Shimkin, Demitri B. (Demitri Boris), 1916-1992

Demitri Boris Shimkin (1916-1992), a native Russian, immigrated to the United States as a child and received his Ph. D. in anthropology from the University of California in 1939. Field work for his dissertation, "Some Interactions of Culture, Needs and Personalities Among the Wind River Shoshone," was done at Wyoming's Wind River Indian Reservation; throughout the remainder of his life he returned periodically to the Reservation for further research.

Shimkin served in the U.S. Army from 1941-1947, and was an instructor at the National War College from 1946-1947, the Army War College from 1958-1962, and the Naval War College from 1971-1972. He was a research associate at Harvard's Russian Research Center from 1948-1953 and worked in the Foreign Manpower Office of the U.S. Bureau of the Census from 1953-1960. Shimkin taught at the University of Illinois from 1960 until his retirement in 1985. His research interests included the Soviet Union and African American communities of the American South.

From the description of Papers, 1890-1993 (bulk 1935-1988). (University of Wyoming, American Heritage Center). WorldCat record id: 30965630

Demitri Boris Shimkin (1916-1992) was an eminent cultural anthropologist who was committed to achieving political and economic change through applied anthropology. He was known for his scholarly work in anthropology and ethnology, most notably his ethnographic studies of the Shoshone Indians, the Soviet Union, the Arctic, East Africa and African-American communities.

Mr. Shimkin earned his bachelor's and doctoral degrees in anthropology from the University of California at Berkeley. He served in the United States Army on the War Department General Staff and in the Military Intelligence Division from 1941 to 1947. He served as a research associate in the Russian Research Center at Harvard University and also as a lecturer and curator of Siberian ethnology from 1948 to 1953.

From 1953 to 1960 Mr. Shimkin was a Social Science Analyst and Senior Research Specialist with the Foreign Manpower Office of the United States Bureau of the Census. During this period he did extensive research in demography and public health.

Shimkin joined the faculty of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign campus, in 1960 as a professor of anthropology and geography. He retired in 1985. He maintained ties with the academic community, continuing to teach, publish and participate in conferences and seminars.

Mr. Shimkin wrote or coauthored 6 books and more than 150 articles and papers. He was a fellow of the American Anthropological Association, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Royal Anthropological Institute.

From the guide to the Demitri Boris Shimkin papers, 1890-1993, (University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.)