Mary Douglas Papers

Scope and Content

Papers of Mary Douglas, including offprints, correspondence and working papers.

Administrative / Biographical History

Dame Mary Douglas, DBE, FBA, (1921-2007) was a social anthropologist. She joined the anthropology department at UCL in 1952 and was Professor of Social Anthropology from 1970-1977. Her particular research interests were symbolism and comparative religion, and her best-known book, 'Purity and Danger' was published in 1966. Her other research interests included cultural theory, risk, grid-group theory and ring cycles.

Access Information

Certain restrictions apply

The papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking. Access to some files containing personal data is restricted. This will be noted in the description for the relevant file.

Acquisition Information

Acquired as a gift in 2007.

Other Finding Aids

A detailed box list is available. Please contact Special Collections for further information.

Related Material

Northwestern University Library Archival and Manuscript Collections holds approx 7 boxes of material deposited by Mary Douglas during her lifetime: http://findingaids.library.northwestern.edu/catalog/inu-ead-nua-archon-1201