Guide to the Papers of A. P. Elkin

Biographical Note

A.P. Elkin was born in West Maitland, New South Wales, on 27 March 1891, to Reuben Israel Elkin and Wilhelmine Ellen, nee Bower. Following the death of his mother, Elkin was raised by his maternal grandfather in Singleton. He attended primary school in Singleton, and later attended Maitland East Boys High School.

After school, Elkin became a junior bank officer at the Commercial Banking Company. He was also involved with the Anglican Church. In February 1912, Elkin was awarded the Church of England's Stanton Scholarship to St. Paul's College at the University of Sydney. He graduated with first class honours in Philosophy in 1915. That same year Elkin was ordained Deacon, and in March 1916 was ordained as a priest. In 1919 he took an academic post as Vice Warden of St. John's Theological College, Armidale.

In 1921 Elkin began a Master's degree, and graduated in 1922 with first class honours, his thesis being 'The religion of Australian Aborigines'. After marrying Sarah Thompson in 1922, and a short appointment with the church, Elkin was offered a part time tutorship in the Workers' Educational Association (WEA) program for 1923. Between 1925 and 1927, Elkin completed his PhD at University College, London, on Aboriginal myth and rituals, and was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Anthropological Society. On returning to Australia, he accepted the position of Rector to St. James', Morpeth, which he accepted on the condition that he could continue his field work in Australia and Papua New Guinea.

From 1934, Elkin was appointed Professor of Anthropology at Sydney University. Whilst at the university, he began editing the journal Oceania, which he continued until his death in 1979. During his time as head of Department, he made Australia and New Guinea the focus of the Department's research activities. In 1937 he resigned from his Church duties to concentrate on his anthropological interests.

During his career, Elkin was a member of the Anthropological Committee of the ANRC, which he also chaired; President of the Association for the Protection of Native Races; member of the NSW Aborigines Protection Board; Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales; Trustee of the Australian Museum from 1946-1972 and President from 1962-68; Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science (ANZAAS); Fellow and Trustee of the Australian Social Science Research Council; Fellow of the University Senate; and a member of the Council of International House.

Elkin also received a number of awards: the medal of the Royal Society for outstanding scientific endeavour in 1949; the Royal Society of NSW James Cook Medal in 1956; the Herbert E. Gregory Medal of the Bishop Museum (Hawaii) in 1961. In 1966 he was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George; and in 1970 Sydney University awarded him an honorary Doctorate of Letters.

Elkin died on 9 July 1979, in Sydney, at the age of 88, at a meeting of the Finance sub-Committee of International House. He was survived by his wife and two children.