Anisfield-Wolf Book Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 53 (1988) Winner
Walter F. Morris Jr.
ウォルター・エフ・モリス・ジュニア
Worutā F. Morisu Jr.
Pen Names:
Chip Morris（Common nickname; used locally and in publications）
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1952-09-08 （Boston, Massachusetts, United States）
- Died
- 2019-10-15 （San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico） age 67
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English, Tzotzil (studied/speaking)
- Residence History
- Boston area (grew up) → 1969–1970: Thailand (AFS high school exchange) → From 1972: San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico (long-term residence)
Career
- Occupations
- cultural anthropologist, preservationist, researcher, author
- Active Years
- 1972-2019
- Affiliations
- Aid to Artisans (coordinator for Mexican initiatives), Pellizzi Collection of Textiles of Chiapas (board member), Science Museum of Minnesota (research associate), United States Agency for International Development (program coordinator for lead-free pottery)
- Influenced By
- Maya peoples (folk traditions and techniques)
- Influenced
- Researchers and preservationists of Chiapas textiles
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFS (High School Exchange Program) | — | — | — | 1969-1970 | Thailand (exchange) |
AFS (High School Exchange Program)
Period:
1969-1970
Year of Graduation:
1970
Country:
Thailand (exchange)
Sent to Thailand as a high school exchange student
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | MacArthur Fellows Program | — | — | MacArthur Foundation | 受賞 |
| 1988 | Anisfield-Wolf Book Award | Living Maya | — | Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards | 受賞（Jeffrey Jay Foxx と共著） |
MacArthur Fellows Program
1983
Organization:
MacArthur Foundation
Result:
受賞
Anisfield-Wolf Book Award
1988
Work:
Living Maya
Organization:
Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards
Result:
受賞（Jeffrey Jay Foxx と共著）
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
A Catalogue of the Textiles and Folk Art of Chiapas, Mexico
1979 academic/catalogueA comprehensive catalogue of Chiapas textiles and folk art documenting weaving techniques, patterns, and regional variations, serving as a foundational resource for preservation and study.
textilesChiapas folk artdocumentation
The weaving and folk art of Chiapas, Mexico
1979 academic/folkloreIntroduces weaving traditions and folk art of Chiapas, combining technical explanations with cultural context to deepen understanding of regional practices.
weaving techniquesfolklorecultural preservation
A Millennium of Weaving in Chiapas
1984 academic/historyProvides a long-term overview of the history of weaving in Chiapas, discussing continuity and change based on sources and field research.
historytraditiontechnical change
Maya Time Warps
1986 academic articleAn article analyzing Maya concepts of time, calendrical systems, and related rituals and symbolism.
Maya astronomytime perceptionritual
Handmade Money: Latin American Artisans in the Marketplace
1989 socio-economic / cultural anthropologyInvestigates artisan livelihoods and market relations, analyzing distribution of crafts, marketplace roles, and sources of income for artisans.
economic anthropologyartisans and marketcraft distribution
Living Maya
1987 cultural anthropology / photographic recordPresents Maya life and culture through photographs and text, visually documenting daily life, rituals, and textile traditions.
everyday culturephotographic documentationrituals and textiles
A Textile Guide to The Highlands of Chiapas
2011 guide / referenceA guide organizing textiles of the Chiapas highlands by category and characteristics; a practical reference for regional patterns and techniques.
regional guidepattern classificationtechnique reference
Maya Threads: A Woven History of Chiapas
2015 history / cultural studiesA comprehensive account of Chiapas weaving history covering origins of techniques, social roles, and preservation efforts.
weaving historycultural preservationsocial history
Bibliography
- A Catalogue of the Textiles and Folk Art of Chiapas, Mexico
- The weaving and folk art of Chiapas, Mexico
- A Millennium of Weaving in Chiapas
- Maya Time Warps
- Handmade Money: Latin American Artisans in the Marketplace
- Living Maya
- A Textile Guide to The Highlands of Chiapas
- Maya Threads: A Woven History of Chiapas
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- descriptive, observation-basedvisual documentation combining photographs and textinterdisciplinary (anthropology, archaeology, folklore)
- Recurring Motifs
- textiles and motifstransmission of traditional techniquesMayan religious and astronomical elements
Legacy
Walter "Chip" Morris was a leading researcher and practitioner in Chiapas Maya textile studies and preservation. Through extensive documentation and publications he advanced understanding and conservation of regional culture. He was recognized with awards such as a MacArthur Fellowship and the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award and contributed to artisan support and education through collaboration with local communities.
Trivia
- Commonly known as "Chip Morris."
- 1969–70 AFS high school exchange to Thailand.
- Lived with a Maya family in San Andrés Larráinzar for one year in 1973 to learn culture and Tzotzil.
- Long-term resident of San Cristobal de las Casas and reported to be buried in the main cemetery there.
- Received a MacArthur Fellowship in 1983 and the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award in 1988 for 'Living Maya'.