Home > Carnegie Center > Arizona Women's Hall of Fame > Inductees > Tanner, Clara Lee
Clara Lee Tanner
1905 - 1997
Inducted in 2004
Used by permission from the Arizona Historical Society
Born in Biscoe, North Carolina on May 28, 1905, Clara Lee (Fraps) Tanner
was an Arizona resident for 90 years. She received a Bachelor’s Degree
in Archaeology at the University of Arizona and was one of the first three
students there to receive a Masters Degree in Archaeology (1928). She pursued
graduate studies at the National University of Mexico and at the Oriental
Institute of the University of Chicago and was awarded an Honorary Doctor
of Letters by the University of Arizona in 1983.
Clara Lee Tanner was appointed to the faculty of the University of Arizona
in 1928 where she taught in the Department of Anthropology for half a century.
She specialized in Southwest Indian arts and crafts and authored an extensive
list of articles and books ranging from newspaper articles to college textbooks
in addition to being a regular contributor to Arizona Highways Magazine.
For many years she was the recognized authority on Southwest Indian culture
and arts. As a highly sought after public speaker she was able to communicate
appreciation of the artistic achievements of these people in both the United
States and abroad and inspire other’s interest.
Among her numerous awards were the Sharlot Hall Award in 1985,
given to a living Arizona woman who has made a valuable contribution to
the understanding and awareness of Arizona’s history, and in 1993
she was given an National Lifetime Achievementin the Crafts
Arts Award sponsored by the National Museum of Women in the Arts.
Tanner’s many publications have been praised by professionals and
the public, and her major works have been distributed in 85 foreign countries.
She won numerous Arizona Press Women First Awards and three awards
from the National Federation of Press Women for her books on Southwest
Indian craft arts, Southwest Indian painting and Apache baskets, and prehistoric
southwest arts.
This remarkable lady uniquely combined the attributes of inspiring teacher,
outstanding scholar, stimulating writer, and dedicated public speaker to
serve with vigor and grace both the profession of anthropology and the
artistic creativity of the Indians of the American Southwest.
Clara Lee Tanner died in Tucson, Arizona on December 22, 1997 at the age
of 92.
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