Rhoda Metraux
Encyclopedia
Dr. Rhoda Bubendey Metraux (1914–2003), was a prominent anthropologist in the area of cross-cultural studies, specializing in Haitian voodoo and the Iatmul of New Guinea. She collaborated with Alfred Metraux
, on mutual studies of Voodoo in Haiti. During World War II
, Dr. Metraux headed the section on German morale for the US Office of Strategic Services
(OSS).
Rhoda Metraux was also an important professional and personal partner of Margaret Mead
(1901–1978). Together with Mead, she wrote several books and many articles on major issues from the 1950s to the late 1970s. As a contributing editor to Redbook magazine
for well over a decade, both wrote many articles on contemporary issues that later formed the basis of a number of books including A Way of Seeing. Margaret Mead and Rhoda Metraux were in fact a close-knit professional team whose work greatly influenced American anthropology in the late 20th century. They shared a house in Greenwich Village
in New York
from 1955 to 1966 and an apartment on Central Park West
from 1966 to 1978.
Dr. Rhoda Metraux, a pioneer cultural anthropologist who worked in World War II to help the U.S. and allies understand themselves and their adversaries, died in Barton, Vermont November 26, 2003. She suffered from Alzheimer's disease
. With the advent of U.S. and U.N. involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq, her work on "national character" is taking on contemporary significance by scholars and public servants interested in the application of the behavioral sciences to making foreign policy. Apart from public affairs issues, Metraux explored the intersections of anthropology, psychotherapy and literature. Her comparative and qualitative approaches to anthropology drew upon her research in both nation-states and the Iatmul people of New Guinea.
As a collaborator of Margaret Mead (1901–1978), Metraux co-edited with Mead the 1953 book, The Study of Culture at a Distance, and Themes in French Culture. Both were re-published during the Mead centennial in 2001, and were cited in the Smithsonian-Library of Congress
symposium, "The Interplay of Cultures: Whither the U.S. in the World?" From 1947 to 1953, she was a key participant in the Columbia University
"Research on Contemporary Cultures Project" financed, in part, by the Office of Naval Research
. Readers of Redbook magazine in the 1960s and 1970s could find her insights and findings reflected in Margaret Mead's column aimed mainly at women.
Born Rhoda Bubendey in Brooklyn
, N.Y. October 18, 1914 to a prominent German banking family, she was educated at Packer School, and studied literature at Vassar College
, graduating in 1934, and serving later as an editor at Oxford University Press
. Columbia University awarded her a Ph.D.
in 1951 for her work on Haitian Voodoo. Her varied research projects included studying cultural factors influencing physical and mental health of Chinese expatriates in New York separated from their homeland by the Communist revolution
.
Like Ruth Benedict, another Mead collaborator, who helped influence the retention of the Emperor system in Japan, Metraux served on the planning staff of the Office of Strategic Services. She estimated the morale of armed forces of Germany and Japan. Coincidentally, her husband, the celebrated Swiss-Argentine onetime Smithsonian anthropologist, Alfred Metraux
, participated in studies of the Strategic Bombing Survey of Germany. (He was the founder of anthropology in Argentina, and author of classical works on the sculpture of Easter Island
, the history of the Inca, Haitian voodoo, and of early UNESCO
statements on race. He is to be the focus of a Smithsonian exhibition in 2006 on the history of 20th century anthropology to which both made unique contributions). Their marriage ended in divorce. The intellectual legacy of both parents has enriched the career of their son, Dr. Daniel Metraux, founder of the Department of Asian Studies, Mary Baldwin College
, Staunton, Virginia.
During her professional career, Dr. Metraux served as Research Associate at the American Museum of Natural History
, an advisor to the Office of Interdisciplinary Studies at the Smithsonian, and as a consultant to the Institute for Intercultural Studies of New York, founded by Margaret Mead.
Her decades of association with Mead made her particularly valuable to the Library of Congress in processing the vast collection of Mead manuscripts and related memorabilia deposited there.
A memorial service was held in Greensboro, Vermont
in July 2004
Survivors include a brother, Paul Bubendey, Vero Beach, Fl. a son, Daniel Metraux, Staunton, Va., a grandson, David Metraux, Syracuse, N.Y., and a granddaughter, Katherine Metraux, Pioneer, California.
Alfred Metraux
Alfred Métraux was a Swiss anthropologist and human rights leader.-Early life:Born in Lausanne, Switzerland, Metraux spent much of his childhood in Argentina where his father was a well known surgeon resident in Mendoza. His mother was a Georgian from Tbilisi...
, on mutual studies of Voodoo in Haiti. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Dr. Metraux headed the section on German morale for the US Office of Strategic Services
Office of Strategic Services
The Office of Strategic Services was a United States intelligence agency formed during World War II. It was the wartime intelligence agency, and it was a predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency...
(OSS).
Rhoda Metraux was also an important professional and personal partner of Margaret Mead
Margaret Mead
Margaret Mead was an American cultural anthropologist, who was frequently a featured writer and speaker in the mass media throughout the 1960s and 1970s....
