Helen Leach facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Helen Leach
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Leach in 2018
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| Born |
Helen May Keedwell
3 July 1945 Wellington, New Zealand
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| Died | 23 January 2026 (aged 80) Christchurch, New Zealand
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| Alma mater | University of Otago |
| Relatives | Nancy Tichborne (sister) |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | University of Otago |
| Thesis |
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| Doctoral advisor | Charles Higham |
Helen May Leach (born Helen May Keedwell on July 3, 1945, and who passed away on January 23, 2026) was a brilliant New Zealand expert. She studied how people relate to food, cooking, and eating, which is called food anthropology. She was a respected professor at the University of Otago.
Contents
Growing Up: Helen's Early Life and Family
Helen May Keedwell was born in Wellington, New Zealand, on July 3, 1945. Her parents were Peggy and Harvey Keedwell. Helen had an older sister, Nancy Tichborne, who became a talented artist known for her watercolour paintings.
In the early 1950s, Helen's family moved to Dunedin. There, she attended Otago Girls' High School. After high school, she continued her studies at the University of Otago. She earned a Master of Arts degree from this university.
Helen's Amazing Career: Studying Food and History
Helen Leach joined the University of Otago staff in 1972. She became a professor of anthropology in 2002. She first studied archaeology, which is about ancient human history. In 1976, she earned her PhD. Her research looked at old gardening methods in New Zealand.
Exploring Food Through Time
Professor Leach loved to study everything about food. She explored how people ate, cooked, and what tools they used in New Zealand. Her studies covered many exciting topics.
She looked at ancient gardening and how human diets changed over time. She also researched the history of cooking and where recipes came from. She even studied how kitchens and cooking tools developed in the 1900s.
A Special Collection of Cookbooks
Helen had a huge collection of cookbooks. Many were community cookbooks, made by local groups. This collection was very helpful for other researchers. It filled gaps in the National Library of New Zealand's own collection.
A reviewer, Barbara Santich, once said that New Zealanders were lucky to have Helen. She called her a 'guide' and 'safe-keeper' of their food history. Helen's 2014 book, Kitchens, even showed pictures from her own collection of old kitchen items.
Retirement and Legacy
Helen Leach retired from the University of Otago in 2008. She was given the special title of 'emeritus professor'. This means she kept her professor title even after retiring. Helen passed away in Christchurch on January 23, 2026, at 80 years old. Her work continues to inspire many.
Awards and Recognitions for Helen
Helen Leach received many important awards for her work. In 2004, she became a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand. This is a high honour for scientists and researchers.
Queen's Birthday Honours
In 2018, Helen was recognized in the Queen's Birthday Honours. She was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit. This award was given for her great contributions to culinary anthropology. It showed how much her studies of food and culture meant to New Zealand.
See also
In Spanish: Helen Leach para niños
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