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Philip Hanson Hiss was born in February of 1910 in New York. Throughout his youth he attended private schools and traveled around the world. Hiss was particularly fascinated with Bali, an island that he selected as a topic for a book. During World War II Hiss served in the Office of Strategic Service, and after that he became an assistant diplomat in charge of education in Holland. In 1948, Hiss settled in Sarasota after learning about Paul Rudolph's work there. Hiss had the intention of building speculative modern homes with Rudolph and other Sarasota architects, and as Hiss was a man of independent means, he was able to carry this out. He soon began developing houses on Lido Shores, on the north end of Lido Key. He worked with Ralph and William Zimmerman, as well as with Paul Rudolph.
After moving to Sarasota, Hiss developed a strong interest in the public schools. He was disgusted by the physical and intellectual conditions of the schools, so he ran for and easily obtained a seat on the Board of Public Instruction. It wasn't long before Hiss became the chairman of the board and was able to float a bond to build new schools. Along with better buildings, Hiss added new curriculum to the schools. The new schools and the additions were designed by the Sarasota architects with whom Hiss had already become so well acquainted.
Before leaving Sarasota for London, England in the late 1960s Hiss would be instrumental in the creation of New College, a private liberal arts college (later to become part of the University of South Florida) established in 1964. New College continued Hiss's legacy of architectural and academic excellence. Selected to serve as President of the Board of Trustees, in 1960, Hiss championed an architect selection process so innovative that it received funding assistance form the Educational Facilities Laboratories of the Ford Foundation. Ultimately, I.M. Pei was selected as the architect for New College, and the dormitories on the east side of the Tamiami Trail still bear his name.
Hiss died in California on October 24, 1988.
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