ARRIVING AT A COMMON GROUND: JOHN REED SWANTON AND AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGY BY Copyright 2012 BRADY J. DESANTI Submitted to the graduate degree program in History and the Graduate Faculty of the University of Kansas in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. ________________________________ Chairperson Dr. Paul Kelton ________________________________ Dr. Jeff Moran _______________________________ Dr. Sharon O’Brien ________________________________ Dr. Kim Warren ________________________________ Dr. Ted Wilson Date Defended: August 6, 2012 The Dissertation Committee for BRADY J. DESANTI certifies that this is the approved version of the following dissertation: ARRIVING AT A COMMON GROUND: JOHN REED SWANTON AND AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGY ________________________________ Chairperson Dr. Paul Kelton Date approved: August 6, 2012 ii Abstract This project examines the life of renowned anthropologist John Reed Swanton (1873- 1953 ) and his work with indigenous peoples. Combining several methodologies that included archaeology, anthropology, history, and linguistics, Swanton’s research methods anticipated ethnohistory. His contributions to Native Southeast studies remain indispensable and his work in the Native Northwest, particularly with Haida and Tlingit communities, continues to serve as an important reference point for many scholars. Reared in the “Boasian” school of thought, John Swanton rejected both evolutionary and racial frameworks in which to evaluate Indian cultures. He remained an exemplary anthropologist from the beginning of his professional career at the Bureau of American Ethnology in 1900 through his retirement in 1944. A key aspect of this study concerns the dynamics of the individual dialogs that took place between Swanton and some of his Indian informants. These interactions provide a window into the ways in which anthropologists and Indians interacted. At times, anthropologists and Indian collaborators grasped the other’s intentions. Just as often, however, the two parties held incompatible expectations, and as a result, misunderstood each other. For example, Swanton appreciated the storytelling creativity and individual artistry of his Haida collaborators, but often overlooked the intentions of the southeastern Indians who shared their stories with him. Many of the creation stories southeastern Indians told Swanton referenced the difficult circumstances they were currently facing or had undergone in the recent past, such as attacks on their cultures, removal, and alcoholism. Swanton often disregarded creation stories that included such material, as he felt they indicated cultural loss. iii Acknowledgments: This project could not have taken place without the assistance of the dedicated staffs of the American Museum of Natural History (New York City), American Philosophical Society (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), Harvard University Archives (Cambridge, Massachusetts), the National Archives (Washington, D.C), the National Personnel Records Center (St. Louis, Missouri), the National Anthropological Archives at the Smithsonian Institute, and the Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America at Harvard University. The staff members at these institutions helped me acquire the necessary documentation and archival manuscripts necessary to write an account of John Swanton’s life, which was a most rewarding experience. I would also like to extend my sincere appreciation for the assistance of my adviser of eight years, Dr. Paul Kelton. Dr. Kelton’s steadfast support throughout my time as a graduate student proved invaluable. His feedback and advice helped make this project a success, particularly at a time when I was in serious doubt of being able to complete it. Dr. Kelton is a first-rate scholar and I am grateful to have worked with him throughout this process. I am fortunate to have Dr. Kelton as a friend and look forward to future collaborations with him. I am most grateful to my other committee member’s counsel and recommendations during my defense. I enjoyed the privilege of working with and learning from Dr. Jeff Moran, Dr. Kim Warren, and Dr. Ted Wilson, all of whom provided the kind of professional support that makes such a long-term project so rewarding in the end. Special acknowledgment is reserved for Dr. Sharon O’Brien, whose kindness and support proved vital during a particularly trying time professionally and personally in the fall of 2004. iv Writing a dissertation can be an isolating, lonely endeavor. The long hours spent researching and writing this project proved extremely stressful at times. I would like to thank my best friend, Rebecca Biehl, for her support. We have weathered some mighty storms together through