Marius Barbeau
Marius Barbeau (1883-1969) was a notable Canadian anthropologist and ethnologist known for his extensive research on the indigenous peoples of Canada. Initially trained in law at Laval College, he shifted his focus to anthropology while studying at Oxford University after receiving a Rhodes scholarship. In 1910, Barbeau joined Canada's National Museum, where he conducted significant research on the folklore, songs, artifacts, linguistics, and social customs of various native groups across Canada. His work later included a focus on French Canadian culture, resulting in a prolific output of over a thousand publications, including books and articles. Throughout his career, Barbeau received numerous accolades for his contributions to the humanities, such as the Royal Society of Canada's Lorne Pierce Medal and the Canada Council medal. He was also honored with the Prix David multiple times for his literary achievements and was appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1967. Barbeau is remembered as a pioneer in his fields, leaving an important legacy in the documentation and preservation of Canada's diverse cultural histories.
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Marius Barbeau
Writer
- Born: March 5, 1883
- Birthplace: Ste-Marie-de-Beauce, Quebec, Canada
- Died: February 27, 1969
- Place of death: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Biography
Marius Barbeau was born in the late 1800’s in Canada. He earned a law degree from Laval College, one of Canada’s leading universities. He was then awarded a Rhodes scholarship and began attending Oxford University in 1907. He changed his area of study from law to anthropology shortly after arriving at Oxford.
In 1910, Barbeau was hired by Canada’s National Museum as an anthropologist and ethnologist. His first research project involved the native peoples of eastern Canada. This research eventually expanded to include all of the native peoples of Canada. Barbeau collected folklore, songs, and artifacts. He also studied the linguistics and social customs of his subjects. Barbeau’s interest later turned to French Canada, and he published many books and articles on the subject. Barbeau was a prolific author, producing more than one thousand books and articles.
Barbeau earned many accolades and awards over his lifetime, including the Royal Society of Canada’s Lorne Pierce Medal in 1905, the Canada Council medal in 1962, and the University of Alberta National Award in 1965. Barbeau earned the Prix David for his literary works on three different occasions. In 1967, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada. Barbeau is lauded as a pioneer in the fields of anthropology and ethnology and for the legacy left by his efforts to record and preserve the history of Canada’s native peoples.