Join the staff of the Chester County History Center Library as we welcome Dr. Laura Zimmer-Tamakoshi, who will discuss her personal and professional journey from West Chester to international acclaim as a cultural anthropologist, conducting fieldwork in the remotest villages in the world. She will share personal stories, academic insights, and a preview of the archival materials she is donating to the Chester County History Center Library, followed by a Q&A session with the audience.
From Dr. Zimmer-Tamakoshi: "Growing up in West Chester gave me the strong roots, motivation and energy to survive childhood abuse and poverty and to help build a family of remarkable children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, and a career dedicated to the study of inequality and its local and global manifestations. Thanks to institutions like the Chester County History Center, the West Chester Public Library, the YMCA, our local university and public education system and much much more, I was able to dream, learn, and travel the world. My method was very much like the words I taught my anthropology students in Papua New Guinea and America – if you want to succeed at whatever you want to do, 'listen, listen, listen; read, read, read; and connect, connect, connect'. I will share some of that journey that was by no means simple – my dad was from Florida and when I was born, was in the army in Italy and Africa. I never met my grandfather - one from North Carolina, the other who had a mighty journey of his own from Pennsylvania to Florida, to Arizona, to California."
About the Speaker: Laura Zimmer-Tamakoshi (PhD, Bryn Mawr College) has held positions at the University of Papua New Guinea (1986 through 1989) and Truman State University (1991-2001) in Missouri as well as short-term positions at West Chester University, University of Pennsylvania, and Bryn Mawr College. She has undertaken research in Papua New Guinea since 1982, returning many times as teacher and consultant.
This program will be held in-person in the Chester County History Center Library (there will be no virtual or hybrid component.) Admission to this program is free with regular museum admission ($10.00 for adults, $7.00 for seniors, $5.00 for students and children.) FREE for members of CCHC with code.
Register here:
https://buytickets.at/chestercountyhistorycenter/1698100
You may also like the following events from Chester County Historical Society:
