Abstract

Ernest Burch's long and varied career spanning the circumpolar Arctic began with excursions to Labrador, Greenland, and Newfoundland in 1954, 1959, and 1962. His initiation into arctic anthropology through the mentorship of Elmer Harp, Jr., his later collaboration with the Smithsonian Handbook Project, and his Research Associate appointment with the Arctic Studies Center created much common ground with the Smithsonian. This paper reviews Burch's career-long relationship with the Smithsonian Institution and through a short personal memorial he wrote in 2010 for Elmer Harp's Memorial reveals the beginning of his career.

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