Christopher Peebles

Christopher S. Peebles passed away Monday, April 16, 2012 at Bloomington Hospital. He is survived and deeply missed by his wife, Laura A. Wisen, sister Frederica Teresa Peebles of Dunedin, FL, and son Frederick Thomas Peebles, II. Koa, his beloved golden retriever, survives him as well. He was preceded in death by his father, Frederick Thomas Peebles and his mother, Corinne Stephens Peebles, of Dunedin, FL. Chris's passion for learning was unlimited. A dedicated scholar, he described himself as "an anthropologist by training and an information technologist by happenstance." Those who knew him appreciated the value of that eclectic mix. He was best known through the accomplishments of the many students he mentored, innovative scholarship, and leadership of the Glenn A Black Laboratory of Archaeology, Indiana University. His scholarship on Mississippian archaeology, modern and prehistoric social complexity, and information technology will continue to inspire colleagues, but it is Chris's role as husband, companion and friend that will be missed most. From 1955 to 1960 Chris served in the Air Force where he developed an interest in information technology and database design. After he received an AB degree from the University of Chicago in 1963 and a PhD from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1974, he taught at universities around the world, including Florida Atlantic University, University of Windsor, University of Michigan, Northwestern University, Penn State University, University of Amsterdam, and Indiana University. He served Indiana University in several capacities between 1983 and his retirement in 2009. His appointments included Professor of Anthropology and Director of the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology as well as appointments in the Program for Cognitive Science and in the School of Informatics. He held many other leadership roles, including Associate Vice President for Research and Academic Computing, Dean for Information Technology, and Special Advisor for Centers and Institutes in the Office of the Vice President for Research. As Associate Vice President for Information Technologies he worked with the Chancellors and Vice Chancellors for Information Technology at the regional campuses of Indiana University. After retirement, Chris continued to advise students and colleagues as Professor of Anthropology Emeritus, Director Emeritus of the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology, and Dean and Associate Vice President for Information Technology Emeritus. During a career that spanned nearly 50 years, Chris advanced archaeology through many avenues. He taught courses in contemporary culture change, the role of historical methods in anthropological research, and the prehistories of North America and northern Europe. Throughout his career he was involved in the development of information technology and used computers in his research and teaching. As the Assessor for Archaeology with the Andrew Mellon Foundation Scholarly Communications Division, he supported and promoted continuing efforts to design and implement a national archaeological information system for preservation of and access to archaeological information from collections and reports to publications and images. His interest in formal organizations and their culture led to considerations of corporate success and failure and the role of quality in corporate performance. These interests, in turn, led to his role in working as a part of the management team to bring quality and cost management programs to University Computing Services and its successor, University Information Technology Services at Indiana University.A memorial service for Chris will be held May 3, 2012 at the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology at 4:00 pm.

Tributes

Christopher Peebles

May 26, 1939 - April 16, 2012