C. Scott Littleton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
C. Scott Littleton
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| Born | 1 July 1933 Los Angeles, California
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| Died | 25 November 2010 (aged 77) Pasadena, California
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| Citizenship | USA |
| Alma mater |
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| Spouse(s) |
Mary Ann Wuest
(m. 1961) |
| Children | 2 |
| Scientific career | |
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| Academic advisors | Jaan Puhvel |
| Influences | Georges Dumézil |
Covington Scott Littleton (born July 1, 1933 – died November 25, 2010) was an American expert in anthropology. He was a professor and head of the Anthropology Department at Occidental College. Littleton also helped start the Journal of Indo-European Studies. He was well-known for his studies on Indo-European mythology and Shinto, which is a Japanese religion. He wrote many books and articles about these topics.
Contents
About C. Scott Littleton
Covington Scott Littleton was born in Los Angeles, California, on July 1, 1933. He grew up in Hermosa Beach, California. When he was young, he served in the United States Army in Korea during the Korean War.
His Education
Littleton attended El Camino College from 1952 to 1954. After that, he studied at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He earned his first degree (A.B.) with high honors in 1957. He then received his Master's degree (M.A.) in 1962. In 1965, he completed his Ph.D. in anthropology. He was chosen to be the main speaker at UCLA's graduation ceremony for graduate students in 1965.
His Research and Work
Littleton's Ph.D. paper was published in 1966. It was titled The New Comparative Mythology: An Anthropological Assessment of the Theories of Georges Dumézil. This work helped spread the ideas of Georges Dumézil, a French scholar, to people who spoke English. Dumézil's ideas included the Trifunctional hypothesis, which is about how ancient societies were often divided into three main groups. Littleton's book is still seen as a very important source for understanding Dumézil's theories.
From 1961 to 1962, Littleton worked as a research assistant at UCLA's folklore center. In 1962, he began working at Occidental College. He started as an Assistant Professor of Anthropology. Over the years, he became an Associate Professor and then a full Professor. He also led the Department of Sociology and Anthropology for many years. Later, he became the Chair of the Department of Anthropology. He continued teaching at Occidental College until 2002.
Littleton was also a key part of the Journal of Indo-European Studies. He was on its Editorial Board from the very beginning. Since 2000, he served as its Mythology Editor.
His Main Interests
Littleton focused his studies on religion, mythology, and folklore. He was especially interested in Shinto, the legends of King Arthur, and Indo-European mythology. He wrote many books, articles, and reviews on these subjects. He also wrote a personal story about his life and a science fiction novel. Throughout his career, Littleton created hundreds of publications.
He was a member of many academic groups. He was also a Fulbright Scholar, which is a special award for scholars to study abroad. He was also a member of Phi Beta Kappa, an honor society for students.
C. Scott Littleton passed away on November 25, 2010, in Pasadena, California. He died from pneumonia after having heart surgery.
His Family and Hobbies
Littleton married Mary Ann Wuest on August 26, 1961. They had two daughters named Leslie and Cynthia. He enjoyed being active and was an avid runner, cycler, and swimmer. He also loved photography and reading science fiction books.
Sources
- Malcor, Linda (November 25, 2011). "C. Scott Littleton". Journal of Indo-European Studies (Institute for the Study of Man) 39 (1–2): 230–231. ProQuest 1095735658. https://www.proquest.com/docview/1095735658. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
- Miller, Dean (November 25, 2011). "C. Scott Littleton". Journal of Indo-European Studies (Institute for the Study of Man) 39 (3–4): 496–498. ProQuest 1095612957. https://www.proquest.com/docview/1095612957. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
- "C. Scott Littleton". Los Angeles Times: p. 37. September 5, 2010. https://www.newspapers.com/image/193446744/.
