Michael Glassow, a professor of anthropology at UC Santa Barbara for 40 years, was posthumously honored by the City of Santa Barbara mayor and City Council. The recognition was for his extensive public service and dedicated commitment to archaeological resource protection in the region. Glassow served as an Advisory Member to the Historic Landmark Commission for more than 35 years, reviewing archaeological technical reports as part of the City’s environmental review process.
For 40 years as a professor of anthropology at UC Santa Barbara, Glassow was a mentor, colleague, and friend, recognized for his generosity in meeting with students, assisting colleagues, and contributing expertise to historic preservation projects. He also served on the boards of state and national archaeological societies.
Glassow’s interest in archaeology began during his senior year in high school in Illinois or Michigan, where he grew up after being born in Wisconsin. He was inspired by books like “Digging in the Southwest” and “Beginning in Archaeology.” This interest led him to summer work at the Philmont National Scout Ranch in New Mexico for four summers as a field assistant, eventually becoming the program director while pursuing graduate studies in anthropology at UCLA. His archaeological investigations in northeastern New Mexico over a decade resulted in a monograph, "Prehistoric Agricultural Development in the Northern Southwest," and published research articles.
In 1966, while a graduate student at UCLA, Glassow made his first visit to the University of California’s Research Station on Santa Cruz Island. There, he assisted in collecting soil samples in Pozo Canyon to study prehistoric vegetation changes. Three years later, in 1969, he was hired by UCSB to teach archaeology and cultural ecology courses, even as his dissertation was still in progress.
He became involved in two large-scale projects: co-director of work on Santa Cruz Island, funded by a National Science Foundation grant, and principal investigator at what was then Vandenberg Air Force Base, now Vandenberg Space Force Base. His research at UCSB focused on the prehistory of the Santa Barbara region. He taught undergraduate courses including North American Indians, Western North American Archaeology, and archaeological method and theory. Graduate seminars focused on cultural ecology and subsistence change. He chaired 20 PhD dissertations and many master’s theses, participating in student field research, including projects in Alaska and the Russian Far East.
Glassow exemplified responsibility, ensuring he completed what he started and did not undertake more than was reasonable. He was committed to archaeology as a vital subfield of anthropology. He collaborated with his students to develop research designs that not only advanced the understanding of past cultures but also utilized museum collections for new studies with modern techniques. He was also dedicated to preserving archaeological sites, recognizing their value as scientific repositories for past environmental conditions and cultural adaptations, and importantly, their cultural significance to Chumash descendants.
Beyond his academic and preservation work, Glassow enjoyed the outdoors. He walked across all the islands within Channel Islands National Park, often at a pace that surpassed most companions. An accomplished photographer, he always carried his camera. He also enjoyed working with his hands, undertaking projects on his own home and volunteering his labor for others, such as helping with the 1981 move of the Goleta Depot to Stow Park and repairing its wood windows. He repaired clocks as a hobby and was a proficient ham radio operator, communicating with his wife, Anabel Ford, in Belize and Guatemala before internet communications. Their home is decorated with plein air artwork by Oak Group artists.
Glassow coauthored and edited volumes including "The Punta Arena Site" and "Goleta Slough Prehistory," published in the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History’s Contributions in Anthropology series. He also attended an international conference in the Russian Far East, giving a concluding lecture on connections between Eastern Russian and Western North American prehistory. In 2004, as UCSB Anthropology Department chair, he initiated a course titled "Indigenous Peoples of California," which was taught annually for 18 years by a former student.
Glassow's impact extended significantly through his mentorship. One individual recounted meeting him in 1966 after high school, working under his direction at Philmont Scout Ranch, and deciding on a career in archaeology due to Glassow’s serious and dedicated approach. This individual later worked in Glassow’s lab as an undergraduate at UCSB, and Glassow subsequently chaired their graduate committee. He secured funding for a graduate student position managing department collections, which provided financial support. Glassow encouraged research, including field visits to sites of identified Chumash villages. His support included organizing symposia for graduate students, editing volumes, and coauthoring papers. This individual, who later served as Curator of Anthropology at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History for 37 years, collaborated with Glassow on projects and studies, confirming Glassow's lasting influence as a teacher, role model, collaborator, and friend.
