Halseth, Odd S.

Anthropologist and founder of the Pueblo Grande Museum, Phoenix, Arizona.

Odd Sigurd Halseth (1893-1966) lived in Phoenix, Arizona, and was an anthropologist, museum director, educator, author, art critic and lecturer. He earned his Masters in Science from the University of Southern California. Halseth was born in Moss, Norway, in 1893. As a young man, he studied electrical engineering and anthropology in Germany. He left home and went to sea, in time becoming a marine engineer. He served both Norway and the United States during World War I. While training for warfare in San Diego, he met Dr. Edgar L. Hewett. After the war Halseth went to California and worked for Hewett as curator of art at the San Diego Museum, (1922-1923). In 1923 he went to New Mexico and joined the staff of the School of American Research in Santa Fe. He also worked for the Museum of New Mexico as curator of the Puye archaeological site. In 1927, Halseth became director of the newly established Arizona Museum in Phoenix. In 1929, he was put in charge of the Phoenix Pueblo Grande Ruin, which sat amidst a large Hohokam culture site. Realizing its educational potential, he built and founded the open air Pueblo Grande Museum. He prepared the displays, wrote educational booklets, and provided classroom instruction at the site. Halseth served as the Phoenix City Archaeologist and Superintendent of the city's Division of Archaeology until his retirement in 1960. Halseth was a fellow of the American Anthropological Association; a member of the Society of American Archaeology and an honorary member of the Arizona Art Guild. He was judge and chairman of the Gallup Ceremonial Indian Arts and Crafts Exhibitions from 1927-1956. Halseth wrote several publications on Arizona archaeology, including Prehistoric Irrigation in the Salt River Valley (1936); Hohokam Pottery Designs (1941); Arizona's 1500 Years of Irrigation History (1947) and A Brief Sketch of Pueblo Grande, a Municipal Prehistoric Monument (1950). He co-authored Adobe Ovens, Fireplaces and Interiors (1938) with Elizabeth Hart, and an article with E. Boyd on the Laguna santero with an accompanying report on repair work at the Zia Mission, in El Palacio, 1977. Halseth contributed articles to International Studio; Design; Arizona Highways; Arizona Woman; San Diego Union (art notes); Arizona Republic (art notes); and numerous museum publications. He lectured on primitive art, Indian arts and crafts, and ecclesiastical art in the New World. He also did a radio series, "Forward Arizona."

Odd Sigurd Halseth, anthropologist and founder of the Pueblo Grande Museum, was born to Johannes and Marit (Kaasbo) Halseth in Moss, Norway on May 19, 1893. After pursuing childhood interests in archaeological excavations in Europe, Halseth spent his teenage years travelling and finally settled in the United States in 1916. He served overseas during World War I and later established his career working at the San Diego Museum and as Curator of Archaeology at the Museum of New Mexico at Santa Fe.

Halseth came to Phoenix in 1927 and as Phoenix City Archaeologist initiated the excavation of the Pueblo Grande prehistoric Indian ruins in 1929. He founded the Pueblo Grande Museum and served as its first director. In 1944 he was appointed superintendent of parks and recreation for the City of Phoenix and also served as city manager for eight months during 1946. Halseth retired as director of the Pueblo Grande Museum in 1960 and died in July of 1966.

SOURCE: Odd S. Halseth, Archaeologist, Dies, Arizona Republic, July 16, 1966, p.31.

Odd S. Halseth, anthropologist and founder of the Pueblo Grande Museum, was born in Moss, Norway in 1893. After pursuing childhood interests in archaeological excavations in Europe, Halseth spent his teenage years travelling, and finally settled in the United States in 1916. He served overseas during World War I and later established his career working at the San Diego Museum and as Curator of Archaeology at the Museum of New Mexico at Santa Fe.

