Lucy Kramer Cohen

Lucy Kramer Cohen was a prominent American anthropologist, born in 1907, who made significant contributions to the field of Native American legal history. Her work, often undertaken in collaboration with her husband Felix S. Cohen, had a lasting impact on the development of federal Indian law in the United States. Together, they played a crucial role in the creation of the Indian Reorganization Act, a landmark legislation that shaped the course of Native American affairs.

Kramer Cohen's contributions to her husband's work, although initially overlooked, have since been widely acknowledged. After Felix's death in 1953, she edited a collection of his writings, titled The Legal Conscience, which was published by Yale University Press in 1960. Her own role in shaping Native American legal history was formally recognized in 2005, when a revised edition of The Handbook of Federal Indian Law was dedicated to her. Kramer Cohen passed away in 2007, leaving behind a legacy of dedication to the field of anthropology and a profound impact on the legal landscape of Native American affairs.