Passings: Philip Gulliver

Philip Gulliver
Philip Gulliver

Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus Philip Gulliver died recently, and will be remembered by the York University community for his contributions to the Department of Anthropology.

Philip Gulliver
Philip Gulliver

Gulliver spent 20 years at York, from 1972 to 1992, holding several faculty positions including professor, graduate program director and distinguished research professor.

Gulliver was born in England, and before receiving his doctorate in anthropology from the London School of Economics, he served in the RAF during the Second World War. His focus of study at that time was based on field research among nomads in Kenya.

After earning his PhD in 1952, Gulliver continued his field research in East Africa and produced a number of books and articles on his findings. Following this work, he took a faculty position in 1962 at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London, where he stayed until immigrating to Canada in 1971.

It was at this time in his career that he turned his research focus to Ireland and worked in collaboration with York University Professor, and his partner, Marilyn Silverman.

Gulliver retired from York University officially in 1992, though he continued to do some teaching, conduct research and publish papers.

He earned the title of Distinguished Research Professor in 1984 from York University. In 1982, he was named a Fellow in the Royal Society of Canada.