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University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library

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1150 Beal Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2113, USA
bentley.ref@umich.edu

Leslie A. White Papers, 1921-1974

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Summary

Creator:
White, Leslie A., 1900-1975
Abstract:
Professor of anthropology at University of Michigan, student of the culture of the Pueblo Indians of the southwestern United States, and of the career of early American anthropologist, Lewis H. Morgan. Correspondence files, articles and reviews relating to all phases of his anthropological interests, research notes on Lewis H. Morgan, and field notes pertaining to his trips among the Pueblo Indians, and collection of scholarly publications.
Extent:
26 linear feet
Language:
English.
Call Number:
86358 Aa 2
Authors:
Finding aid prepared by: Jennifer Zukowski in 2002

Background

Scope and Content:

The Leslie A. White papers document the fifty-year career of one of America's most distinguished and influential anthropologists. The collection documents through correspondence and other materials the development of modern anthropological theory and practice, particularly the concept of cultural evolution and his theory that the control of energy is basic to the evolution of culture. The collection has been arranged into the following series: Correspondence; Course Work; University Career; Biographical/Personal; Writings; Speeches and Lectures; Miscellaneous; Field Notes and Research Trips; and Published Materials.

Biographical / Historical:

Leslie White was an influential American anthropologist and anthropological theorist who in his writings and teachings espoused the importance of evolutionary theory and helped top revive the work of Lewis Henry Morgan as one of the pioneers of American anthropology.

Leslie A. White was born on January 19, 1900 in Salida, Colorado to Alvin Lincoln White, a Methodist minister, and Mildred May Millard White. His childhood was unstable, with many moves following his parents' divorce in 1905. After high school, White worked as a stenographer and bookkeeper in Louisiana until 1918 when he enlisted in the Navy. Following his discharge the following year, he studied at Louisiana State University. In 1921, he transferred to Columbia University where he received his A.B. in 1923 and his A.M. in psychology in 1924. He continued his education at the University of Chicago receiving his Ph.D. in sociology and anthropology in 1927.

From 1927 to 1930, White taught at the University of Buffalo, then came to the University of Michigan where he remained from 1930 to 1970. He was promoted to full professor in 1943 and served as chairman of the department of anthropology from 1945 to 1957. Following his retirement from the U-M, White was a visiting professor at San Francisco State College and the University of California at Santa Barbara.

White was extremely active as a teacher and researcher in his discipline. He made numerous field trips to the Keresan Pueblos and to the Pueblo of Taos, New Mexico between 1926 and 1957 and was leader of the Ethnological Field Party of the Laboratory of Anthropology, Sante Fe, New Mexico, to the Hopi pueblo of Oraibi in the summer of 1932. In addition, White was the author of many articles, monographs and books. Some of the most important monographs were on the Acoma, San Felipe, Santo Domingo, Santa Ana and Sia Pueblos. The books which best expressed his evolutionary and culturological theory and interpretation were The Science of Culture (1949) and The Evolution of Culture (1959). White was the leading scholar of the life and career of anthropologist Lewis Henry Morgan, editing Morgan's travel journal and his Indian Journals, 1859-1862.

White was visiting professor at a number of universities. Also professional active, he was president of the Central States Anthropological Society, president of the American Anthropological Association (1963-1964), and vice president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (1958).

Acquisition Information:
The collection was the gift of Leslie White (donor no. 4780 ) and his literary executors, and came to the library in several accessions, 1969-1976.

Subjects

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Subjects:
Anthropology.
Nuclear energy.
Indians of North America.
Pueblo Indians.
Religion.
Anthropology.
Indians of North America -- British Columbia.
Kwakiutl Indians.
Anthropology.
Nuclear energy.
Indians of North America.
Pueblo Indians.
Religion.
Anthropology.
Indians of North America -- British Columbia.
Kwakiutl Indians.
Formats:
Photographs.
Photographs.
Names:
American Anthropological Association.
University of Michigan. Dept. of Anthropology.
University of Michigan -- Faculty.
University of Michigan. Museum of Anthropology.
University of Michigan -- Religion.
San Francisco State College.
American Association for the Advancement of Science.
American Folklore Society.
Goldenweiser, Alexander, 1880-1940.
Humphrey, Norman Daymond.
Morgan, Lewis Henry, 1818-1881.
White, Leslie A., 1900-1975.
Boas, Franz, 1858-1942.
Adams, Randolph Greenfield, 1892-1951.
Bain, Read, 1892-
Barnes, Harry Elmer, 1889-1968.
Beard, Charles Austin, 1874-1948.
Benedict, Ruth, 1887-1948.
Berle, Adolf Augustus, 1895-1971.
Childe, V. Gordon (Vere Gordon), 1892-1957.
Cole, Fay-Cooper, 1881-
Connable, Alfred B. (Alfred Barnes), 1904-
Hayakawa, S. I. (Samuel Ichiyé), 1906-
Kidder, Alfred Vincent, 1885-1963.
Kluckhohn, Clyde, 1905-1960.
Kroeber, A. L. (Alfred Louis), 1876-1960.
Levi-Strauss, Claude.
Linton, Ralph, 1893-1953.
McLuhan, Marshall, 1911-1980.
Mann, Thomas, 1875-1955.
Mead, Margaret, 1901-1978.
Mencken, H. L. (Henry Louis), 1880-1956.
Montagu, Ashley, 1905-1999.
Mumford, Lewis, 1895-1990.
Osgood, Cornelius, 1905-1985.
Parsons, Elsie Worthington Clews, 1875-1941.
Reuther, Walter, 1907-1970.
Sagan, Carl, 1934-1996.
Sapir, Edward, 1884-1939.
Spier, Leslie, 1893-1961.
Trotsky, Leon, 1879-1940.
Vandenberg, Arthur Hendrick, 1907-1968.
White, Mary P.
Places:
Vancouver Island (B.C.)
Vancouver Island (B.C.)

Contents

Using These Materials

Info for Visitors

How to Request

Ordering Reproductions

Download PDF Finding Aid
RESTRICTIONS:

The collection is open for research.

USE & PERMISSIONS:

Donor(s) have transferred any applicable copyright to the Regents of the University of Michigan but the collection may contain third-party materials for which copyright was not transferred. Patrons are responsible for determining the appropriate use or reuse of materials.

PREFERRED CITATION:

item, folder title, box no., Leslie A. White Papers, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan

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Collection

Leslie A. White Papers, 1921-1974
Call Number 86358 Aa 2
Total components 232
Last indexed 2023-12-08