Alice Mossie Brues facts for kids

Alice Mossie Brues (born October 9, 1913 – died January 14, 2007) was an important American scientist. She was a physical anthropologist. This means she studied human evolution, how different groups of people are related, and how our bodies have changed over time. She spent her life researching and teaching about humans and their amazing diversity.

About Alice Brues

Alice Brues was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Her parents were both scientists. Her father, Charles Thomas Brues, studied insects, and her mother, Beirne Barrett Brues, studied plants. Growing up, Alice often helped her parents collect insects from plants. This early experience helped her develop a love for nature and science.

Her Education Journey

In 1933, Alice graduated from Bryn Mawr College. She studied philosophy and psychology there. Later, she went to Harvard University. She earned her PhD in physical anthropology from Harvard in 1940. Her main teacher there was Earnest Hooton, a famous anthropologist.

Starting Her Career

Alice's first job was at the Peabody Museum at Harvard. She also worked as an expert for the Chemical Corps, a part of the U.S. Army. In 1946, she became a professor at the University of Oklahoma School of Medicine. She taught anatomy, which is the study of the body's structure. She became a full professor in 1960.

She also worked as a curator at the Stovall Museum in Oklahoma. A curator is someone who manages a collection, in her case, physical anthropology items. She also helped with a seminar for homicide investigators, using her knowledge of human bodies.

Moving to Colorado

In 1965, Alice Brues moved to the University of Colorado Boulder. She joined the anthropology department there. She stayed at the University of Colorado until she retired in 1984.

Awards and Recognition

Alice Brues received several awards for her excellent work. These awards came from important scientific groups she was a part of. She was also involved in leading these groups. For example, she was the president of the American Association of Physical Anthropology from 1971 to 1973. She also helped edit the American Journal of Physical Anthropology, a major science magazine.

Her Important Book

Alice Brues wrote many scientific articles and several books. Her most well-known book was People and Races, published in 1977. In this book, she explored ideas about human groups and their physical differences. She dedicated the book to her father, saying he taught her to "think biologically" from a young age. The book was republished in 1990.