F. K. Lehman

F. K. Lehman (February 5, 1924 – February 10, 2016; born Frederic Kris Lehman; also known by his Burmese name U Chit Hlaing, or sometimes as F. K. L. Chit Hlaing) was an American anthropologist and professor emeritus at University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. Widely known as one of the founding fathers of Burma studies in the United States, he taught at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign from 1952 until his retirement in 2009.

Early life Frederic Kris Lehman was born in 1924 in New York City. Born into a family of gem merchants, he spent his childhood in Calcutta, India and Lashio, Burma. In 1941, he returned to New York City.

Education Lehman obtained a BA in mathematics (1949) from New York University and a PhD (1959) in Anthropology and Linguistics from Columbia University.

Career Lehman taught at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign from 1952 until his retirement in 2009 at the age of 85. He supervised dozens of graduate students at the University of Illinois. He conducted ethnographic research among many ethnic groups of Burma, including the Chin, Mizo (Lushai), Shan, Karen, Kayah, Burmese, Thai, and Yunnanese.

Death Lehman died on February 10, 2016, at the age of 92.

Publications Lehman published more than 60 articles. He also published two monographs, which are:

1963. The Structure of Chin Society. Urbana: University of Illinois Press. (2nd ed. 1981. Calcutta: Firma KLM for Tribal Research Centre.) 1967. “Kayah Society as a Function of the Shan-Burma-Karen Context.” In Contemporary Change in Traditional Societies, vol. 1, ed. J. H. Steward, 1–104. Urbana: University of Illinois Press.