Elizabeth Jacobs (anthropologist) facts for kids

Elizabeth Derr Jacobs (born in 1903, died May 21, 1983) was an anthropologist. An anthropologist is someone who studies human societies and cultures. Elizabeth Jacobs was especially interested in the native cultures of the Pacific Northwest region of North America.

Who Was Elizabeth Derr Jacobs?

Elizabeth Derr Jacobs is best known for her studies of the Nehalem Tillamook people. The Nehalem Tillamook are a group of the larger Tillamook tribe. She worked with them in the 1930s, learning about their way of life.

Her Special Focus

Elizabeth Jacobs had a unique way of studying cultures. She didn't have official training in anthropology. She became interested in it because her husband, Melville Jacobs, was also an anthropologist.

Because of this, she often looked at things other anthropologists might miss. She focused a lot on the lives of women in these cultures. This was different from many researchers at the time. They often focused on things like place names or tools.

A Change in Career

After her work in the Pacific Northwest, Elizabeth Jacobs changed her career. She became a psychotherapist, which is a type of counselor. She helped people with their mental and emotional well-being.

However, she returned to anthropology later in life. After she retired in 1975, she went back to studying cultures.