Ruth Murray Underhill (1883–1984)

This is a ground-breaking study of a Papago woman and the culture of her people. While the detail may not be totally accurate due to the language barrier, certainly the overall relevance is very significant. This book reveals some of the most intimate details of a woman's life, in fact, somewhat nonchalantly. Rarely are an individual's or a people's lives so candidly discussed.

Red Man's America meets the great need for a comprehensive study of Indian societies from the first Stone Age hunters to the American citizens of today. Beginning with the first migrations of primitive man from Siberia in the Old World to Alaska in the New, probably during the latter part of the Pleistocene glaciations, and his subsequent migration southward and eastward, the author takes up in turn the tribes and cultures of the various regions of North America. The material Professor show more Underhill has gathered from the fields of archaeology, ethnology, and history, together with that drawn from her own experience in the United States Indian Service, produces a fascinating narrative. Red Man's America is an important contribution to our heritage of Indian life and lore. "A work for which both sociologist and historian will be forever grateful. The author has combined a long period of study with actual field work in the service of the Indian to produce a work that gives a brief, but well written and accurate, sketch of the origins, backgrounds, and customs of the various North American tribes. . . . There is no other modern single volume that contains as much information on the subject."--E.R. Vollmar, The Historical Bulletin "Liveliness in style and illustration, together with perspicacity in content, makes this book a useful introduction to the civilization of the original inhabitants of the land."--Pacific Historical Review show less

[Ruth Underhill was an anthropologist, who] conduct[ed] one of the earliest scientific studies of the earliest scientific studies of the Tohono O'odham of Arizona, a work that would establish Underhill in the profession." Source: www.wikipedia.com This is a brief history of the Navaho up until 1947 when it was completed. This work contains 163 illustrations, some of which are photographs. Five indices are included, one of which shows a map of all the different regions from Alaska, through show more Canada and all the way into Texas where languages similar to Navaho are spoken. show less

really good