Patterson, Francine (1947–)

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Patterson, Francine (1947–)

American psychologist. Name variations: Penny Patterson. Born Francine Patterson, 1947, in Chicago, IL; dau. of C.H. Patterson (professor of educationalpsychology at University of Illinois); University of Illinois, BA in psychology, 1970; Stanford University, PhD in developmental psychology, 1979; lived with Ronald Cohn.

Known for teaching American Sign Language (ASL or Ameslan) to captive-born lowland gorillas Michael and Koko (who acquired a vocabulary of over 1,000 words), began teaching ASL to Koko at San Francisco Zoo (1972); with Ronald Cohn, established The Gorilla Foundation (1976), serving as its president and research director, as well as editor-in-chief of journal, Gorilla; raised funds for The Maui Ape Preserve in Hawaii; was adjunct psychology professor at Santa Clara University.

See also Emily Hahn, Eve and the Apes (Weidenfeld & Nicholson, 1988).

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Patterson, Francine (1947–)

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