Lunch | Barbara Ternes | Personal Reflections from Working with Margaret Mead

Center for Mind, Brain, and Culture

Barbara Ternes was one of several personal assistants to Margaret Mead. Barbara Ternes served as Dr. Mead’s “gatekeeper” during the early 70’s, scheduling and travelling extensively with Dr. Mead. Barbara Ternes was married to the late, Alan Ternes, former Editor Emeritus of the Natural History Magazine and editor of the 1975 publication, Ants, Indidans, and Little Dinosaurs.

The Ternes lived in NYC and worked at the American Museum of Natural History. During Dr. Mead’s last days, she lived with Barbara Ternes, at the DeMenille estate on Long Island.

Currently, Ms. Ternes lives in Bellows Falls, VT, spends time with her adult children in NYC and frequented Atlanta, GA, spending time with Emory graduate (50C) and friend, the late Father Austin Ford, founder of Emmaus House, an Episcopal outreach in the Peoplestown community of Atlanta. http://www.emoryhistory.emory.edu/facts-figures/people/makers-history/profiles/ford.html
(https://www.emory.edu/EMORY_MAGAZINE/fall95/austinford.html)

Ms. Ternes stopped in for a CMBC Lunch to relay some personal stories from her days working with Dr. Mead.
A YouTube version can be accessed here: https://youtu.be/E5geVXHsDWQ?t=1