Laird, Carobeth (1895–1983)

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Laird, Carobeth (1895–1983)

American ethnographer and linguist. Name variations: Carobeth Tucker Laird. Born Carobeth Tucker, July 20, 1895, in Coleman, TX; died Aug 5, 1983, in Poway, CA; dau. of Emma (Chaddock) Tucker and James Tucker (newspaper editor); attended San Diego Normal School; m. John Peabody Harrington (linguist), 1916 (div.); m. George Laird (died 1940); children: (1st m.) 2 daughters; (2nd m.) 5, including Georgia Laird Culp (Chemehuevi leader).

Known particularly for work in preserving Chemehuevi language and mythology, worked in the field in CA and Southwest with 1st husband, then published account of her life with him, Encounter with an Angry God (1975); married George Laird, a Chemehuevi Indian, who served as primary consultant for The Chemehuevis (1976), which established her as a leading authority on Chemehuevi people, and for Mirror and Pattern (1984); published account of her experiences in a nursing home, Limbo (1979).