Fonds MG 12.198 - Elizabeth Beaton-Planetta fonds

Elizabeth Beaton grew up on a farm in Antigonish County. She was educated at St. Martha’s Hospital, St. F. X. University (BA Celtic Studies), Memorial University of Newfoundland (MA Folklore) and University of Manitoba (Ph.D. Interdisciplinary Studies). She served as a CUSO volunteer in Guyana from 1967-1969, and stayed on in Guyana until 1973. She taught courses in Folklore, Geography, and Community Studies. She spent 33 years at Cape Breton University, including as a Senior Researcher at the Beaton Institute. Her primary interests have always been the culture and traditions – and relevant societal milieus -- of Cape Breton Island. This has led her to study and write about immigration and ethnic relations; the steel industry; housing as a reflection of culture and status, agriculture and the livelihood of farmers especially in Inverness County. As a Senior Research Fellow with the Centre for Cape Breton Studies, her current area of study and writing is on the material culture of the gaspereau fishery as a farm income supplement. She is also active on a committee dedicated to bringing farmer immigrants to Cape Breton Island. Elizabeth now spends a great deal of her time gardening, and cheering on the excellent young scholars who are involved in bringing a deeper and wider understanding of Cape Breton peoples and their respective cultures.