Wyman, Leland Clifton, 1897-1988

Leland Clifton Wyman was born in 1897 Livermore Falls, Maine. He got his bachelor’s degree from Bowdoin College in 1918 and his Ph. D. degree from Harvard in 1922. He taught experimental and theoretical physiology, sociology, anthropology, American Indian art, and Asiatic art at the Boston College of Liberal Arts. He also directed research work on Navajo ethnology at the Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico. From 1942 to 1946 he served as chairman of the Division of Medical Sciences at Boston University. He spent 40 summers conducting research in the American southwest establishing him as one of the leaders on Navajo research. He was an author of numerous publications in the fields of biology and anthropology. For various years he was the curator of archives at the Museum of Northern Arizona and research associate at the Museum of Navajo Ceremonial Art. As part of his research and personal interests he traveled to Asia, Africa, Middle East, and Europe. He died in 1988.

From the guide to the Leland C. Wyman papers, 1908-1985, (bulk 1930-1980), (University of Arizona Libraries, Special Collections)

Leland Clifton Wyman was born in Livermore Falls, Maine in 1897. He received his Bachelor's Degree from Bowdoin College in 1918 and his Doctorate from Harvard in 1922. Wyman taught Experimental and Theoretical Physiology and Indian and Asiatic Art at Boston College. He served as chairman of the Division of Medical Sciences for Boston University from 1942-1946. For more than forty years, Wyman did field work among the Navajo people. He lived with a Navajo family and was invited to participate in their ceremonials. He was the subject of a healing ceremony. During the summers, he did research on Navajo ethnology for the Department of Ethnology at the University of New Mexico. From the 1950s to the 1970s, he published information on Navajo sandpainting collections. After his retirement, he moved to Arizona where he was a curator at the Museum of Northern Arizona. Wyman has written a number of publications on the Navajo people and their customs. Leland Wyman died on January 13, 1988 at the age of 90.

From the description of Papers on Navajo myths and sandpaintings, 1920-1981. (University of New Mexico-Main Campus). WorldCat record id: 50238626

Leland Clifton Wyman was born in Livermore Falls, Maine in 1897. He received his Bachelor's Degree from Bowdoin College in 1918 and his Doctorate from Harvard in 1922. Wyman taught Experimental and Theoretical Physiology and Indian and Asiatic Art at Boston College. He served as chairman of the Division of Medical Sciences for Boston University from 1942-1946.

For more than forty years, Wyman did field work among the Navajo people. He lived with a Navajo family and was invited to participate in their ceremonials. He was the subject of a healing ceremony. During the summers, he did research on Navajo ethnology for the Department of Ethnology at the University of New Mexico. He did comparative research about sandpaintings, looking for similarities between the various images relating to the same ceremonies depicted in weavings. From the 1950s to the 1970s, he published information on Navajo sandpainting collections. After his retirement, he moved to Arizona where he was a curator at the Museum of Northern Arizona. Wyman has written a number of publications on the Navajo people and their customs. Leland Wyman died on January 13, 1988 at the age of 90. His papers were inherited by Charlotte Frisbie, who donated them to the Center for Southwest Research.

From the guide to the Leland Clifton Wyman Papers on Navajo Myths and Sandpaintings, 1920-1981, (University of New Mexico. Center for Southwest Research.)