Mary Lindsay Elmendorf facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Lindsay Elmendorf
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Elmendorf c. 2011
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| Born | April 13, 1917 Ruby, South Carolina, United States
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| Died | September 15, 2017 (aged 100) |
| Spouse(s) | John van Gaasbeek Elmendorf (1937 -1980) John L. Landgraf (1981 - 2010) |
Mary Lindsay Elmendorf (1917-2017) was an American scientist. She was known for her work with Mayan women in Mexico. She also used her knowledge of people and cultures (anthropology) to help with new technologies.
Her early work took her to different places. She worked in the countryside and cities like Boston and New Haven. She also worked at the Putney School in Vermont and in Mexico. Mary focused on helping women choose and manage tools and ideas that improved their lives.
Life and Education
Mary Elmendorf met her first husband, John Elmendorf, at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. They got married in December 1937. After John passed away in 1980, she later married Dr. John Landgraf.
Mary was a top student at St. Pauls High School in 1933. She earned her first degree in Psychology in 1937. She also got a master's level degree in Public Administration and Social Work in 1941. Later, she studied Anthropology and earned a Ph.D. in 1972.
Mary joined many important groups. These included the American Anthropological Association and the Society for Applied Anthropology. She also worked with the AAUW and the United Nations Association.
She volunteered with the American Friends Service Committee from 1944 to 1946. From 1952 to 1960, she led the CARE office in Mexico. In 1975, she became the first anthropologist hired by the World Bank. Mary also taught at places like Brown University. She helped at United Nations meetings on women in Mexico, Copenhagen, Nairobi, and Beijing.
Mary Elmendorf passed away on September 15, 2017, at 100 years old.
Nine Mayan Women
One of Mary Elmendorf's most famous books is Nine Mayan Women. In this book, she shared detailed studies of Mayan women. These women lived in the village of Chan Kom in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico.
The book focused on how happy and satisfied these Mayan women were with their lives. Mary found that the women were generally happy and valued their work. They also shared a strong respect with their husbands.
Other experts, like Steffen W. Schmidt, have reviewed her work. Her studies also influenced other scholars, such as John G. Frazier.
Awards
Mary Elmendorf received many awards for her important work:
- 1947 Nobel Peace Prize (received by the group she was part of, the British and American Quakers)
- 1981 Praxis Award
- 1982 Margaret Mead Award
- 1993 Distinguished Alumna Award
- 1996 Award from the United Nations Association
- 1996 SULABH International Social Service Organization Award
- 1997 Outstanding Alumna Award, Queens College
- 2007 PLACA- Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2009 Brown University (Honorary Degree as Doctor of Humane Letters)
Leadership Roles and Honors
Mary Elmendorf held many important leadership roles:
- 1975 - 1997: Consulting Anthropologist for The World Bank.
- 1977 - 1979: Fellow at the Research Institute for the Study of Man (RISM).
- 1982 - 1997: Worked with the United Nations Development Program.
- 1982 - 1991: Worked with the World Health Organization (WHO).
- 1980 - 1985: Involved with the Water and Sanitation for Health Project (WASH).
- 1980 - 1982: Worked with the Institute for Rural Water.
- 1993: Participated in a UNPFA Seminar on "Women, Population and Environment."
- 1993: Participated in the InterACTION Forum.
- 1991: Helped lead the Global Assembly of Women and the Environment.
- 1984: Worked with International Environmental Services (IES).
- 1980: Founded and directed Appropriate Designs for Basic Needs (ADBN).
- 1972 - 1990: Worked with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
- 1960 - 1982: Consultant for the Peace Corps.
- 1963 - 1967: Consultant for the Overseas Education Fund of the League of Women Voters.
- 1985 - 1995: Worked with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).
- 1984 - 1986: Worked with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN.
