Carlson, Leland H. (Leland Henry), 1908-1995
Dates
- Existence: 1908-1995
Biography
Leland H. Carlson was born in Rockford, Illinois, on March 25, 1908. He earned a B.A. degree (cum laude) in history from Beloit College in 1931, a B.D. degree (magna cum laude) from the University of Chicago Federated Theological Seminary in 1938 and a Ph. D. from the University of Chicago in 1939.
Carlson began his teaching career at North Park College in Chicago. He taught history, philosophy and Greek there from 1932-1942. In 1942 he joined the History Department of Northwestern University where he taught European and British history. In 1955 he left Northwestern to become President of Rockford College. His desire to return to teaching and scholarly research led him to resign from Rockford College in 1959. He moved to California and became a professor at the Southern California School of Theology and the Claremont Graduate School. He also served as the first Colin Rhys Lovell Professor of English History at the University of Southern California from 1970 until his retirement in 1973. In 1984 he was appointed “Research Scholar” at the Henry E. Huntington Library in San Marino, California.
Carlson wrote several books and articles based on his interest in English history, particularly the Elizabethan and Stuart periods. His other works covered such diverse fields as the history of gold mining in Alaska and the histories of the history departments of North Park College and Northwestern University.
Carlson is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Theta Kappa honorary societies. He is also a member of the American Historical Association, the American Theological Society, and the Swedish American Historical Society.
Carlson married in 1933. He and his wife had two children.