David Henige
Encyclopedia
David Patrick Henige is an American historian
, bibliographer
, academic librarian
and Africanist
scholar. The majority of Henige's academic career has been spent in affiliation with the University of Wisconsin–Madison
, where for over three decades he has held the position of bibliographer in African studies at UW–Madison's Memorial Library. Henige has authored over 170 scholarly papers and several books across a diverse topical range. While African studies
and history form a central component of Henige's publications, he is also noted for substantial contributions to the theory and practice of historiography
, librarianship, epistemology, the nature of oral history
and myth, and critiques of historical method
ologies.
As an undergraduate Henige attended the University of Toledo
, Ohio
in the 1960s, obtaining first a B.A.
then a Master's degree
in history. In 1967 he enrolled for postgraduate studies at UW–Madison, completing a PhD
in African History in 1973. Fieldwork towards his degree was undertaken in Ghana
, West Africa
. Henige's long association with the Memorial Library began during his PhD studies, where part of his time was spent working for the library.
At the end of his PhD studies Henige was offered a lecturing position at the University of Birmingham
's Centre of West African Studies
(CWAS), a research department established a decade earlier by the noted Africanist scholar John D. Fage
. Henige travelled to England
to take up the position, where he remained for a year.
Henige returned to Wisconsin
in 1974 to take up a position as bibliographer at the Memorial Library, and to undertake a Master's degree in Library and information science
, which he completed in 1978.
He is the founder and editor of the journal History in Africa.
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, bibliographer
Bibliographer
"A bibliographer is a person who describes and lists books and other publications, with particular attention to such characteristics as authorship, publication date, edition, typography, etc. The result of this endeavor is a bibliography...
, academic librarian
Librarian
A librarian is an information professional trained in library and information science, which is the organization and management of information services or materials for those with information needs...
and Africanist
Africanist
Africanist may refer to:*A specialist in African studies*A strand of African nationalism during the activism against apartheid in South Africa particularly associated with the Pan Africanist Congress...
scholar. The majority of Henige's academic career has been spent in affiliation with the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
, where for over three decades he has held the position of bibliographer in African studies at UW–Madison's Memorial Library. Henige has authored over 170 scholarly papers and several books across a diverse topical range. While African studies
African studies
African studies is the study of Africa, especially the cultures and societies of Africa .The field includes the study of:Culture of Africa, History of Africa , Anthropology of Africa , Politics of Africa, Economy of Africa African studies is the study of Africa, especially the cultures and...
and history form a central component of Henige's publications, he is also noted for substantial contributions to the theory and practice of historiography
Historiography
Historiography refers either to the study of the history and methodology of history as a discipline, or to a body of historical work on a specialized topic...
, librarianship, epistemology, the nature of oral history
Oral history
Oral history is the collection and study of historical information about individuals, families, important events, or everyday life using audiotapes, videotapes, or transcriptions of planned interviews...
and myth, and critiques of historical method
Historical method
Historical method comprises the techniques and guidelines by which historians use primary sources and other evidence to research and then to write histories in the form of accounts of the past. The question of the nature, and even the possibility, of a sound historical method is raised in the...
ologies.
As an undergraduate Henige attended the University of Toledo
University of Toledo
The University of Toledo is a public university in Toledo, Ohio, United States. The Carnegie Foundation classified the university as "Doctoral/Research Extensive."-National recognition:...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
in the 1960s, obtaining first a B.A.
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
then a Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in history. In 1967 he enrolled for postgraduate studies at UW–Madison, completing a PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in African History in 1973. Fieldwork towards his degree was undertaken in Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
, West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
. Henige's long association with the Memorial Library began during his PhD studies, where part of his time was spent working for the library.
At the end of his PhD studies Henige was offered a lecturing position at the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
's Centre of West African Studies
Centre of West African Studies
Centre of West African Studies is a division of the School of Historical Studies at the University of Birmingham . The centre provides teaching and research into issues of African development, culture, anthropology, sociology, politics, history, and the legacies of the African diaspora,...
(CWAS), a research department established a decade earlier by the noted Africanist scholar John D. Fage
John Donnelly Fage
John Donnelly Fage was a British historian noted for his work on African history....
. Henige travelled to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to take up the position, where he remained for a year.
Henige returned to Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
in 1974 to take up a position as bibliographer at the Memorial Library, and to undertake a Master's degree in Library and information science
Library and information science
Library and information science is a merging of the two fields library science and information science...
, which he completed in 1978.
He is the founder and editor of the journal History in Africa.