John Wesley Powell
John Wesley Powell was an American geologist, U.S. Army soldier, explorer of the American West, professor at Illinois Wesleyan University, and director of major scientific and cultural institutions. He is famous for his 1869 geographic expedition, a three-month river trip down the Green and Colorado rivers, including the first official U.S. government-sponsored passage through the Grand Canyon.
Report on the lands of the arid region of the United States, with a more detailed account of the lands of Utah
Discover how 19th-century scientists thought technology and laws could transform the arid landscapes of the American West into fertile fields.
By John Wesley Powell
Canyons of the Colorado
Embark on a transformative journey of science and exploration through the heart of the American West during a trip down the Colorado River, where majestic canyons conceal secrets of the Earth.
By John Wesley Powell
Wyandot Government: A Short Study of Tribal Society Bureau of American Ethnology
Explore the unique social and political world of a Native American tribe as they establish a framework of kinship, communal duty, and justice.
By John Wesley Powell
Sketch of the Mythology of the North American Indians First Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1879-80, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1881, pages 17-56
Discover how various tribes across America wove myths into their lives to explain everything from the stars to the earth beneath their feet, revealing a world where nature and narrative are deeply connected.
By John Wesley Powell
On Limitations to the Use of Some Anthropologic Data
Venture into a world of ancient mysteries, where the past is a puzzle and the truth is hidden in the details of forgotten cultures, urging caution in the bold interpretations of early anthropological findings
By John Wesley Powell
On the Evolution of Language First Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1879-80, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1881, pages 1-16
Discover how the intricate structures of Indian languages reveal the story of language development, showing unexpected connections and unique paths in the evolution of human communication.
By John Wesley Powell
Indian Linguistic Families of America, North of Mexico Seventh Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1885-1886, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1891, pages 1-142
Explore the intricate web of Native American languages and their diverse relationships in this historical linguistic study.
By John Wesley Powell