Born 1896 in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, Jamaica, the daughter of Hugh Clarke, Custos of the parish; educated at Abbey School, Malvern, UK, and University College, London (1921-1923); obtained a Diploma of Anthropology at the London School of Economics, 1926-1931, studying under Bronislaw Kasper Malinowski; undertook anthropological work and studies in Africa, 1932-1933; returned to Jamaica, where she joined the local civil service in 1936; appointed Secretary of the Board of Supervision, 1936-1948; prepared information on social conditions in Jamaica for the West India Royal Commission of Enquiry, 1938; Assistant Secretary, Secretariat, 1948-1951; Director, Jamaica Welfare Ltd; retired from the civil service, 1951; appointed first female member of the Jamaican Legislative Council, 1958; put forward a motion in the Legislative Council to amend the Law for the Registration of Births to make the registration of the father's name compulsory, 1958; participated in a United States Information Service (USIS) sponsored tour of the USA, 1962; Fellow of the Royal African Institute; Member, and Chairman, Child Welfare Association; Vice-Chairman, Central Managing Committee, 4-H Clubs (for the prevention of tuberculosis); Member, Anti-Tuberculosis League; Honorary Secretary, King George V Tuberculosis Hospital; Member, Committee on Illegitimacy and Concubinage; Member, Central Council of Voluntary Services; Member, Jamaica Youth Organisation Committee; Member, Jamaica Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children; died 1979. Publications: My mother who fathered me: a study of the family in three selected communities in Jamaica (Allen and Unwin, London, 1957).
From the guide to the CLARKE, Edith, 1896-1979, Jamaican anthropologist, [1930]-1949, (British Library of Political and Economic Science)
