Born: 1945 (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Died: 2002
Biography:
Janet Friedman (1945-2002) was an American archaeologist who made major contributions to cultural resource management. She was also an early contributor to the development of wet site archaeology. As head archaeologist for the United States Forest Service (USFS) and later as Federal Preservation Officer for the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and member of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP), Friedman was actively involved in developing the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 (ARPA) from its inception. She was a member of the Society for American Archaeology (SAA), the Women’s Council on Energy and the Environment, and the Mid-Atlantic Archaeological Conference. As one of the first female students in Washington State University’s (WSU) Anthropology doctoral program, she actively mentored women in cultural and environmental sciences throughout her career, promoting gender equality in the field.
Janet Friedman was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1945. Her family relocated to Los Angeles, California, during her childhood, where she attended high school in North Hollywood. It was in Los Angeles that she met her husband, Edward (Ed) Friedman, and the couple got married in 1964. They welcomed their first son, Daniel, in 1965. Friedman and her husband shared an interest in social work, which led them to enroll in the Anthropology program at WSU in Pullman, Washington. Seeking summer work after their first semester, they contacted Richard Daugherty in the Anthropology Department, as they knew the department was involved in archaeological fieldwork. Despite facing initial obstacles, including a field director who refused to have pregnant women on site, Friedman and her husband were offered graduate student positions with the Ozette Archaeological Project in Washington State. Their second son, Roger, was born in 1970. Friedman and her husband both worked at Ozette from 1970 to 1971 and then moved to positions at Neah Bay.
While in Neah Bay, Janet Friedman served as a research archaeologist and Laboratory Director from 1973 to 1976. During her time at WSU, Friedman was one of six in the first generation of female students in the university’s doctoral program and came to be known as one of Daugherty’s Daughters. In 1975, she completed her dissertation entitled The Prehistoric Uses of Wood at the Ozette Archaeological Site.
After her work at Ozette, Friedman briefly held a position as Research Archaeologist running a cultural resource program for Northern California State University, Chico, in 1976. She then moved on to become an Archaeologist for the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area Planning Team, which encompassed portions of the Nez Perce, Payette, and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests. Friedman played a crucial role in writing management plans for these areas, utilizing her expertise and knowledge to ensure the preservation and protection of archaeological resources.
Friedman’s career continued to thrive as she became the head archaeologist for the United States Forest Service (USFS) and later took on the position of Federal Preservation Officer for the Department of Agriculture (USDA). She also served as a member of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP). During this period, she played a key role in the development of the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 (ARPA), shaping its policies and guidelines.
In addition to her contributions to cultural resource management and her involvement in shaping legislation, Janet Friedman actively participated in various professional organizations. She was a member of the Society for American Archaeology (SAA), where she shared her knowledge and insights with fellow archaeologists. She also joined the Women’s Council on Energy and the Environment and the Mid-Atlantic Archaeological Conference, where she continued to advocate for gender equality in the field.
Throughout her career, Friedman dedicated herself to mentoring and supporting women in cultural and environmental sciences. As one of the first female students in Washington State University’s Anthropology doctoral program, she served as a role model and inspiration for future generations of women archaeologists. Her commitment to gender equality and her influential contributions in the field have made her an important figure in women’s history.