Dixon, E. James

English

University of Calgary Journal Hosting

ARCTICVOL. 67, NO. 1 (MARCH 2014) P. 122 – 123John Martin Campbell (1927 – 2013)John (Jack) Martin Campbell began his Arctic research in 1956, when he conducted an archeological survey and exca-vations in the area of Anaktuvuk Pass in Alaska’s central Brooks Range. On the basis of his analysis of a series of archeological sites, he defined the Kavik, Kayuk, Tuktu, and Kogruk archeological complexes. His pioneering work demonstrated thousands of years of human land use in the central Brooks Range. His studies underscored the need for archeological research in Interior Alaska, in addition to coastal regions, in order to provide a holistic understanding of the development of high-latitude human adaptations. Campbell also conducted ethnographic research in Alaska. His research along Alaska’s Copper River drain-age led to the publication of three volumes describing the environment, settlement patterns, and social structure of the Ahtna people. At Anaktuvuk Pass, he became a friend and student of Simon Paneak, a bilingual Nunamiut elder who willingly shared his knowledge with scientists and researchers. Campbell worked with Paneak between 1967 and 1969, during which time Paneak completed a series of drawings, maps, and descriptions of Nunamiut life. Pub-lished 23 years after Paneak’s death, In a Hungry Coun-try: Essays by Simon Paneak, was a tribute to Paneak’s extensive traditional ecological knowledge, made possible by Campbell’s stewardship and careful editing (Campbell, 2004). Between 1960 and 1970, Campbell provided the annual summary of archeological research across the North Amer-ican Arctic in his role as assistant editor for American Antiquity. He did this during an era when there were few Arctic archeologists, prior to the research boom in North American archeology that began in the 1970s. He served the Arctic Institute of North America (AINA) as research scientist and project staff (1970 – 74), on the Board of Gov-ernors (1971 – 76), and as a member of the Information Pro-grams Committee for the journal Arctic (1974). He also was the executive secretary (1970 – 74) of the Alaska Archaeo-logical Project for the U.S. Department of the Interior. In that capacity, he helped provide oversight and support for the archeological work associated with construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, and with support from several of North America’s leading Arctic archeologists, including William Taylor, Helge Larsen, and Elmer Harp, he advo-cated for archeological survey and excavation in advance of pipeline construction.Campbell was born in the small town of Sedro-Wooley, Washington, and as a young child moved with his fam-ily to Selah, Washington, where his father was the local school superintendent. As a boy, he developed a passion for nature while hunting and fishing with his father John and his brother Daniel. These early experiences laid the founda-tion for his lifelong fascination with nature and the people who made their living from the land, including indigenous people of the Arctic, where he conducted fieldwork for more than 30 years.After graduating from Selah High School in 1945, Camp-bell served in the U.S. Navy for a year before beginning his academic career as an undergraduate at the University of Washington. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1950, he enrolled in the graduate program in anthropology at the University of New Mexico (UNM) (1950 – 51). He joined the U.S. Air Force (1951 – 54), from which he retired at the rank of Captain. While in the military, he completed training at Georgetown University’s USAF Psychological Warfare School (1952). He returned to graduate school at the University of New Mexico (1954 – 55) before transfer-ring to Yale University (1955 – 59), where he was awarded his PhD in 1962. As a graduate student at Yale, he was pres-ident of the Yale Anthropology Club (1957 – 58). Immedi-ately after graduation, he served on the faculty of George Washington University (1959 – 64) and as a research associ-ate at the Smithsonian Institution (1963 – 65). In 1964, Campbell returned as a faculty member to the University of New Mexico, where he remained for the rest of his career. He was chairman of the Anthropology Department (1964 – 72) and director and acting director of the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology (1970 – 74). Under John (“Jack”) Martin Campbell on the upper Tanana River, Alaska, 1969. (Photo by Charles E. Holmes, from Dixon, 2013:195). OBITUARY • 123his leadership, the University of New Mexico broadened its curriculum in anthropology and encouraged other arche-ologists, including Robert Humphrey, Dennis Stanford, and Lewis Binford, to undertake research in Alaska. In his role as director, Campbell also was responsible for a major expansion of the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology, and after his retirement in 1992, he served as professor emeritus and research professor at the museum. In 2012, the Univer-sity of New Mexico conferred an honorary degree (LLS) on Campbell in recognition of his distinguished academic ser-vice there. Although primarily known as an archeologist, Camp-bell made significant contributions to ornithology and pho-tographic art. He researched and authored at least eight professional ornithological papers, focusing primarily on Arctic and subarctic species. The breadth of his interest is reflected in his production of several museum exhibits and popular publications on hunting and fishing. His large- format, black-and-white photography was published in several books and exhibited internationally. He continued to conduct research, publish, and produce museum exhibits until his death on 1 June 2013 in Albuquerque. REFERENCESCampbell, J.M., ed. 2004. In a hungry country: Essays by Simon Paneak. Fairbanks: University of Alaska Press. Dixon, E.J. 2013. Arrows and atl atls: A guide to the archeology of Beringia. Anchorage, Alaska: National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.E. James Dixon Director, Maxwell Museum of Anthropology Professor of Anthropology University of New MexicoAlbuquerque, New Mexico 87131-000, USA jdixon@unm.edu

John Martin Campbell (1927–2013)

https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/download/67421/51328

John Martin Campbell (1927–2013)

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

University of Calgary Journal Hosting