Harry Skinner (ethnologist)

Skinner, was a notable New Zealand soldier, ethnologist, university lecturer, museum curator and director, and librarian.

Skinner started studying Māori and in particular the Moriori culture of the Chatham Islands,[1] earning a diploma in anthropology in 1919.

[1] He fought with the Anzacs at Gallipoli in World War I, and was wounded there[5] and discharged as unfit for service in late 1915 after being evacuated to Britain and promoted to lance corporal.

[1] During his service with the First New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Skinner gained a mention in despatches for his bravery, and on 8 October 1915 was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

[8][9] During his time at the museum, Skinner was responsible for adding more than 65,000 objects to the humanities collections, including purchasing a piece of HMS Bounty from one of Fletcher Christian's direct descendants.

[5] Skinner married Eva Louisa Gibbs on 5 December 1915[2] in Southampton, England, and they had two sons, but one was stillborn.

His work had a big influence on the development of anthropology and ethnology in New Zealand, and his analyses of Māori material culture set the standard and methods for the following 50 years.

H.D. Skinner Annex of Otago Museum