Person

Wilson Duff

1925 - 1976.

Wilson Duff was a prominent Canadian cultural anthropologist, museum curator, and professor who made significant contributions to ethnology, archaeology, and Indigenous community advising. Born on March 23, 1925 in Vancouver, Duff started his career by obtaining a B.A. from the University of British Columbia in 1949 and a subsequent master’s degree in anthropology in 1950. After his graduation, Duff worked at the British Columbia Provincial Museum (now the Royal British Columbia Museum) until 1965, when he joined the University of British Columbia as faculty. He is most famously known for his work carrying out the Totem Pole Preservation Project and contributing to the defense of Indigenous land claims. Duff frequently collaborated on archaeological projects across British Columbia with Dr. Charles Borden, a fellow faculty member and leading B.C. archaeologist. Some of the sites Duff visited include the Chinlac, Whalen Farm, and Tweedsmuir archaeological sites. After establishing a legacy of education, research, and some controversy, Duff passed away in 1976.

Information sourced from the University of British Columbia Archives and the BC Studies Journal website.