Fontana, Bernard L.

Ethnologist and author.

From the description of Oral history interview, 1980 Aug. 29 [sound recording]. (Arizona Historical Society, Southern Arizona Division). WorldCat record id: 37495937

Bernard (Bunny) Lee Fontana was a prominent anthropologist based out of the University of Arizona. He participated in many activities around Sonora and southern Arizona and was also a prolific author who preferred to be known as Bunny.

Bunny Fontana was born January 7, 1931 in Oakland, California. He attended the University of California at Berkeley where he earned his B.A. in Anthropology in 1953. He married his high school sweetheart, Hazel Ann McFeely, on June 27, 1954. From 1953-1955 Bunny served in the United States Army where he was briefly stationed in Alaska. Upon discharge from the military he attended the University of Arizona where he earned his Ph.D. in anthropology in 1960. Bunny and Hazel started their family in 1962 with the birth of son Geoffrey. Nicholas followed in 1965, and Francesca arrived in 1968.

Bunny held the positions of field historian and ethnologist with the University of Arizona and the Arizona State Museum. He was very active professionally and wrote many articles, books, and other literary contributions. He was also an editor, active community member, lecturer and private consultant.

Among his contributions are the books Trails to Tiburon: The 1894 and 1895 Field Diaries of W J McGee, Tarahumara: Where Night is the Day of the Moon and Of Earth and Little Rain: The Papago Indians. Bunny Fontana was very involved in Tohono O'odham affairs as he and his wife lived extremely close to the Tohono O'odham reservation near the San Xavier del Bac Mission in Tucson, Arizona. Fontana's main research interest was Southwest history especially the interaction between the Spanish and the Native American population of Arizona and Sonora. He was a member of Patronato San Xavier which is dedicated to preserving and promoting the Mission of San Xavier del Bac. Bunny's interest in mission history also aided him in his work as field historian in which he traveled to all areas of Arizona and Sonora and augmented the holdings of the University of Arizona's Special Collections.

Bunny retired from the University of Arizona in 1992 and Hazel Fontana passed away in March 2009. Bunny Fontana remained active in organizations and continued attending meetings, conferences, and writing articles and book reviews.

From the description of Bernard Fontana papers 1832-2000 (bulk 1965-1985). (University of Arizona). WorldCat record id: 641676625