 harold garfinkel (october 29, 1917 &ndash; april 21, 2011) was a sociologist, ethnomethodologist, and a professor emeritus at the university of california, los angeles. he is known for establishing and developing ethnomethodology as a field of inquiry in sociology. he published multiple books throughout his lifetime and is well known for his book, studies in ethnomethodology, which was published in 1967. ==biography== harold garfinkel was born in newark, new jersey on october 29, 1917, and was raised there throughout his childhood.sica, alan. 2005. âharold garfinkel: 1917.â pp. 608-612 in social thought: from the enlightenment to the present. boston, ma: pearson education. his father, a furniture dealer, had hoped his son would follow him into the family business.sica, alan. 2005. âharold garfinkel: 1917.â pp. 608-612 in social thought: from the enlightenment to the present. boston, ma: pearson education. although he did help his father out with the family business, garfinkel decided to also attend college and study accounting at the university of newark.ritzer, george. 2011. âethnomethodology.â pp. 391-415 in sociological theory. 8th ed. new york, ny: mcgraw-hill. at the university of newark, courses were mainly taught by columbia graduate students, who brought more theoretical experiences to the classroom.ritzer, george. 2011. âethnomethodology.â pp. 391-415 in sociological theory. 8th ed. new york, ny: mcgraw-hill. this theoretical approach guided garfinkel later on in his theories he formed.ritzer, george. 2011. âethnomethodology.â pp. 391-415 in sociological theory. 8th ed. new york, ny: mcgraw-hill. in the summer following graduation, garfinkel volunteered at a quaker work camp in cornelia, georgia. this was an eye-opening experience for garfinkel. he worked with students from diverse backgrounds who demonstrated a wide variety of interests, influencing his decision to later take up sociology as a career.rawls, anne warfield. "harold garfinkel." in the blackwell companion to major contemporary social theorists, edited by george ritzer, 122-53. oxford, uk: blackwell, 2003. while volunteering in georgia, garfinkel learned about the sociology program at the university of north carolina.ritzer, george. 2011. âethnomethodology.â pp. 391-415 in sociological theory. 8th ed. new york, ny: mcgraw-hill. t
1917_births 2011_deaths American_sociologists Harvard_University_alumni People_from_Newark,_New_Jersey University_of_California,_Los_Angeles_faculty