University of Arizona

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Women in Anthropology

Celebrating Excellence

A new exhibit at the Main Library celebrates two great occasions – the centennial anniversary of the UA School of Anthropology and Women’s History Month – by exploring the seminal work, impact, and achievements of women in the field of anthropology. Through biographical profiles, photographs, studies, and monographs covering gender, race, and  feminism in anthropology, “Celebrating Excellence: Women in Anthropology” highlights the contributions of seven influential American female anthropologists.

Covering the 20th century to present day, the exhibit features the work of:

  • Ruth Underhill (1883-1984), known for her many publications that dispelled myths about Native American culture.
  • Ruth Benedict (1887-1948), an anthropologist and folklorist known for studies of the relationships between personality, art, language and culture. Benedict was also the second female president of the American Anthropological Association.
  • Gladys Reichard (1893-1955), a cultural and linguistic anthropologist best known for her studies of Navajo language and culture.
  • Hortense Powdermaker (1896-1970), best known for her ethnographic studies of African Americans in rural America.
  • Margaret Mead (1901-1978), a cultural anthropologist who tackled controversial social issues and became a frequent speaker and lecturer in 1960s and 1970s.
  • Ruth Landes (1908-1991), a cultural anthropologist best known for studies on Brazilian candomblé cults and her study of race and gender relations.
  • Jane Hill, Regents’ Professor and Professor of Anthropology and Linguistics at the University of Arizona known for her research on the Uto-Aztecan languages and language ideology.

“Celebrating Excellence: Women in Anthropology” was curated as a companion display to Special Collections current exhibition, “Celebrating Excellence: 100 Years of UA Anthropology,” which runs through July 30, 2015.