the years, and I am glad to have enjoyed her company and encouragement during the completion of this project. Dr. Beth Ritter and Dr. Michele Desmarais have helped me greatly in my career. Their steadfast encouragement and advice have meant more than I can express. Words simply do not suffice to express what their friendship means to me. I would also like to thank Kathy Schwartz, Dr. Dale Stover, Dr. Paul Williams, and Dr. Rory Conces for their encouragement and willingness to always engage in helpful conversation. I appreciate Scott Klinger and Randy Porter for their friendship and support, especially during last minute computer difficulty. Carrie Lacy, Sami Zeineddine, and Bill and Sara Lindsey provided much- needed diversion and camaraderie with perfect timing during the course of this project’s completion, which I am grateful for. I also owe a major debt of gratitude to my good friend- brother Ryan Schumacher, who helped me stay focused on the task at hand. His support helped me continue the course during the hardest parts of this project, no small feat. I will always be grateful for his encouragement when I needed it most. My two brothers, Tony and Joe, helped encourage me during the long days of graduate school. I am most fortunate to have had them by my side these many years. Joe’s irreverent sense of humor has always provided much-needed relief when I have been most stressed. Tony’s noble service as a police officer nearly became my own occupational pursuit at one point. Though an inspiring job, I lack the temperament for such a career. Had it not been for a few fortuitous developments, my life could have certainly taken a different course and I am lucky that circumstances turned out as they did. v My parents, Tony and Mary DeSanti, deserve special recognition for the unwavering love and support they have provided me throughout my life. Their dedication in ensuring that I had the opportunity to pursue my life’s ambition is testament to their integrity, compassion, and willingness to always prioritize their children’s well-being above all else. I find it impossible to imagine a more complete and perfect two people to call Mom and Dad. This project is dedicated to them. vi Table of Contents -Abstract iii -Acknowledgements iv -Chapter I: Introduction 1 -Chapter II: Early Life Experiences and Influences (1873-1890) 27 -Chapter III: Becoming a Harvard Man (1890-1898) 62 -Chapter IV: Professional Beginnings and the Boasian Method (1898-1907) 101 -Chapter V: The Southeastern Legacy (1907-1930) 150 -Chapter VI: Personal Developments and Life After Anthropology (1937-1958) 177 -Conclusion: Commentary on Anthropology and its Future 191 -Bibliography 198 vii Arriving at a Common Ground: John Reed Swanton and American Anthropology Chapter 1: Introduction The history of anthropology, aside from encompassing a considerable body of theory regarding human behavior and culture, is filled with accounts of significant individuals and their contributions. While it is important to remain vigilant against extolling only an individual’s virtues when writing a biography, providing a critical overview of a person’s life can provide clarification of particular time periods and subjects. In this instance, presenting a thorough account of an anthropologist’s life helps illuminate the interactions that have always taken place between them and Native people. Therefore, in this study I propose to do just this by examining the life of one of American anthropology’s most important individuals, John Reed Swanton (1873-1958). Much of today’s scholarship on the Native southeast and Native northwest builds upon Swanton’s contributions. His meticulous research, which included scouring archives along with field work, provides a body of work indispensable today. Swanton’s research methods anticipated ethnohistory, using an interdisciplinary approach to culture. And while not exempt from the prejudices of his time, Swanton argued against racial and evolutionist theories. While not as systematically influential as Franz Boas, or widely known as some of his contemporaries, an account of Swanton’s life that focuses on his reasons for undertaking a career working with indigenous people will illustrate his accomplishments and worthiness as one of anthropology’s most important figures. Through an examination of Swanton’s life, the way in which anthropology developed as a profession will also become apparent. How an individual anthropologist of Swanton’s repute interacted with Indian peoples, focusing on how these 1 exchanges shaped his life as well as those he relied upon for his research is also an important dimension worthy of exploration. As such, part of this project rests on my contention that no matter its overall agenda in the past, anthropology can be seen as a grand dialog that