Michif Language Lessons, 1973-1985, undated

John Chapman Crawford (Professor of English Emeritus), 82, of Grand Forks, ND died April 25, 2009, at the Altru Hospital, Grand Forks. "John Crawford was born July 5, 1926, in Iron Mountain, Mich., the son of Edmund and Alice (Chapman) Crawford. He grew up in Quinnesec, Mich., and graduated from Bessemer (Michigan) High School. He served his country in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946. He married Gwen Titmus in Ann Arbor on Dec. 21, 1946. He attended the US Naval Reserve Midshipman's School, Columbia University, in 1945. He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in chemistry at the University of Michigan in 1947, and a Master of Arts in linguistics at the University of Michigan in 1948. He attended the Summer Institute of Linguistics at Oklahoma University in 1949, and the Asbury Theological Seminary from 1949–1950. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy in linguistics at the University of Michigan in 1960. From 1951 - 1969, he worked at the Summer Institute of Linguistics (Wycliffe Bible Translators), as a linguistic field worker in Mexico, and as a researcher, teacher and instructor at the Summer Institute of Linguistics at Oklahoma University and the University of North Dakota. He was a professor in the English Department at UND from 1980 - 1991, with emphasis on linguistics, English grammar, language and culture. He was instrumental in the establishment of Native American language programs at UND. He also worked at the Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian, Peoples Republic of China, two and one half academic years between 1990-1996 as a Foreign Expert teaching English language, writing and literature. He worked at the Turtle Mountain Community College in Belcourt, N.D., from 1981-1983, during which time he edited The Michif Dictionary. From 1991-1998, when not in China, he worked as a researcher and compiler of materials on the Michif language at Turtle Mountain Community College. Two of his major publications were the Totonepec Mixe Phonotagmemics, Mexico, Summer Institute of Linguistics Special Publications in 1963 and The Michif Dictionary, editor, Pemmican Publications, Winnipeg, Canada, in 1983. He was also very active in the Habitat for Humanity, the Second Wind Band and the Grand Forks City Band. He is survived by his wife Gwen of Grand Forks, children: Malcom (Christiane) Crawford of St. College, PA; Bruce (Rita) Crawford of Fox Island, WA; Dr. Jean Crawford of Kansas City, MO; Craig (Nichole) Crawford, of Marshfield, VT; and Ellen (Raoul) Stitt of Kansas City, MO; six grandchildren: Leigh Moyer, Jessica Whiteley, John Chapman Crawford II, Lauren Crawford, Joshua Crawford and Bennett Delp; two sisters: Maxine (Arthur) Freel of Millersburg, MI, and Joyce Freeman of Lansing, MI, and two brothers, Bruce (Ruth) Crawford of Kalkaska, MI and David (Sonja) Crawford of Lyons, MI. He is preceded in death by his parents, and three brothers, Jim, Ron and Robert." Source: University Letter, University of North Dakota Gwen Crawford, Grand Forks, North Dakota, donated these materials to Dr. Virgil Benoit, who in turn deposited them in Special Collections in Fall 2009 (2010-3028).