George Amos Dorsey (1868–1931) was an American anthropologist and ethnographer known for his pioneering studies of Great Plains indigenous peoples. His work significantly advanced early ethnographic research and museum collections.
Born in Hebron, Ohio, Dorsey earned a B.A. from Denison University (1888) and later became the first American to earn a PhD in anthropology from Harvard University (1894.) He conducted archaeological excavations in Peru, focusing on Ancon grave sites for his dissertation.
As curator of anthropology at the Field Museum in Chicago (1897–1915,) he expanded Native American collections. He also taught at the University of Chicago (1907–15,) shaping American anthropology. In 1919, he advised President Woodrow Wilson on Spanish affairs during the Paris Peace Conference, demonstrating his broad influence.
His notable publications include The Pawnee Mythology (1906,) documenting Pawnee oral traditions; Why We Behave Like Human Beings (1925,) a popular anthropology text; and Man’s Own Show; Civilization (1931,) exploring human cultural development.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by George Amos Dorsey
Play is the beginning of knowledge.
—George Amos Dorsey
Topics: Knowledge
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