Edward "Sandy" Ives passes
Edward "Sandy" Ives, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology and founding Director of the Maine Folklife Center, passed away on August 1. Sandy had a huge, positive impact on thousands of anthropology students, his colleagues, the UMaine community, and the entire folklore profession.
Sandy's research focused on the working classes, particularly the lumbermen, of the northeastern region, and some of his interviews are recorded in the National Library of Congress. Sandy taught folklore and folksong courses, published numerous articles and books on his research, directed the Maine Folklife Center, and was awarded the Presidential Outstanding Public Service Award in 1993. He also invented the Rexford St. John Boyington Memorial Walking Stick Award that is ceremonially presented to Anthropology faculty upon the publication of a book. So far, 36 such ceremonies have been held. We will miss Sandy, and we honor his life and his achievements. Bangor Daily News article.
Ted Mitchell passes
The Anthropology department is saddened to learn of the passing of Theodore N. Mitchell on February 8, 2009. Ted was the founder of the Wabanaki Center and Native American Programs at the University of Maine. He stated the mission of The Wabanaki Center as "to build a and sustain a mutually beneficial relationship between the University of Maine and Native American Communities." Ted was a member of the Penobscot Nation, patriarch of the Bear Clan. He earned a Masters of Education degree at the University of Maine in 1973 and was with the University from 1974 until his retirement in the late 1990s.
Dick Emerick and Ted Mitchell on a trip to Orson Island, fall 1982
Even earlier, while still a graduate student in the late 1960s, Ted created the Native American component of the curriculum with the introduction of the course "Native Peoples of the Northeast." He subsequently was instrumental in creating and supervising various minority programs on campus: the African-American Student Association, The Native American Student Association, and the Asian-American Student Association. Ted dedicated his career to developing and promoting multicultural relations both on the university campus and in outside communities.
Ted had a long-time affiliation with the Department of Anthropology, and formed a close friendship with the department's founder, the Late Prof. Richard Emerick. He was a welcome participant in faculty meetings and will be sorely missed.
Climate Change on Planet Earth; A Monthly Public Lecture Series
This lecture series, organized by Assistant Professor Greg Zaro, is intended to make the science of climate change and human-environment connections accessible to a broad audience.
All lectures are free and open to the public.
The Climate Change on Planet Earth lecture series will resume in Fall 2009. Please watch for lecture announcements in October.
Jim Acheson Awarded Distinguished Maine Professor Honor
Our own Jim Acheson was awarded the most prestigious UMaine honor at the Honors Convocation this year - that of Distinguished Maine Professor! The DMP is awarded by the Alumni Association in honor of excellence in teaching, research, and service. These areas of Jim's life have been intertwined during his many years of service to the university, our students, and the state of Maine. Jim's environmental policy research on the lobstering industry in Maine is lauded as one of the most successful environmental policy initiatives nationwide, and for which he was honored with an Official Expression of Recognition from the 121st State of Maine Legislature. Maine's students have greatly benefited from Jim's expertise and skill in the classroom and willingness to train future policy makers in the field. Maine has gained an environmental policy expert whose ideas and abilities have provided the crucial link between the cultural human dimension to environmental understanding. Congratulations to Jim!!!
Pauleena MacDougall "Caned"
Not nearly so harsh as it sounds, Pauleena MacDougall of the Maine Folklife Center was recently awarded temporary custody of the Rexford Saint John Boyington Memorial Walking Stick for the publication of her recent book The Penobscot Dance of Resistance Tradition in the History of a People. This award, Instituted by Professor Sandy Ives in 1988, celebrates the publication of a new book by a department member. The honoree gets to keep the cane until the next book is published, at which time that person hosts a party to pass the cane on to the next honoree. The party for Pauleena was held Friday, December 19, 2008 at the home of Prof. Daniel Sandweiss.
Sandy Ives and Pauleena MacDougall, Friday, December 19, 2008
First Annual Maine Heritage Event honors Prof. James Acheson
The First Annual Maine Heritage Event was held November 6th, 2008 at Buchanan Alumni House. A Guest lecture was given by Professor James M. Acheson in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the publication of his book The Lobster Gangs of Maine. This work, incidentally, was the second to be recognized by the department's Rexford St John Boyington "caning" ceremony, and has been recognized by the Maine Historical Society as one of the top 100 books ever written dealing with the State of Maine.
Prof. James M. Acheson addresses the First Annual Maine Heritage Event
Prof. Acheson celebrates with wife Ann, and daughters Kate Kerkam and Elizabeth Acheson
Second Annual Climate Change Science Day Held
150 high school students and adult science educators came to campus on April 10 to experience hands-on climate change research. The students spent the day visiting archaeology, earth sciences, paleoecology, ice core, and remote sensing laboratories and were instructed by faculty and graduate students. Human and animal bones, archaeological artifacts, ice cores, chironomids, pollen, and glacial rocks were out for analysis. This year students from Orono, Veazie, Millinocket, Mt. Desert, and Camden were participants.
Prof. Brian Robinson instructs students in the Archaeology Lab
Prof. Kristin Sobolik speaks with students about human bones
