 Although Schiff had little knowledge about the field of Anthropology, when she had learned that Boas was planning a trip to Laguna Pueblo during the summer of 1920, she asked to be taken along.Boas was disconcerted at the idea, as she was untrained, unmarried, and he lacked the financial support to bring her, after seeking the advice of Elsie Clews Parsons, it was agreed that Schiff would join the trip.This marked the beginning of her career in anthropological fieldwork, starting pretty much accidentally.