Fay-Cooper Cole

Fay-Cooper Cole was a prominent American anthropologist and archaeologist who made significant contributions to the field of anthropology, particularly in the areas of ethnology and prehistory. He was associated with the University of Chicago and the Field Museum of Natural History, where he worked alongside notable figures such as Frederic Ward Putnam and George Amos Dorsey. Cole's work was influenced by his interactions with other prominent anthropologists, including Franz Boas and Alfred L. Kroeber. His research focused on the indigenous peoples of the Americas, including the Native Americans and the Inuit.

● Early Life and Education

Fay-Cooper Cole was born in Washington, D.C. in 1881 and developed an interest in anthropology at an early age, inspired by the work of Lewis Henry Morgan and Edward Burnett Tylor. He pursued his undergraduate degree at Dartmouth College, where he was exposed to the teachings of Ernest Thompson Seton and Frank Hamilton Cushing. Cole then went on to earn his graduate degree from Columbia University, studying under the guidance of Franz Boas and John Wesley Powell. During his time at Columbia University, Cole was also influenced by the work of Ruth Benedict and Margaret Mead.

● Career

Cole's career in anthropology spanned several decades, during which he held positions at the University of Chicago and the Field Museum of Natural History. He worked closely with other notable anthropologists, including Robert Redfield and Melville Herskovits, and was involved in various research projects, such as the Hawikuh Expedition and the Kincaid Expedition. Cole's work also took him to various parts of the world, including Mexico, Guatemala, and the Philippines, where he conducted field research alongside Sylvanus Griswold Morley and Alfred Vincent Kidder. His interactions with other prominent figures, such as John Peabody Harrington and Matthew Williams Stirling, further shaped his research and contributions to the field.

● Research and Contributions

Fay-Cooper Cole's research focused on the ethnology and prehistory of the indigenous peoples of the Americas, with a particular emphasis on the Native Americans and the Inuit. He conducted extensive field research, including excavations at Cahokia Mounds and Kincaid Mounds, and published numerous papers on his findings, including works in the American Anthropologist and the Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute. Cole's contributions to the field of anthropology were recognized by his peers, including Bronisław Malinowski and Edward Sapir, and he was elected as a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences. His work also influenced the development of cultural anthropology, as seen in the research of Clifford Geertz and Sherry Ortner.

● Personal Life

Fay-Cooper Cole was married to Mabel Cook Cole, a fellow anthropologist who shared his interests in ethnology and prehistory. The couple had two children and lived in Chicago, Illinois, where they were part of a vibrant community of anthropologists and archaeologists, including Thorne Deuel and Paul S. Martin. Cole was also an avid collector of ethnographic artifacts, and his collection is now housed at the Field Museum of Natural History, alongside the collections of George Amos Dorsey and Harlan Ingersoll Smith. His personal life was also influenced by his interactions with other notable figures, such as Ralph Linton and Alexander Lesser.

● Legacy

Fay-Cooper Cole's legacy in the field of anthropology is significant, with his research and contributions continuing to influence contemporary scholars, including Napoleon Chagnon and Sherry Ortner. His work on the ethnology and prehistory of the indigenous peoples of the Americas remains an important part of the field, and his publications continue to be cited by researchers, including those at the Smithsonian Institution and the National Museum of Natural History. Cole's contributions to the development of cultural anthropology are also recognized, and his influence can be seen in the work of scholars such as Clifford Geertz and James Clifford. The University of Chicago and the Field Museum of Natural History continue to recognize Cole's contributions to the field, and his legacy serves as an inspiration to future generations of anthropologists and archaeologists, including those at the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology and the American Museum of Natural History.

Category:American anthropologists