Dutton's Dirty Diggers: Bertha P. Dutton and the Senior Girl Scout Archaeological Camps in the American Southwest, 1947-1957

by Catherine S Fowler

Overview

Catherine Fowler chronicles a significant yet little-known program for Girl Scouts in post–WWII America. At a time when women were just beginning to enter fields traditionally dominated by men, these two-week camping caravans and archaeological excavations introduced teenage girls not only to the rich cultural and scientific heritage of the American Southwest but to new career possibilities. Dr. Bertha Dutton, curator at the Museum of New Mexico, served as trip leader.

While on the road and in camp, Dutton and other experts in anthropology, archaeology, geology, natural history, and more helped the campers appreciate what they were seeing and learning. This book details the history of the program, sharing trip itineraries and selected memories from the nearly three hundred girls who attended the camps. It also serves as a mini-biography and tribute to Bertha Dutton, who, through her knowledge, teaching, and strong persona, provided a role model for these young women, many of whom later pursued careers in anthropology and related fields.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781607817819
Publisher:	University of Utah Press
Publication date:	11/25/2020
Pages:	344
Sales rank:	406,445
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Catherine S. Fowler is Foundation Professor of Anthropology Emerita at the University of Nevada, Reno, and research associate at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Her recent publications include Isabel T. Kelly’s Southern Paiute Ethnographic Field Notes, 1932–1934, co-authored with Darla Garey-Sage.

Table of Contents

Publisher's Note ix

List of Abbreviations x

List of Name Changes xi

Preface xiii

Acknowledgments xix

1 Introduction 1

2 Getting Started: The 1947 Camp 21

3 The Archaeological Mobile Camps Refined and Developed: 1948-1951 49

4 Archaeological Mobile Camps Continue: 1952-1957 88

5 "A Dig of Our Own" : The Pueblo Largo Excavation Camps, 1951-1957 124

6 Transitions and Changes: 1952-1958 164

7 Bert's Final Season and the Demise of the Program 188

8 Continuing along the Trail: The Galisteo Basin Again 200

9 Honoring Their Mentor: Reunion and Memorial 222

10 Bertha Dutton's Legacy: "I Have Over 200 Daughters" 230

Epilogue 243

Appendix A Roster of Dutton's Dirty Diggers and Staff, Archaeological Mobile Camps and Excavation Camps, 1947-1957 Susan S. Martin 251

Appendix B Basic Qualifications (GSUSA) for National Camping Events and Personal Equipment List, Senior Girl Scout Archaeological Mobile Camps 267

Appendix C The Singing Diggers Tice Bloom Mary Anne Stein Susan Martin 273

Appendix D Senior Girl Scout Archaeological Mobile Camp Routes and Itineraries, 1947-1957 293

Appendix E Senior Girl Scout Archaeological Mobile Camp and Dig Camp Speakers List, 1947-1957 301

Appendix F Job Descriptions, Archaeological Mobile Camp for Senior Girl Scouts, 1955 307

Manuscript Sources and Additional Photograph Credits 311

Notes 313

Bibliography 335

Editorial Reviews

“A highly readable account. This work shines a much-needed light on an innovative yet largely forgotten program that helped shape the Girl Scouts’ older-girl program for thirty years.”
—Ann Robertson, chair, Archives and History Committee of the Girl Scout Council 

“Nicely balanced between scholarly referencing and writing for a more general audience. The volume is a social history of the Girl Scouts Seniors who participated in Dutton’s decade-long Southwest projects. It brings out the long-underappreciated research and outreach contributions of a prominent female archaeologist.”
—Barbara Mills, regents professor, School of Anthropology, University of Arizona 

From the Publisher