Morris Edward, Opler 1907-1996

Professor of anthropology.

Professor of anthropology. Morris Opler was born in Buffalo, N.Y. on May 16, 1907. He received a B.A. in sociology from the University of Buffalo in 1929, an M.A. in anthropology there in 1930, and a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1933. In 1931, he began fieldwork on the Mescalero Apache Reservation in New Mexico, as part of Ruth Benedict's summer field school. In 1932, he completed his dissertation, "An Analysis of Mescalero and Chiricahua Apache Social Organization in the Light of Their Systems of Relationship." From 1932-1937, he conducted fieldwork with various Apache peoples in New Mexico. He served as an assistant anthropologist with the Bureau of Indian Affairs from 1936-1937. He took a position at Reed College in Oregon from 1937-1938, then served as assistant professor of anthropology at Claremont College in California from 1938-1942. He received a Guggenheim fellowship from 1942-1943.

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