Mountford, Charles Pearcy - Bright Sparcs Biographical entry

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Mountford, Charles Pearcy (1890 - 1976)

OBE

Archival/Heritage Sources

Published Sources

Ethnologist and Author

Born: 9 May 1890 Hallett, South Australia, Australia. Died: 16 December 1976 Norwood, South Australia, Australia.

Charles Pearcy Mountford was Honorary Assistant in Ethnology from 1935 at the South Australian Museum and Acting Ethnologist in 1938. He joined the Postmaster-General's Department in Adelaide as an engineer/mechanic in 1913 and in 1920 he was posted to Darwin. This was the catalyst for his interest in all things aboriginal. Mountford became a recognised expert in the area publishing at least 40 scientific papers and a multitude of books on aboriginal art, custom and culture. From 1935 until 1963 he participated in or organised numerous ethnological expeditions across Australia and received many high accolades and awards for his research, including two honorary doctorates and an appointment as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).

Career Highlights

Chronology
1909 - c. 1911 Correspondence courses in mechanics and engineering completed at the South Australian School of Mines and Industries
1909 - c. 1911 Tram conductor in Adelaide
1913 - 1920 Electrical Mechanic at the Postmaster-General's Department
1920 - c. 1924 Senior Mechanic with the Postmaster-General's Department at the Darwin Post Office
c. 1924 - Returned to the Postmaster-General's Department in Adelaide
1926 - Foundation Member of the Anthropological Society of South Australia
1935 - Honorary Assistant in Ethnology at the South Australian Museum
1935 Anthropological expedition to the Warburton Range, Western Australia
1935 Secretary of a board of inquiry to investigate allegations of ill-treatment of Aborigines in the Northern Territory
1937 Anthropological expedition to the Nepabunna Mission in Flinders Ranges, South Australia
1938 Acting Ethnologist at the South Australian Museum
1940 Expedition from Ernabella to Ayers Rock to examine the art of the Pitjantjatjara and Yankuntjatjara (four months)
1945 Australian Natural History medallion received from the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria
1948 Brown Men and Red Sand published
1949 Expedition to Arnhem land
1949 Franklin L. Burr award received from the National Geographic Society
1951 Expedition to Yuendumu
1954 Expedition to the Northern Territory and Melville Island
1955 John Lewis gold medal received from the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, South Australian branch
1955 Thomson gold medal received from the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, Queensland branch
1955 Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
1963 Expedition to Port Hedland, Western Australia
1964 Expedition to the Cape York Peninsula, Queensland
1964 Master of Arts (MA) completed at the University of Adelaide
1971 Sir Joseph Verco medal received from the Royal Society of South Australia
1973 Litterarum Doctor honoris causa (Hon LittD) received from the University of Melbourne
1976 Nomads of the Australian Desert published
1976 Doctor of Letters honoris causa (HonDLitt) received from the University of Adelaide

Structure based on ISAAR(CPF) - click here for an explanation of the fields.

Prepared by: McCarthy, G.J.
Created: 20 October 1993
Modified: 3 October 2006

Published by The University of Melbourne eScholarship Research Centre on ASAPWeb, 1994 - 2007
Originally published 1994-1999 by Australian Science Archives Project, 1999-2006 by the Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre
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Prepared by: Acknowledgements
Updated: 26 February 2007
http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs/biogs/P001338b.htm

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