McClellan, Catharine (1921–)

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McClellan, Catharine (1921–)

American cultural anthropologist. Name variations: Catharine Hitchcock. Born Catharine McClellan, Mar 1, 1921, in York, PA; dau. of William Smith McClellan (vice president of a lumber mill) and Josephine Niles McClellan; graduate of Bryn Mawr College, 1942; University of California, Berkeley, PhD, 1950; m. John Hitchcock (anthropologist), 1974.

Known primarily for work among peoples of Alaska and the Yukon Territory, studied with future field companion Frederica de Laguna at Bryn Mawr; during WWII, served in US Navy; taught at University of Washington (1952–56), Barnard College (1956–61), and University of Wisconsin (1961–83); with de Laguna, studied Tlingit Indians of Angoon (AK, 1950), peoples of Yukon Territory (Canada), Yakutat Tlingit and Atna Athapaskans (Copper River, AK, 1950s); worked with Alaskan Inuit; continued studies of Atna (1958–60); served as president of American Ethnological Society.

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