Sherwood Larned Washburn ((1911-11-26)November 26, 1911 – (2000-04-16)April 16, 2000), nicknamed "Sherry", was an American physical anthropologist, and "a legend in the field.

In his youth, Washburn took a keen interest in the field of natural history, and during school vacations worked with exhibits and collections in Harvard's Museum of Comparative Zoology.

They subsequently resided in New York, Chicago, Illinois and Berkeley, California, where Sherwood held university positions.

His focus shifted to anthropology after being induced to attend an introductory seminar on the subject led by his freshman advisor and close family friend Alfred Tozzer.

In Sri Lanka and Thailand he also collected specimens of lar gibbon and observed their behavior in natural surroundings.

[3] Upon graduating Harvard, Washburn accepted a position as associate professor of anatomy in Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, where he remained for eight years.