Amos P. Leib papers

Collection

Identifier: A19__

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Amos P. Leib papers are organized into five series, which contain multiple sub-series. Personal Papers, Course Professional Papers, Curricular Program Documents, Newspaper Clippings, and Memorabilia. The date ranges for the collection is 1941- 1976 with the bulk of the documents from 1946-1976.

The majority of the collection consists of documents and records pertaining to Professor Leib’s expertise as a scholar of Literature in the Pacific, as a participant in the establishment of the Hawaiian Studies and Pacific Islands Studies programs, and as an active faculty member at UH Manoa.

Overall, the collection provides a portrayal of an individual with diverse interests and experience. His personal papers as reflected in his Annual Christmas Letters reveal his tremendous sense of humor and his passion for music, theater, and travel. His work and his writings offer a glimpse of community and University life that spans a period from Territorial days to Statehood and beyond capturing a sense of a simpler time in Hawai‘i.

Dates

Creation: 1941 - 1977
Creation: Majority of material found within 1952 - 1976

Creator

Leib, Amos Patten, 1917-1977 (Person)

Restrictions

Material with personal information may be redacted by the Archives staff. Some fragile items may need to be handled by the staff only. Use of audiovisual material may require the production of listening or viewing copies.

Copyright Notice

Copyright is retained by the authors of items in this collection, their descendants, or the repository if copyright has been signed over, as stipulated by United States copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user to determine any copyright restrictions, obtain written permission, and pay any fees necessary for the reproduction or proposed use of the materials.

Literary Rights Notice

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the University of Hawaii Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must be obtained by the researcher

Biographical Note

Amos Patten Leib, born December 8, 1917, grew up in New Haven, Connecticut and graduated from Haverford College in Pennsylvania. For over thirty years (from 1945 – 1977) he was a Professor of English at the University of Hawai‘i. His interest and expertise was in Literature of the Pacific as well as American Literature. He was also a University marshal, overseeing academic rituals, graduations, and presidential inaugurations. His MA thesis at the University of Hawai‘i was on “Hawaiian Mythology in English Translation.” After receiving his doctorate from Tulane University in 1963, Leib wrote and edited several books, including a bibliography on Hawaiian legends with A. Grove Day.

Leib was a man of many talents, performing at the Honolulu Community Theater as well as singing with several glee clubs, including Central Union Church choir. He was noted for his wit and his sense of humor. Leib especially delighted in the use of puns and his writing in newspaper columns and in his annual Christmas letter reflected his considerable skill.

Before his work at UHM, Leib taught math at ‘Iolani School for three years, followed by four years of teaching math and physics at Punahou, where he was also in charge of the band. Additionally, Leib worked in 1945 as a radio announcer for KGMB.

On February 24, 1950 he married Edna Lee Pegram, a Professor of Education at the University of Hawai‘i. They resided at St. Louis Heights and traveled extensively. They also shared a love of acting in community theater. Mrs. Leib was affectionately called Loel by her husband. A relative of Robert E. Lee, she grew up in North Carolina. The Leibs met while traveling with other UHM professors on a trip to Asia. Because of a rule at the time that stated spouses could not both work at the University, Mrs. Leib had to resign her position. She continued to work as an educator at various other schools in Honolulu. Later the University marriage rule was rescinded and Mrs. Leib returned to the Education Department faculty as a professor.

In 1952, Leib was appointed faculty representative to accompany the UH football team on its annual three week trip to the US continent. During the Oliver Lee controversy in the late sixties, Leib was involved as a member of the Committee investigating the case. During the period from 1970 to 1976, Leib was particularly instrumental in helping to establish the Hawaiian Studies Program and the Pacific Island Studies Program, laying the groundwork for those first ever majors as independent departments of study.

While on sabbatical in England, Leib passed away unexpectedly in January 1977 at the age of fifty-nine. The Leib’s contribution to the University of Hawai‘i continues with creation of the Amos P. and Edna Lee Leib Fellowship for the Study of Pacific Literatures.