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Yolanda Murphy facts for kids

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Yolanda Murphy (born Bukowska) was an American scientist who studied different cultures. She was born in Poland in 1925. She wrote an important book called Women of the Forest. This book was about the Mundurucu people who live in the Amazon rainforest.

Who Was Yolanda Murphy?

Yolanda Murphy was a special kind of scientist. She was a cultural anthropologist. This means she studied how different groups of people live. She looked at their customs, beliefs, and how they interact.

She wrote a famous book with her husband, Robert F. Murphy. The book was called Women of the Forest. It was based on their time spent with the Mundurucu people. They lived with this group in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. This was in the year 1952.

Her Early Life and Studies

Yolanda was born in Warsaw, Poland, on April 10, 1925. She moved to the United States later. She went to Columbia University for her studies. There, she met her future husband, Robert F. Murphy. They were both graduate students.

Studying the Mundurucu People

Yolanda and Robert did a lot of field work together. Field work means living with and observing people in their natural environment. They traveled to Brazil to study the Mundurucu Indians. These people live deep in the Amazon rainforest. Their studies helped them write their very important book.

Later Life

Yolanda Murphy also taught at Empire State College. This is a part of the State University of New York (SUNY). She passed away in Medford, Oregon, on June 3, 2016. She was 91 years old.

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