Year: 1961
Type: article
Abstract: In 1950 Elmer R. Smith wrote a history of Utah anthropology, in which he charted the cycles of surge and ebb that began with Byron Cummings' pioneer work in 1895.The interesting thing about this history was that Smith had been a part of all the cycles, except this earliest one with Cummings.Following Cummings at Utah such men as Neil Judd, Andrew Kerr, Julian Steward, and John Gillin, did outstanding research in both archaeology and ethnology.Elmer Smith was a product of the teachings and influence of all these men.As a boy he had met Judd; as a young man and a student he worked with Kerr, Steward, and Gillin.With this training and stimulation, plus his own vitality and zest for life-and enthusiasm for anthropology, which for him was a complete intellectual and emotional fulfillment -it is no wonder that he contributed significantly, personally, to the progress of anthropology in the West.Aside from developing ethnological interests, Smith conducted an archaeological survey over most of western and southern Utah during the 1930's.As early as 1934 he excavated the now well-known Shonesburg ruin in Zion National Park.
Source: American Antiquity
Author: Jesse D. Jennings
Language: English
Subfield: History
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2586404201