(1901–1978). Together with Mead, she wrote several books and many articles on major issues from the 1950s to the late 1970s. As a contributing editor to Redbook magazine
Redbook
Redbook is an American women's magazine published by the Hearst Corporation. It is one of the "Seven Sisters", a group of women's service magazines.-History:...
for well over a decade, both wrote many articles on contemporary issues that later formed the basis of a number of books including A Way of Seeing. Margaret Mead and Rhoda Metraux were in fact a close-knit professional team whose work greatly influenced American anthropology in the late 20th century. They shared a house in Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
from 1955 to 1966 and an apartment on Central Park West
Central Park West
Central Park West is an avenue that runs north-south in the New York City borough of Manhattan, in the United States....
from 1966 to 1978.
Obituary
(by Dr. Wilton S. Dillon)Dr. Rhoda Metraux, a pioneer cultural anthropologist who worked in World War II to help the U.S. and allies understand themselves and their adversaries, died in Barton, Vermont November 26, 2003. She suffered from Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
. With the advent of U.S. and U.N. involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq, her work on "national character" is taking on contemporary significance by scholars and public servants interested in the application of the behavioral sciences to making foreign policy. Apart from public affairs issues, Metraux explored the intersections of anthropology, psychotherapy and literature. Her comparative and qualitative approaches to anthropology drew upon her research in both nation-states and the Iatmul people of New Guinea.
As a collaborator of Margaret Mead (1901–1978), Metraux co-edited with Mead the 1953 book, The Study of Culture at a Distance, and Themes in French Culture. Both were re-published during the Mead centennial in 2001, and were cited in the Smithsonian-Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
symposium, "The Interplay of Cultures: Whither the U.S. in the World?" From 1947 to 1953, she was a key participant in the Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
"Research on Contemporary Cultures Project" financed, in part, by the Office of Naval Research
Office of Naval Research
The Office of Naval Research , headquartered in Arlington, Virginia , is the office within the United States Department of the Navy that coordinates, executes, and promotes the science and technology programs of the U.S...
. Readers of Redbook magazine in the 1960s and 1970s could find her insights and findings reflected in Margaret Mead's column aimed mainly at women.
Born Rhoda Bubendey in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, N.Y. October 18, 1914 to a prominent German banking family, she was educated at Packer School, and studied literature at Vassar College
Vassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
, graduating in 1934, and serving later as an editor at Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
. Columbia University awarded her a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in 1951 for her work on Haitian Voodoo. Her varied research projects included studying cultural factors influencing physical and mental health of Chinese expatriates in New York separated from their homeland by the Communist revolution
Communist revolution
A communist revolution is a proletarian revolution inspired by the ideas of Marxism that aims to replace capitalism with communism, typically with socialism as an intermediate stage...
.
Like Ruth Benedict, another Mead collaborator, who helped influence the retention of the Emperor system in Japan, Metraux served on the planning staff of the Office of Strategic Services. She estimated the morale of armed forces of Germany and Japan. Coincidentally, her husband, the celebrated Swiss-Argentine onetime Smithsonian anthropologist, Alfred Metraux
Alfred Metraux
Alfred Métraux was a Swiss anthropologist and human rights leader.-Early life:Born in Lausanne, Switzerland, Metraux spent much of his childhood in Argentina where his father was a well known surgeon resident in Mendoza. His mother was a Georgian from Tbilisi...
, participated in studies of the Strategic Bombing Survey of Germany. (He was the founder of anthropology in Argentina, and author of classical works on the sculpture of Easter Island
Easter Island
Easter Island is a Polynesian island in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, at the southeasternmost point of the Polynesian triangle. A special territory of Chile that was annexed in 1888, Easter Island is famous for its 887 extant monumental statues, called moai, created by the early Rapanui people...
, the history of the Inca, Haitian voodoo, and of early UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
statements on race. He is to be the focus of a Smithsonian exhibition in 2006 on the history of 20th century anthropology to which both made unique contributions). Their marriage ended in divorce. The intellectual legacy of both parents has enriched the career of their son, Dr. Daniel Metraux, founder of the Department of Asian Studies, Mary Baldwin College
Mary Baldwin College
Mary Baldwin College is a private, independent, and comprehensive four-year liberal arts women's college in Staunton, Virginia. It was ranked in 2008 by US News & World Report as a top-tier, master's level university in the South. Mary Baldwin offers pre-professional programs in law, medicine,...
, Staunton, Virginia.
During her professional career, Dr. Metraux served as Research Associate at the American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History , located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States, is one of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world...
, an advisor to the Office of Interdisciplinary Studies at the Smithsonian, and as a consultant to the Institute for Intercultural Studies of New York, founded by Margaret Mead.
Her decades of association with Mead made her particularly valuable to the Library of Congress in processing the vast collection of Mead manuscripts and related memorabilia deposited there.
A memorial service was held in Greensboro, Vermont
Greensboro, Vermont
Greensboro is the southernmost town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 770 at the 2000 census. The town includes the places of Campbells Corners, East Greensboro, Gebbie Corner, Greensboro Four Corners, Greensboro Bend, The Four Corners, Tolmans Corner, and Burlington...
in July 2004
Survivors include a brother, Paul Bubendey, Vero Beach, Fl. a son, Daniel Metraux, Staunton, Va., a grandson, David Metraux, Syracuse, N.Y., and a granddaughter, Katherine Metraux, Pioneer, California.
Important works
- The Study of Culture at a Distance (1953)
- Themes of French Culture (1954)
- Culture and Psychotherapy (1974)
- A Way of Seeing (1975)