David Prescott Barrows Early years . Barrows graduated from Pomona College , in 1894 , and got his Master ' s degree from the University of California , Berkeley in 1895 in political science . He got his doctoral degree ( Ph . D . ) in anthropology from the University of Chicago , in 1897 . During the summers between 1890 and 1899 he pursued research to get his Ph . D . with the thesis on " the Ethno - Botany of the Coahuilla Indians of Southern California " , which was based on his interaction with the tribes of southern California and the Colorado Desert . Career . Barrows taught history in the state normal school in San Diego . In 1900 , he got an assignment as superintendent of schools for Manila by William Howard Taft , president of the Philippine Commission . His career in Philippines was eventful as he was designated to the post of Chief of the Bureau of Non - Christian Tribes of the Philippine Islands , and also reconnoitered many unknown areas in the Philippines . In 1903 , as general superintendent of education for the Islands , he was instrumental in total reorganization of the educational system . After his return from Philippines , he worked for the University of California , holding the post of professor of education and then Dean of the Graduate School , in 1910 . In 1911 , he became professor of political science , and in 1913 , was the Dean of the Faculties . During the First World War , he served in various capacities as Member of the American Commission for Relief in Belgium , as a major of cavalry unit serving in the Philippines , and as an intelligence officer in Philippines and Siberia with the American Expeditionary Forces . He served in the defense establishments till 1919 . Even after he returned to the University of California , he worked with the National Guard of the United States , till 1937 where he reached the rank of Major general . From December 1919 to June 1923 , he was the elected president of the University of California . He traveled for one year to Africa , Timbuktu and Sudan . He returned from Africa in 1924 and held the post of chairman of the Department of Political Science and continued to teach till he retired in 1943 . He wrote many syndicated articles for journals , newspapers , The World in Review , participated in radio talks , and also wrote many books on his experiences in Philippines and Africa . The book on his visit to Africa titled , " Berbers And Blacks : Impressions Of Morocco , Timbuktu And The Western Sudan " is very informative about Morocco and some of the important aspects narrated by him are explained in the next section . His post retirement activity also covered public service , in various capacities , such as on the Board of Trustees of Mills College , the California State Commission on Rural Credit and Land Colonization , the East Bay Municipal Utility District , and the Board of Trustees of California College in China . During the Second World War , as he was not eligible for active service , he was appointed as consultant to the Secretary of War and the Office of Strategic Services . After a long and highly distinguished career he died at the age of 81 , on September 5 , 1954 . His papers can be found in the University Archives to the Manuscripts Division ; his daughter Mrs . Ella Hagar further added to the collections .