The Leakeys

A Biography

Mary Bowman-Kruhm

• Publisher: Greenwood
• Year: 2005
• Print ISBN: 9780313329852
• eBook ISBN: 9780313062117
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Anthropology
• Index: Social Sciences

Three generations of Leakeys have dug in East Africa for fossil evidence that answers questions about human origins. Louis and Mary, husband and wife, began what would turn into decades of research and fieldwork, often disproving common theories and beliefs of the time. Son Richard followed in his parents' foot steps, along with his wife Meave, and made spectacular finds as well. Today, Louise, the oldest daughter of Richard and Meave, continues the family tradition with fieldwork in northern Kenya. The Leakey family's achievements have had an enormous impact on our knowledge of human origins and evolution. This biography describes their life in detail, including their discoveries, publications, controversies, and legacy. A timeline, glossary, and bibliography of print and electronic sources supplement the material.

Table of contents

• Contents
• Series Foreword
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• Timeline: Significant Events in the Lives of the Leakeys
• Chapter 1 A Fact-finding Mission (Forward to the Past)
• Chapter 2 In the Beginning . . . (Louis, 1925–1933)
• Chapter 3 Positive Choices, Negative Voices (Mary, 1913–1936; Louis, 1933–1936)
• Chapter 4 War and Children: Real Time (1937–1946)
• Chapter 5 Peace and Turmoil, Personal and Political (1947–1958)
• Chapter 6 Human History Carved in Bone (1959–1971)
• Chapter 7 Skull Drudgery and Skullduggery (1972–1977)
• Chapter 8 Contentious, Contention, and a Critical Condition (1978–1988)
• Chapter 9 Burning His Tusks behind Him (1989–2003)
• Chapter 10 But Wait, There's More . . . (2004 and Beyond)
• Glossary
• Bibliography
• Index
• Photo essay