Marjorie Halpin facts for kids

Marjorie Halpin (born February 11, 1937 – died August 30, 2000) was an important anthropologist from the U.S. and Canada. She was especially known for her studies of Northwest Coast art and the cultures of the Tsimshian and Gitxsan peoples.

She helped us understand more about the rich history and traditions of these Indigenous groups.

Marjorie's Early Life and Studies

Marjorie Halpin earned her master's degree from George Washington University in 1963. After that, she worked for five years at the Smithsonian Institution, a famous museum and research center.

In 1968, she moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. There, she started her Ph.D. studies at the University of British Columbia. She worked closely with another well-known anthropologist, Wilson Duff.

Understanding Northwest Coast Culture

In 1973, Marjorie finished her Ph.D. thesis. It was called The Tsimshian Crest System. This study looked at museum items and old notes from researchers Marius Barbeau and William Beynon.

Her work was one of the first to use a special way of thinking called structuralism. This method helps to find patterns and structures in cultures. Her thesis was very important for understanding Northwest Coast culture.

Working at the Museum

Also in 1973, Marjorie Halpin joined the anthropology team at the University of British Columbia. She stayed there for the rest of her career. She became the curator of the Northwest Coast collection at UBC's Museum of Anthropology.

She helped make this collection famous around the world. She also worked closely with talented Northwest Coast artists like Bill Reid and Robert Davidson.

Fieldwork and Key Books

In 1980, Marjorie did fieldwork in Hartley Bay, B.C. She studied how the Tsimshian people named their children. She worked with the families of people who had helped William Beynon many years before.

Marjorie wrote several important books. One was a very popular guide to totem poles. She also edited a well-known book about the sasquatch, a mysterious creature from folklore. Another early study she wrote was about the life and work of William Beynon.

Later Research and Legacy

In 1997, Marjorie worked with her friend Margaret Seguin Anderson in the Gitksan village of Gitsegukla, B.C. They were working to publish William Beynon's detailed notes from a totem pole-raising ceremony in 1945.

This book, with new information and comments, was published just before Marjorie passed away in 2000.

In her last year, Marjorie also took part in a big conference in Paris. It honored Claude Lévi-Strauss, a famous French anthropologist. Marjorie was recognized for her key role in connecting French structuralism with the study of Northwest Coast cultures.

Marjorie Myers Halpin died on August 30, 2000, from cancer. She was 63 years old and passed away at her home in White Rock, B.C.