George Hubbard Blakeslee (July 22 1871 – March 21 1943) was an American historian and scholar of East Asian studies. He served as a professor of history at Columbia University, where he specialized in the diplomatic and cultural relations between the United States and East Asian nations, particularly Japan and China. Blakeslee was a founding member of the Institute of Pacific Relations and played a leading role in the development of the field of Asian studies in the United States.
Early Life and Education
- Birth: July 22 1871, Vinton, Iowa, United States.
- Education: Obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Iowa (1892) and a Ph.D. in history from Cornell University (1901), where his doctoral research focused on the early period of Western trade with China.
Academic Career
- Columbia University: Joined the faculty in 1910 as an associate professor of history; promoted to full professor in 1919. He taught courses on modern Asian history and international relations.
- Institute of Pacific Relations (IPR): Co‑founder (1925) and long‑time officer; contributed to the organization’s research agenda and publications.
- The Far Eastern Quarterly: Served as editor (later known as The Journal of Asian Studies), overseeing scholarly articles on Asian politics, economics, and culture.
Scholarly Contributions
- Research Focus: U.S.–Japan relations, Sino‑American diplomatic history, and the broader implications of Western imperialism in East Asia.
- Major Publications:
- Japan and the United States, 1853‑1922 (1930) – a detailed examination of diplomatic and economic interactions between the two nations.
- The Passage to Modernity: Japan’s Road to Transformation (1933) – analyses the Meiji Restoration and its impact on Japan’s modernization.
- The United States and Asia (1941, co‑edited) – a collection of essays assessing American policy in the Pacific region.
Professional Affiliations
- American Historical Association: Member and frequent contributor to its meetings and publications.
- Association of Asian Studies: Early participant; his editorial work helped establish a scholarly community focused on the Asia-Pacific region.
Legacy
Blakeslee is credited with helping to professionalize Asian studies in American academia during the early twentieth century. His emphasis on primary source research and diplomatic documentation set methodological standards for subsequent generations of historians. The Institute of Pacific Relations, despite later political controversies, remained an influential forum for policy discussion, a testament to his vision of scholarly engagement with international affairs.
Selected Bibliography
- Blakeslee, George H. Japan and the United States, 1853‑1922. New York: Columbia University Press, 1930.
- Blakeslee, George H. The Passage to Modernity: Japan’s Road to Transformation. New York: Columbia University Press, 1933.
- Blakeslee, George H., ed. The United States and Asia. New York: Columbia University Press, 1941.
References
- Columbia University Archives, “George Hubbard Blakeslee Papers,” (accessed 2024).
- Institute of Pacific Relations Records, Stanford University Libraries.
- “George H. Blakeslee,” American National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2000.
This entry reflects information available from established historical and academic sources.