Dorothy Jean Ray
Encyclopedia
Dorothy Jean Ray was an author
and anthropologist
best known for her study of Native Alaskan
art
and culture
.
In addition to a number of published books, she has had articles and papers published in Alaska History
, Alaska Journal, Alaska, American Indian Art, Arctic Anthropology, Journal of the West
, Pacific Northwest Quarterly
, and others.
She received honorary doctorates
from the University of Alaska Fairbanks
and her alma mater, the University of Northern Iowa
. Additional honors include the Dorothy Jean Ray Anthropology Scholarship at the University of Northern Iowa.
Some of her lifetime collection of artifacts are now part of the University of Alaska Museum Fairbanks' collection. Her book A Legacy of Arctic Art has been described as being both a catalog of the collection, and a memoir
of the author's lengthy career.
She was married to fellow anthropologist and author Verne F. Ray
.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and anthropologist
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
best known for her study of Native Alaskan
Alaska Natives
Alaska Natives are the indigenous peoples of Alaska. They include: Aleut, Inuit, Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, Eyak, and a number of Northern Athabaskan cultures.-History:In 1912 the Alaska Native Brotherhood was founded...
art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
and culture
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
.
In addition to a number of published books, she has had articles and papers published in Alaska History
Alaska History
Alaska History is a peer-reviewed academic journal of history that publishes scholarship relating to the history of Alaska. Founded in 1984, it is published semiannually by the Alaska Historical Society. The current editor is Dr. James H. Ducker. Its editorial offices are located in Anchorage....
, Alaska Journal, Alaska, American Indian Art, Arctic Anthropology, Journal of the West
Journal of the West
Journal of the West is an illustrated quarterly history journal devoted to the history and culture of the American West. Each issue of the Journal is highlighted by a series of articles on a theme central to the history and life of the region. The journal is published by ABC-CLIO, in Santa Barbara,...
, Pacific Northwest Quarterly
Pacific Northwest Quarterly
Pacific Northwest Quarterly is a peer-reviewed academic journal of history that publishes scholarship relating to the Pacific Northwest of the United States, including Alaska, and adjacent areas of western Canada. Founded in 1906 by Edmond S...
, and others.
She received honorary doctorates
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
from the University of Alaska Fairbanks
University of Alaska Fairbanks
The University of Alaska Fairbanks, located in Fairbanks, Alaska, USA, is the flagship campus of the University of Alaska System, and is abbreviated as Alaska or UAF....
and her alma mater, the University of Northern Iowa
University of Northern Iowa
The University of Northern Iowa is a college located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, United States. UNI offers more than 120 majors across the colleges of Business Administration, Education, Humanities and Fine Arts, Natural Sciences, and Social and Behavioral sciences, and graduate college.UNI has...
. Additional honors include the Dorothy Jean Ray Anthropology Scholarship at the University of Northern Iowa.
Some of her lifetime collection of artifacts are now part of the University of Alaska Museum Fairbanks' collection. Her book A Legacy of Arctic Art has been described as being both a catalog of the collection, and a memoir
Memoir
A memoir , is a literary genre, forming a subclass of autobiography – although the terms 'memoir' and 'autobiography' are almost interchangeable. Memoir is autobiographical writing, but not all autobiographical writing follows the criteria for memoir set out below...
of the author's lengthy career.
She was married to fellow anthropologist and author Verne F. Ray
Verne F. Ray
Dr. Verne Frederick Ray, was anthropology professor at the University of Washington, with a B.A. and M.A. in anthropology from Washington and a Ph.D. from Yale...
.
Books
- A Legacy of Arctic Art - 1996 ISBN 0-295-97518-0
- The Eskimos of Bering Strait, 1650-1898 - 1992 ISBN 0-295-97122-3
- Aleut and Eskimo Art - 1986 ISBN 0-295-96410-3
- Ethnohistory in the Arctic: The Bering Strait Eskimo - 1983 ISBN 0-919642-98-5
- Artists of the Tundra and the Sea - 1980 ISBN 0-295-95732-8
- Eskimo Art: Tradition and Innovation in North Alaska - 1977 ISBN 0-295-95518-X
- Eskimo Masks: Art and Ceremony - 1975 ISBN 0-295-95353-5
External links
- On-line copy of her paper "The Eskimo and the Land: Ownership and Utilization" presented at the Thirteenth Alaskan Science Conference, August 25, 1962, Juneau, Alaska.