born California, February 13, 1943
maiden name Elaine Hiesey
married Heinz Pagels, theoretical physicist, 1969
Stanford University B.A., 1964; M.A., 1965
studied dance at Martha Graham's studio
Harvard University, Ph.D., 1970
was part of a team studying the Nag Hammadi scrolls, documents found in 1945 that shed light on early Christian debates on theology and practice. Elaine Pagels received her Ph.D. from Harvard in 1970, went to teach atprofessor Barnard College from 1970, head of the religion department 1974
teaches at Princeton University
her book based on her work with the Nag Hammadi scrolls, The Gnostic Gospels, 1979
child Mark, died 1987
husband Heinz, died 1988
Elaine Pagels, The Gnostic Gospels Scholar
agony of Elaine Pagels profiled on PBS
Allan Callahan review of Beyond Belief