Marina de Vasconcellos, Pioneer of Brazilian Anthropology

Abstract

The article explores the trajectory of Marina de Vasconcellos, considered Brazil’s first professional anthropologist, noted for her pioneering role during a period when anthropology was still being established as a discipline in the country. Vasconcellos’s recognition as the first professional anthropologist is primarily based on two key aspects: a) her rigorous academic training in anthropology and b) her role as an anthropology instructor in higher education. The study focuses on the development of her career and the impact she had on Brazilian anthropology, particularly through her close collaboration with Arthur Ramos, a central figure in the anthropology of the time, with whom she worked as an assistant professor for nearly a decade. Beyond her academic role, Vasconcellos played a significant part in the institutionalization of anthropology in Brazil. Not only did she teach at the National Faculty of Philosophy, where she mentored and influenced a new generation of scholars in the field, but she also actively contributed to scientific societies. Her involvement in organizations such as the Brazilian Society of Anthropology and Ethnology and the Brazilian Association of Anthropology was essential in creating spaces for dialogue and cooperation among anthropologists, promoting the development and consolidation of the discipline. In summary, the article highlights Marina de Vasconcellos’s central role in the professionalization and institutionalization of anthropology in Brazil, paving the way for future generations of anthropologists.