Willowdean Chatterson Handy

Willowdean Chatterson Handy
Born
Willowdean Chatterson

January 10, 1889
Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
DiedNovember 5, 1965(1965-11-05) (aged 76)
Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
Other namesW. C. Handy, Willowdean Handy
EducationUniversity of Chicago (PhB),
Radcliffe College
OccupationsEthnologist in Pacific studies, anthropologist, playwright, author, librarian
SpouseEdward Smith Craighill Handy (1918–1934; divorced)

Willowdean Chatterson Handy (née Willowdean Chatterson; January 10, 1889 – November 5, 1965) was an American anthropologist and ethnologist in Pacific studies, playwright, librarian, and author. Handy was one of the Board of Regents for the University of Hawaii.

Life and career

Willowdean Chatterson Handy was born on January 10, 1889, in Louisville, Kentucky, to parents Ida (née Cragg), and Joseph Marshall Chatterson. She graduated in 1909 from the University of Chicago with a Ph.B. degree, and took some courses at Radcliffe College.

In 1918, Willowdean Chatterson married Edward Smith Craighill Handy, they often worked together. The marriage ended in divorce.

Handy wrote a number of book about Polynesia. For four years Handy served on the Board of Regents for the University of Hawaii. She was a librarian for the Hawaiian Historical Society for ten years.

She died on November 5, 1965, in Honolulu.

Publications

References

  1. 1 2 3 Peterson, Barbara Bennett (1984). "Handy, Willowdean Chatterson". Notable Women of Hawaii. University of Hawaiʻi Press. p. 141. ISBN 978-0-8248-0820-4.
  2. 1 2 Day, Arthur Grove (1984). History Makers of Hawaii: A Biographical Dictionary. Mutual Publishing of Honolulu. p. 49. ISBN 978-0-935180-09-1.
  3. 1 2 3 Howes, Durward (1937). American Women. Richard Blank Publishing Company. p. 284.
  4. 1 2 3 "Mrs. Willowdean Handy dies; ex-U.H. regent". Honolulu Star-Bulletin (Obituary). November 5, 1965. p. 32. Retrieved April 1, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 "Mrs. Handy Dies; South Seas Expert". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. November 6, 1965. p. 23. Retrieved April 2, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. 1 2 "Four Women Have Served on UH Board of Regents". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. July 2, 1971. p. 23. Retrieved April 1, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ Frankel, Chuck (December 19, 1973). "'Thunder' in the Pacific". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. p. 83. Retrieved April 1, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.