Contribution to Passamaquoddy Folk-Lore (ePub)

Jesse Walter Fewkes (1850-1930) was a preeminent American anthropologist, archaeologist, and ethnographer, distinguished by his extensive work with Native American cultures. Born on November 14, 1850, in Newton, Massachusetts, Fewkes was originally trained as a zoologist at Harvard University, where he earned his Ph.D. in 1877. His early career in marine biology eventually gave way to his passion for anthropology and the study of indigenous cultures. After joining the Bureau of American Ethnology at the Smithsonian Institution in 1895, Fewkes's focus shifted to the Southwest United States, where he became an authority on the Hopi and their ceremonial practices. Fewkes's deep respect and scholarly rigor led to significant contributions in the preservation of Native American traditional practices and languages. One of his noteworthy scholarly works includes 'Contribution to Passamaquoddy Folk-Lore' (1890), in which Fewkes compiled and analyzed the oral literature and folklore of the Passamaquoddy people, a Native American tribe in Maine. His work is considered a foundational text in the study of Native American folklore and serves as a testament to Fewkes's dedication to meticulously chronicling and preserving indigenous narratives. Renowned for his application of emerging technologies in anthropological research, Fewkes was among the first to use a phonograph for recording Native American music and oral traditions. His extensive publications, detailing social customs, linguistics, and art, remain invaluable resources for the study of Native American history and culture. Fewkes's influence reached well beyond his scholarly publications, shaping the development of American anthropology and setting a precedent for ethnographic fieldwork. He passed away on April 21, 1930, leaving behind a legacy of pioneering research and intercultural understanding.