Pitkin, Harvey

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Born in New York City on April 22, 1928, Harvey Pitkin received his doctorate in linguistics from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1963. Under the direction of Alfred L. Kroeber, he directed his attention to a study of the dialects of Wintu (Wintu and Patwin), a Penutian language of Northern California, and later to Yuki and Wappo, California languages of uncertain affinity. Relatively early in Pitkin's career, Kroeber entrusted him with his invaluable collection of Yuki notes and notebooks, feeling that Piktin's ear was better attuned to the subtleties of the language.

In 1960, Pitkin was hired as Assistant Professor in the Department of Linguistics at Berkeley, earning promotion to Associate in 1964 and full professor in 1980. He later served on the faculty at Columbia University until his retirement.

Pitkin's publications included two major monographs, Wintu Grammar, University of California Publications in Linguistics 94 (1985), and Wintu Dictionary University of California Publications in Linguistics 95, the former bassed largely on his dissertation. Among several articles he wrote were "A Comparative Survey of California Penutian," "A Bibliography of the Wintun Family of Languages," "A Comparison of Miwok and Wintun" (with Sylvia A. Broadbent), "Language and Culture," "Some Problems of Method in Anthropological Linguistics," "Coyote and Bullhead, a Wintu Text," "Squirrel and Acorn-Woman (Wintu)," and "Two Plus Two Makes Two: An Analysis of Wintu Numerals."

From the guide to the Harvey Pitkin Papers, 1884-1968, (American Philosophical Society)

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creatorOf Harvey Pitkin Papers, 1884-1968 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn RISM Vertical Files, Bulk, 1960-2000, Bulk, 1960-2000 1900-2004 New York University. Archives
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associatedWith Angulo, Jaime de person
associatedWith Barrett, S. A. person
associatedWith Boas, Franz, 1858-1942 person
associatedWith Curtin, Jeremiah person
associatedWith Curtis, Edward S. person
associatedWith Dixon, Roland Burrage, 1875-1934 person
associatedWith Driver, Harold person
associatedWith Haas, Mary R., (Mary Rosamond), 1910-1996 person
associatedWith Halpern, A. M. person
associatedWith Harrington, John Peabody person
associatedWith Hymes, Dell H. person
associatedWith Ishi, d. 1916 person
associatedWith Kroeber, A. L., (Alfred Louis), 1876-1960 person
associatedWith Kroeber, A. L. and Dell Hymes person
associatedWith Kroeber, A. L. and Hans Uldall person
associatedWith Kroeber, Theodora person
associatedWith Li, Fanggui person
associatedWith Lowie, Robert Harry, 1883-1957 person
associatedWith Mason, John Alden, 1885-1967 person
associatedWith Radin, Paul? person
associatedWith Radin, Paul, 1883-1959 person
associatedWith Uldall, Hans person
associatedWith Uldall, Hans Jørgen, 1907-1957 person
associatedWith Ultan, Donald person
associatedWith Waterman, T. T., (Thomas Talbot), 1885- person
associatedWith Wilson, Howard B. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
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Atsugewi language
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