Bryan and Gruhn
Husband-and-wife archaeologists Drs. Alan Bryan and Ruth Gruhn were two of the founding members of the Department of Anthropology and were the originators of the Bryan/Gruhn Archaeology and Ethnographic Collections. Continuously supportive of the University of Alberta, its students, and the development of the Department of Anthropology, Drs. Bryan and Gruhn recognized the need for resources for students and researchers alike. Contributions came in the form of material culture collected during their field seasons in addition to relevant library resources. Their research interests focused on the question of the initial settlement of the Americas, and they are well respected for their contributions to the field of anthropology; however they collected a broad spectrum of specimens for donation to the collections. Drs. Bryan and Gruhn felt it important to collect not just the beautiful and showy objects, but also the commonplace daily items, encompassing the breadth of human interactions with each other and the environment. Drs. Bryan and Gruhn continued their curatorial activities throughout their careers and beyond, as emeriti.
Alan Bryan and Ruth Gruhn (2003/4)
"Without their combined, untiring effort over the past four decades, these collections would not exist today as an important part of the department and university’s teaching, research, and outreach programs.” Excerpt from Curator's Hall of Fame proposal.
In March 2012, after the Collection had been renamed to include Bryan/Gruhn, a plaque was produced and unveiled at the entrance to the collection. Dr Gruhn and the collection Curator, Dr Pamela Willoughby, did the unveiling.
See also Department History Pages for more info on Drs. Bryan and Gruhn.