Helm, June (1924–)

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Helm, June (1924–)

American sociocultural anthropologist. Name variations: June Helm MacNeish; June King. Born June Helm, Sept1924 in Twin Falls, Idaho; only child of Julia Frances (Dixon) Helm and William Jennings Helm; University of Chicago, PhB, AM, and PhD; m. Richard "Scotty" MacNeish (archaeologist), 1945 (div. 1958); m. Pierce E. King (architect), 1968.

Served as teacher (1951) in village of Slavey Indians (part of Dene/Athapaskan peoples) in Canada; conducted additional research among the Slave (1952, 1954, 1955) which became basis of The Lynx Point People (1961); began association with Athapaskan Dogrib Indians of Northwestern Canadian subarctic (1959) and began to study Dogrib at Rae (1962); served as assistant professor (beginning1960) and professor (beginning 1966) of anthropology at University of Iowa; served as president of American Anthropological Association (1985–87); known primarily for ethnographic studies of Dene Indians.