University of Hawaiʻi

The University of Hawaiʻi figures in Thomas Kelly’s career as a temporary academic post that he chose for more than its salary: it offered a chance to study Eastern religion and philosophy and broaden his understanding of the world. During his appointment, an offer from Haverford College opened a different path, joining his scholarly ambitions to his wish to reconnect with the Quakers.

Kelly’s Appointment and Aims

Against the advice of Rufus Jones, Kelly accepted a position at the University of Hawaiʻi. The appointment was for one year. Its larger salary mattered, but Kelly also saw the post as an opportunity to move closer to the East and study Eastern religion and philosophy. He hoped to defend his dissertation at Harvard University before leaving; the faculty advised him to wait until he returned.

A Turning Point in His Career

While at the University of Hawaiʻi, Kelly received an offer from Haverford College. He regarded it as the opportunity of a lifetime: it seemed to fulfill his dreams and offered a chance to reconnect with the Quakers. He developed friendships with Rufus Jones and Douglas Steere, Haverford’s chairman of philosophy; both shared his interest in the mystical tradition. The account then turns to Kelly’s dissertation examination, describing it as a disaster. The university appointment thus sits at a hinge in his career: it brought the cross-cultural study he sought, while the Haverford offer redirected his hopes toward a Quaker academic community.