Elaine Bluhm Herold: A Renaissance Woman of Illinois

Elaine Bluhm Herold (1925-2015) was one of Illinois’s earliest professional female archaeologists at a time when women’s participation in Illinois archaeology was limited. Her participation in the University of Chicago field school at Zimmerman site (1947) was the start of her love of archaeology and led her to positions at the University of Chicago, Field Museum of Natural History, and the University of Illinois. Elaine’s many accomplishments included engaging both professional and avocational archaeologists in salvaging threatened archaeological sites, educating students and the general public about Illinois archaeological heritage, becoming the sole female founding member of the Illinois Archaeological Survey (IAS) in 1956, and IAS secretary and report editor. The IAS bulletins she produced were a critical resource for the development of regional chronologies throughout Illinois. Elaine’s diverse interests, concerns for endangered sites, and enthusiasm for public education provides a role model for many subsequent generations of female archaeologists.