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Trudy Griffin-Pierce

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Trudy Griffin-Pierce
Born
Trudy Ann Griffin

(1949-12-27)December 27, 1949
DiedJanuary 6, 2009(2009-01-06) (aged 59)
Occupations
Spouse
(m. 1979; died 2005)
Academic background
Alma mater
Academic work
DisciplineMedical anthropology
InstitutionsUniversity of Arizona

Trudy Ann Griffin-Pierce (December 27, 1949 – January 6, 2009) was an American medical anthropologist, writer and artist. At the time of her death she was an associate professor of anthropology at the University of Arizona.[1]

Biography

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Trudy Ann Griffin was born 27 December 1949 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. She was of Catawba Indian heritage, and from a young age was fascinated with the Navajo people.[2] Her father was in the U.S. Air Force, which saw the family move regularly.[3] Her mother died when Griffin was 16.[3][2]

Griffin graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor of fine arts. Whilst a student she contacted the chairman of the Navajo Tribe, Raymond Nakai, asking to join a Navajo family. She was put in touch with a family in Many Farms, Arizona who informally adopted her, and taught her the Navajo language and culture.[2][3][4] Griffin enrolled at the University of Arizona to study fine arts, before switching and graduating with a MA in museum studies in 1970.

Griffin worked as a curator at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and then at Kitt Peak National Observatory. At Kitt Peak she met solar astronomer Keith Pierce, whom she married in 1979.[3]

Griffin-Pierce returned to the University of Arizona to work on a doctorate in cultural anthropology, graduating in 1987.[3][1] The same year she joined the faculty of the University of Arizona specialising in medical anthropology and native cultures.[3] She wrote six books on Native American culture, the final book published posthumously.

Griffin-Pierce died at home January 6, 2009 aged 59.[2] Her papers are held by the University of Arizona.[3]

Books

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Trudy Griffin-Pierce". Arizona Daily Star. January 18, 2009. pp. B9. Archived from the original on August 1, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b c d Matas, Kimberly (February 2, 2009). "Trudy Griffin-Pierce: Navajo culture, beliefs were her inspiration". Arizona Daily Star. pp. A10, A13. Archived from the original on June 17, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Trudy Griffin-Pierce and Keith Pierce Papers, 1938-2009". Special Collections at the University of Arizona Libraries. University of Arizona. Archived from the original on August 1, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  4. ^ "Trudy Griffin-Pierce". Gale Literature: Contemporary Authors. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale. 2023. ISBN 978-0-7876-3995-2.

Further reading

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