# Signe Howell

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Norwegian social anthropologist (1942–2025)

Signe Lise Howell Born Signe Lise Lie (1942-07-15)15 July 1942 Tinn, Norway Died 26 January 2025(2025-01-26) (aged 82) Oslo, Norway Occupation Social anthropologist Spouse Anthony Howell

**Signe Lise Howell** (15 July 1942 – 26 January 2025) was a Norwegian [social anthropologist](/source/Social_anthropologist).

## Background

Howell was born in [Tinn](/source/Tinn) to physician Finn Oddvar Lie and Lise Thomassen. She was married to performance artist [Anthony Howell](/source/Anthony_Howell_(performance_artist)) from 1970 to 1977, and to Desmond James McNeill from 1986.[1]

Howell died in Oslo on 26 January 2025, at the age of 82.[2][3]

## Career

Howell was a co-founder of the London based experimental street theatre [The Theatre of Mistakes](/source/The_Theatre_of_Mistakes) in the 1960s.[1]

She studied history at the [University of London School of Oriental and African Studies](/source/SOAS%2C_University_of_London) and [social anthropology](/source/Social_anthropology) at the [Oxford University](/source/Oxford_University). She investigated social structures in South-East Asia, and made field studies among the [Chewong](/source/Cheq_Wong_language) people in [Malaya](/source/Malaysia) and [Lio](/source/Li'o_language) people in [Flores](/source/Flores) in Indonesia. She was appointed professor at the [University of Oslo](/source/University_of_Oslo) from 1989.[1][2][4] Among her works are *Chewong Myths and Legends* from 1982, and *Society and Cosmos. Chewong of Peninsular Malaysia* from 1984. She co-edited *Blod – tykkere enn vann? Betydninger av slektskap i Norge* (2001).[1] She was a member of the [Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters](/source/Norwegian_Academy_of_Science_and_Letters).[5]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-nbl_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-nbl_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-nbl_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-nbl_1-3) Smedal, Olaf (2001). "Howell, Signe". In [Arntzen, Jon Gunnar](/source/Jon_Gunnar_Arntzen) (ed.). *[Norsk biografisk leksikon](/source/Norsk_biografisk_leksikon)* (in Norwegian). Vol. 4 (2nd ed.). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. pp. 408–409. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [82-573-1006-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/82-573-1006-9).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-snl_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-snl_2-1) Schackt, Jon. ["Signe Howell"](https://snl.no/Signe_Howell). In Bolstad, Erik (ed.). *[Store norske leksikon](/source/Store_norske_leksikon)* (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 20 April 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Professor Signe Howell har gått bort"](https://www.sv.uio.no/sai/om/aktuelt/aktuelle-saker/2025/minneord-howell.html). *uio.no* (in Norwegian). 27 January 2025. Retrieved 2 February 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-uniforum2007_4-0)** Toft, Martin (27 August 2007). ["Adoptert av eit urfolk i Malaysias jungel"](http://www.uniforum.uio.no/nyheter/2007/08/adoptert-av-eit-urfolk-i-malaysias-jungel.html). *Uniforum* (in Norwegian). Retrieved 16 January 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Medlemmer - Klassen for humaniora og samfunnsvitenskap - Norske medlemmer"](https://dnva.no/medlemmer/24). Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters. Retrieved 4 February 2025.

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