WIRZ, Paul. Moscow 29.5.1892 — Ulopu, Maprik, Papua New Guinea 30.1.1955. Swiss Ethnologist. Born of Swiss parents in Russia, son of Jakob Wirz (1856–1904), a businessman from Basel, and Louise Nidecker. School in Moscow and Zürich. Studied physics and chemistry at Technische Hochschule in Zürich, but soon turned to Ethnology (first at Zürich under Schlaginhaufen). Ph.D. 1920 Basel. In 1915-20 fieldwork in Dutch New Guinea, again in 1920-22, 1924-26 and in the 1950s, also in Sri Lanka (1947-48) and Bali, also visited India, East Asia, Africa and Caribbean. He took numerous photographs and films. He was living in Basel, but never had a teaching position. During his expeditions he also collected thousands of artefacts for museums and for his private collection. Three times married: 1912 his cousin Christina Paulina Elisabeth Wirz (1878–1929, one son), 1930 Hanna Ruth Wenige (b. 1906, son and daughter)), and 1934 Erna Liebeck (b. 1907).
Publications: Exorzismus und Heilkunde auf Ceylon. 292 p. 51 pl. Bern 1941, English translation Leiden 1951.
– Einsiedler auf Taprobane. Geschichte dreier Inseln. 134 p. Bern 1942 (about his life on Ceylon’s south coast).
– Much on Indonesia (Der Totenkult auf Bali. 129 p. St. 1928) and especially on New Guinea.
Sources: F. Herrmann, ZfEthnol. 80, 1955, 135-137; *Andrea E. Schmidt, Paul Wirz. Ein Wanderer auf der Suche nach der „Wahren Natur”. 351 p. Basler Beiträge zur Ethnologie 39. Basel 1998; D. Wunderlin, Hist. Lex. d. Schweiz online; oceanicart.com; German Wikipedia.
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