Alfred L. Kroeber facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alfred L. Kroeber
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Kroeber with Ishi in 1911
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Alfred Louis Kroeber
June 11, 1876 |
| Died | October 5, 1960 (aged 84) |
| Alma mater | Columbia University |
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| Children | Ted and Clifton Brown Kroeber (adopted), Karl and Ursula Kroeber |
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| Awards | Viking Fund Medal (1946) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Cultural anthropology |
| Institutions | University of California, Berkeley |
Alfred Louis Kroeber (born June 11, 1876 – died October 5, 1960) was an important American cultural anthropologist. A cultural anthropologist studies human societies and cultures. He was one of the first people to teach anthropology at a university in the United States.
Kroeber is well-known for his work with a man named Ishi. Ishi was believed to be the last surviving member of the Yahi people. Kroeber was also the father of the famous writer Ursula K. Le Guin.
Contents
Discovering Human Cultures
Alfred Kroeber was a leading figure in American anthropology. He helped shape how we study human cultures. He believed that culture was very important. Culture is everything we learn and share as part of a group. This includes our language, beliefs, and customs.
His Early Life and Studies
Alfred Kroeber was born in Hoboken, New Jersey. This was on June 11, 1876. He went to Columbia University to study. In 1901, he earned his Ph.D. there.
His main teacher was Franz Boas. Boas was a very famous anthropologist. He is often called the "Father of American Anthropology." Kroeber learned a lot from Boas about studying different cultures.
A Leader in Anthropology
Kroeber became the first professor in the Department of Anthropology. This was at the University of California, Berkeley. He helped build the anthropology program there. He taught many students about human cultures.
He also directed the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology at Berkeley. He was in charge of the museum from 1909 to 1947. During this time, he helped collect and study many important artifacts. These items helped people learn about different cultures.
Working with Ishi
One of Kroeber's most famous works was with a man named Ishi. Ishi was thought to be the last living member of the Yahi people. The Yahi were a group of Native Americans from California. Ishi came out of hiding in 1911.
Kroeber and his team helped Ishi. They learned about his language and culture. Ishi shared his knowledge of his people's traditions. This helped preserve information about a culture that was almost lost. Kroeber wrote about Ishi's life and culture.
His Family
Alfred Kroeber married Theodora Kroeber in 1926. She was also a writer and anthropologist. They had two children together. Their son was Karl Kroeber. Their daughter was Ursula K. Le Guin.
Ursula K. Le Guin became a very famous writer. She wrote many popular science fiction and fantasy books. Her father's work in anthropology likely influenced her stories.
See also
In Spanish: Alfred Kroeber para niños
