Viola Garfield facts for kids

Viola E. Garfield (born December 5, 1899 – died November 25, 1983) was an American anthropologist. An anthropologist is a scientist who studies human societies and cultures. She is best known for her important work studying the social life and art of the Tsimshian people. The Tsimshian are a First Nations group who live in British Columbia, Canada, and Alaska, USA.

Early Life and First Steps

Viola Edmundson was born in Des Moines, Iowa. A few years later, her family moved to Coupeville, Washington. This town is located on Whidbey Island. She went to local schools there.

In 1919, she started college at the University of Washington in Seattle. Because of money reasons, she later transferred. She went to what is now Western Washington University in Bellingham. There, she earned a teaching certificate. In the 1920s, she began teaching Tsimshian children. This was in Metlakatla, Alaska, on Annette Island. This experience made her very interested in the cultures of the Pacific Northwest Coast.

Later, while working at the Seattle Chamber of Commerce, she met Charles Garfield. He was a former miner and fur trader from Alaska. Viola became his typist. They got married in 1924.

Her Important Work

In 1927, Viola Garfield went back to the University of Washington. She earned her first degree (a Bachelor of Arts) in 1928. Then, she got her Master of Arts degree in anthropology in 1931. Her master's paper was about Tsimshian marriage customs. She gathered this information by doing new research in Metlakatla. At the university, she studied with a professor named Erna Gunther.

For her Ph.D. (a higher degree), she took classes at Columbia University in New York City. She studied with famous anthropologists Franz Boas and Ruth Benedict.

In the early 1930s, Garfield did a lot of important research. She worked in Lax Kw'alaams, British Columbia. This place was known as Port Simpson back then. It was the biggest Canadian Tsimshian community. Her main helper was William Beynon. He was a hereditary chief and a trained fieldworker.

Their work in Port Simpson covered many parts of Tsimshian culture. They especially focused on how their society was organized. This was something Franz Boas wanted her to study. Her Ph.D. paper, finished in 1935 and published in 1939, was called Tsimshian Clan and Society. It is still a very helpful book today.

While in Port Simpson, Garfield was adopted into the Laxsgiik (Eagle clan). She was given the Tsimshian name Diiks.

Later in her career, she studied art and music. She also researched the Tlingit people in Alaska. Her husband helped her with this because he spoke Chinook Jargon.

Viola Garfield taught at the University of Washington for many years. She retired after decades of teaching. She passed away in 1983.

In 1984, a special book was published to honor her. It was called a Festschrift. This book was edited by Jay Miller and Carol M. Eastman.

Garfield's many important papers are kept at the University of Washington Special Collections.