Joseph Walter Whitecotton taught courses in anthropology and liberal studies at the University of Oklahoma for over 30 years until 1999. He was honored with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his achievements, leadership qualities, and credentials.
Marquis Who’s Who has presented Joseph Walter Whitecotton with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. Whitecotton has an extensive professional network and is well-known for his achievements in his field. Whitecotton worked as a professor of anthropology and liberal studies at the University of Oklahoma for over 30 years and chaired the anthropology department from 1969 to 1972. He has been noted for his contributions to jazz and online teaching.
Joseph Walter Whitecotton was raised in Amo, Indiana, and received his doctoral degree in anthropology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He also attended the Culver Military Academy and the University of Miami. During his academic career, he received various research grants to support his archival and field work in countries such as Italy, Mexico, and Northern New Mexico.
Dr. Whitecotton has authored several books in his area, including “The Zapotecs: Princes, Priests & Peasants,” published in 1977 and 1984, “Los Zapotecos,” in 1983, 1992, and 2004, and “Zapotec Elite Ethnohistory,” published in 1990. He has been an active member of many associations related to his field, including the American Anthropological Association, the Society for American Archaeology, and the Society for American Popular Culture.
Marquis Who’s Who has chronicled the lives of accomplished individuals and innovators from various fields since 1899. Marquis Who’s Who is celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2023 and remains an essential biographical source for researchers, journalists, librarians, and executive search firms worldwide.
Joseph Walter Whitecotton is a respected jazz player who has played the trumpet and performed vocals in several parts of the United States, including Miami and Oklahoma City and in Europe. In his youth, he was a member of a dance band, which piqued his interest in jazz. Whitecotton designed and taught courses online on jazz for several years.
He also received the Rufus G. Hall Faculty Award from the University of Oklahoma in recognition of his contributions to anthropology.
Through the International Society of Jazz Educators, Dr. Whitecotton is affiliated with music education.
