Helen Leach facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Helen Leach
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Leach in 2018
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Helen May Keedwell
3 July 1945 Wellington, New Zealand
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| Alma mater | University of Otago |
| Relatives | Nancy Tichborne (sister) |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | University of Otago |
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| Doctoral advisor | Charles Higham |
Helen May Leach is a New Zealand expert in how people relate to food. She was born Helen May Keedwell on July 3, 1945. She is now a professor emerita at the University of Otago. This means she has retired but still keeps her professor title.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Helen May Keedwell was born in Wellington, New Zealand. Her birth date was July 3, 1945. Her parents were Peggy and Harvey Keedwell. Helen's older sister, Nancy Tichborne, was a famous artist. She painted with watercolours.
In the early 1950s, Helen's family moved to Dunedin. She went to Otago Girls' High School. Later, she studied at the University of Otago. She earned a Master of Arts degree there.
A Career in Food History
Helen Leach started working at the University of Otago in 1972. In 2002, she became a full professor of anthropology. Anthropology is the study of human societies and cultures.
Studying Ancient Gardens
Helen first trained as an archaeologist. This means she studied human history by digging up old sites. In 1976, she earned her PhD. Her research looked at how people grew plants in ancient New Zealand. She studied old stone walls in Palliser Bay. She wanted to know what these walls were used for.
Exploring Food and Cooking
Helen Leach has spent her career studying food. She looks at how people eat, cook, and what tools they use. Her research covers a wide range of topics.
- She studies how people grew food long ago.
- She explores how human diets have changed over time.
- She researches the history of cooking methods.
- She also looks at where recipes came from.
- She studies how kitchens and cooking tools developed.
Helen has a huge collection of cookbooks. Many of these are community cookbooks. These books have been very helpful for other researchers. They fill in gaps that the National Library of New Zealand might have.
One expert, Barbara Santich, reviewed Helen's book Kitchens. She said that New Zealanders are lucky to have Helen Leach. She called Helen a "guide, guardian and safe-keeper of their gastronomic past." This means Helen helps preserve New Zealand's food history. Her book also shows pictures of old cooking items from her own collection.
Helen Leach retired from the University of Otago in 2008. She was then given the title of emeritus professor.
Awards and Recognition
Helen Leach has received 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 in New Zealand.
- In 2018, she received another special award. She was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit. This award was for her great work in culinary anthropology. Culinary anthropology is the study of food and culture.
See also
In Spanish: Helen Leach para niños
