Sign Language Among North American Indians Compared With That Among Other Peoples And Deaf-Mutes First Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1879-1880, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1881, pages 263-552

"Sign Language Among North American Indians Compared With That Among Other Peoples and Deaf-Mutes" by Garrick Mallery is a historical scientific report that explores the complex world of sign language. As a progress report, an investigation into gesture communication among North American tribes begins with its richness, and data collection from contributors worldwide. The piece highlights the communication method's intricate forms within Native American communities and other groups globally, drawing parallels between different systems of gestures, including those of deaf communities, setting the stage for more comprehensive studies on sign language throughout history. It looks at non-verbal communication, its evolution, and the distinctions between emotion and intellectual gestures.