U.S. Buddhist Scholar. M.A. Studied Tibetan at Berkeley under Lessing (M.A.), but never completed his Ph.D. Taught Japanese as Lecturer at Universities of Colorado (in Boulder, during WW II) and Berkeley. Married Fumie Yanagisana, at least one son. Publications: “Pradakshina, a Buddhist…
PRESLER, Henry Hughes. Valley City, Barnes County, North Dakota 8.11.1908 — Fargo North Dakota 7.11.1998. Rev. U.S. Missionary in India. Son of Henry A. Presler. Studies at North Dakota State University (B.S.), Boston University School of Theology (B.D.), and University of Chicago (Ph.D.). Worked in India for United Methodist Board…
PITTMAN, Richard Saunders (Dick). Streator, Ill. 19.2.1915 — Waxhaw, Union, NC 21.8.1998. U.S. Linguist. Son of glass manufacturer Edwin John Pittman and Louise Shepard. Graduated 1936 from Asbury College. In 1940-50 lived in Tetelcingo, Mexico, doing linguistic fieldwork, and continued his studies in the U.S.A., first at University of Michigan,…
PIET, John Henry. Grand Rapids, Michigan 2.9.1914 — Holland, Michigan 16.10.1992. Rev. U.S. Missionary and Scholar of Religion. Minister of the Reformed Church in America. Son of Reinder Piet and Gesina Johanna Charlotta Brinkman. Studies at Hope College (graduated A.B. 1936) and Princeton Theological Seminary. B.D. 1939 Western Theological Seminary.…
PERRY, Edward Delavan. Troy, NY 20.12.1854 — New York City 28.3. 1938. U.S. Indologist and Classical Scholar. Professor in New York. Son of Amos Sone Perry and Sarah Hillhouse. Studies of classical philology at Columbia University in New York (A.B. 1875). Further studies under Roth at Tübingen, Ph.D. there 1879.…