Halseth came to Phoenix in 1927 and as Phoenix City Archaeologist he initiated the excavation of the Pueblo Grande prehistoric Indian ruins in 1929. He founded the Pueblo Grande Museum and served as its first director. In 1944 he was appointed superintendent of parks and recreation for the City of Phoenix, and also served as city manager for eight months during 1946. Halseth retired as director of the Pueblo Grande Museum in 1960.

SOURCE: Odd S. Halseth, Archaeologist, Dies, Arizona Republic, July 16, 1966, p.31.

Odd Sigurd Halseth, anthropologist and founder of the Pueblo Grande Museum, was born to Johannes and Marit (Kaasbo) Halseth in Moss, Norway on May 19, 1893. After pursuing childhood interests in archaeological excavations in Europe, Halseth spent his teenage years travelling and finally settled in the United States in 1916. He served overseas during World War I and later established his career working at the San Diego Museum and as Curator of Archaeology at the Museum of New Mexico at Santa Fe.

Halseth came to Phoenix in 1927 and as Phoenix City Archaeologist initiated the excavation of the Pueblo Grande prehistoric Indian ruins in 1929. He founded the Pueblo Grande Museum and served as its first director. In 1944 he was appointed superintendent of parks and recreation for the City of Phoenix and also served as city manager for eight months during 1946. Halseth retired as director of the Pueblo Grande Museum in 1960 and died in July of 1966.

SOURCE: Odd S. Halseth, Archaeologist, Dies, Arizona Republic, July 16, 1966, p. 31.

Odd Sigurd Halseth (1893-1966) lived in Phoenix, Arizona, and was an anthropologist, museum director, educator, author, art critic and lecturer. He earned his Masters in Science from the University of Southern California.

Halseth was born in Moss, Norway, in 1893. As a young man, he studied electrical engineering and anthropology in Germany. He left home and went to sea, in time becoming a marine engineer. He served both Norway and the United States during World War I. While training for warfare in San Diego, he met Dr. Edgar L. Hewett. After the war Halseth went to California and worked for Hewett as curator of art at the San Diego Museum, (1922-1923). In 1923 he went to New Mexico and joined the staff of the School of American Research in Santa Fe. He also worked for the Museum of New Mexico as curator of the Puye archaeological site. In 1927, Halseth became director of the newly established Arizona Museum in Phoenix. In 1929, he was put in charge of the Phoenix Pueblo Grande Ruin, which sat amidst a large Hohokam culture site. Realizing its educational potential, he built and founded the open air Pueblo Grande Museum. He prepared the displays, wrote educational booklets, and provided classroom instruction at the site. Halseth served as the Phoenix City Archaeologist and Superintendent of the city’s Division of Archaeology until his retirement in 1960.

Halseth was a fellow of the American Anthropological Association; a member of the Society of American Archaeology and an honorary member of the Arizona Art Guild. He was judge and chairman of the Gallup Ceremonial Indian Arts and Crafts Exhibitions from 1927-1956. Halseth wrote several publications on Arizona archaeology, including Prehistoric Irrigation in the Salt River Valley (1936); Hohokam Pottery Designs (1941); Arizona’s 1500 Years of Irrigation History (1947) and A Brief Sketch of Pueblo Grande, a Municipal Prehistoric Monument (1950). He co-authored Adobe Ovens, Fireplaces and Interiors (1938) with Elizabeth Hart, and an article with E. Boyd on the Laguna santero with an accompanying report on repair work at the Zia Mission, in El Palacio, 1977. Halseth contributed articles to International Studio; Design; Arizona Highways; Arizona Woman; San Diego Union (art notes); Arizona Republic (art notes); and numerous museum publications. He lectured on primitive art, Indian arts and crafts, and ecclesiastical art in the New World. He also did a radio series, "Forward Arizona."

Sources: El Palacio, Hunress, Diana. "Odd Halseth, One Man’s Pueblo," v. 83, no. 3, Fall 1977 People in History : an Index to U.S. and Canadian Biographies in History Journals and Dissertations, Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO,1998 Who Was Who in American Art, Madison, Conn : Sound View Press,1999