Mary Beaudry

Mary Carolyn Beaudry (November 25, 1950 – October 20, 2020)

Beaudry participated in archaeological fieldwork in New England, Virginia, the Western Isles of Scotland and the Caribbean. She was visiting professor at the University of Sheffield and Bristol University. Towards the end of her life, Beaudry focused her research interests on the anthropology of food.

In 2013, Beaudry was the recipient of the J. C. Harrington Award and Medal in Historical Archaeology, for "life-time contributions and dedication to the discipline of Historical Archaeology".

Beaudry died of complications of an existing heart condition on October 20, 2020.

Education Beaudry attended the College of William and Mary, initially choosing a major in English, with the goal of being a writer. In 1970, she enrolled in an Introduction to Anthropology class in order to meet a college requirement. Along with her class, Beaudry was invited by the instructor to join the excavation of a prehistoric shell midden at Maycock Plantation.

Career

In 1980, Beaudry accepted a position as assistant professor of anthropology at Boston University (BU). One of her first projects as Assistant Professor was to help create a new program in archaeology at BU.

Beaudry has collaborated on a number of archaeological projects in New England, Virginia, Scotland and the Caribbean. Beginning in 1985, Beaudry joined a multi-year excavation at Boott Mills, a large-scale complex of early 18th century cotton mills located in Lowell, Massachusetts.

Beginning in 1995, Beaudry worked as a visiting professor and conducted field work and research in England and Scotland. She was a visiting professor, Department of Archaeology and Prehistory at the University of Sheffield.

"Through archaeological survey, excavation, and the study of historical documents and oral tradition, the project aimed to examine the responses of the 18th- and 19th-century Hebridean population to the social and economic changes wrought by agricultural 'Improvement' and the infamous 'Highland Clearances'". Fieldwork was carried out over six seasons from 1995 to 2000.

In 2003, Beaudry was visiting professor, Department of Archaeology, at the University of Bristol. She recently joined an archaeological project on the Island of Montserrat.

Selected publications

Books

Journals

Awards

2013 J. C. Harrington Award in Historical Archaeology