Advertisement

Bertha Alden “Birdie” <I>Parker</I> Cody

Advertisement

Bertha Alden “Birdie” Parker Cody Famous memorial

Birth
Chautauqua County, New York, USA
Death
8 Oct 1978 (aged 71)
Los Angeles County, California, USA
Burial
Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California, USA GPS-Latitude: 34.0893528, Longitude: -118.3219444
Plot
Abbey of the Psalms, Sanctuary of Memories, Crypt 3303, Corridor H-4-1
Memorial ID
View Source
Archaeologist. Born the only daughter of Seneca folklorist and archaeologist, Arthur Parker, and Abenaki actress, Beulah Tahamont, reportedly in a tent at one of her father's excavations in upstate New York. Her parents divorced when she was seven, she and her mother joined her grandparents, Elijah Dark Cloud Tahamont and Margaret Dove Eye Camp in California, where they, and their daughter, worked as actors. Reportedly, Bertha and her mother performed with Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus during her teen years. She married Joseph Pallen in 1923 and with him had a daughter; they would divorce in 1928. She began archaeological work with her uncle, Mark Raymond Harrington, after the birth of her daughter, when he hired her to be an expedition secretary. In 1929, she was thoroughly involved in excavations at Mesa House, and discovered the pueblo site of Scorpion Hill. Her excavation results were exhibited in the Southwest Museum. In 1930, she worked at Gypsum Cave, and discovered the Corn Creek site. She worked as an Assistant Archaeologist at the Southwest Museum from 1931-1941, and published numerous archaeological and ethnological papers in the museum journal. In 1931, she married paleontologist James E. Thurston, he died less than two years later. She then married actor, Iron Eyes Cody in 1936, and left the Southwest Museum in 1941 to work in the movie and television industry where she served as a technical advisor for film and television. She has been credited with influencing for the better how indigenous peoples and their cultures were represented on film. During the 1950s, she and her husband hosted a television program focusing on tribal history and folklore. The couple were also involved in the success of the Los Angeles Indian Centre which provided support and a meeting place for First Nations members relocating to the region. Continually overshadowed by the men in her life, most of her many laudable accomplishments, including significant contributions to American archaeology and ethnology, were largely forgotten after her death at age 71; significantly, her memorial marker does not record even her own name.
Archaeologist. Born the only daughter of Seneca folklorist and archaeologist, Arthur Parker, and Abenaki actress, Beulah Tahamont, reportedly in a tent at one of her father's excavations in upstate New York. Her parents divorced when she was seven, she and her mother joined her grandparents, Elijah Dark Cloud Tahamont and Margaret Dove Eye Camp in California, where they, and their daughter, worked as actors. Reportedly, Bertha and her mother performed with Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus during her teen years. She married Joseph Pallen in 1923 and with him had a daughter; they would divorce in 1928. She began archaeological work with her uncle, Mark Raymond Harrington, after the birth of her daughter, when he hired her to be an expedition secretary. In 1929, she was thoroughly involved in excavations at Mesa House, and discovered the pueblo site of Scorpion Hill. Her excavation results were exhibited in the Southwest Museum. In 1930, she worked at Gypsum Cave, and discovered the Corn Creek site. She worked as an Assistant Archaeologist at the Southwest Museum from 1931-1941, and published numerous archaeological and ethnological papers in the museum journal. In 1931, she married paleontologist James E. Thurston, he died less than two years later. She then married actor, Iron Eyes Cody in 1936, and left the Southwest Museum in 1941 to work in the movie and television industry where she served as a technical advisor for film and television. She has been credited with influencing for the better how indigenous peoples and their cultures were represented on film. During the 1950s, she and her husband hosted a television program focusing on tribal history and folklore. The couple were also involved in the success of the Los Angeles Indian Centre which provided support and a meeting place for First Nations members relocating to the region. Continually overshadowed by the men in her life, most of her many laudable accomplishments, including significant contributions to American archaeology and ethnology, were largely forgotten after her death at age 71; significantly, her memorial marker does not record even her own name.

Bio by: Iola



Advertisement

Advertisement

How famous was Bertha Alden “Birdie” Parker Cody ?

Current rating: 3.89655 out of 5 stars

29 votes

Sign-in to cast your vote.

  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Originally Created by: James Seidelman
  • Added: Jul 6, 2002
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6581062/bertha_alden-cody: accessed ), memorial page for Bertha Alden “Birdie” Parker Cody (30 Aug 1907–8 Oct 1978), Find a Grave Memorial ID 6581062, citing Hollywood Forever, Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.