THE HISTORY OF ANTHROPOLOGY DEPARTMENTS IN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITIES

THE HISTORY OF ANTHROPOLOGY DEPARTMENTS IN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITIES

The early teaching of anthropologically-oriented courses was long sporadic in the leading institutions of higher learning in Kentucky. The material presented tended to be a reflection of the special interest of the presiding instructor and pertained in a general fashion to the discipline he represented. whether it be history, sociology, psychology, etc. Few of the early instructors had formal training in anthropology, and they were less likely to convey the particular emphasis given to the study of man than would be given by the professional anthropologist. It was comparable to reading a novel with some major informative chapters omitted, to take those early courses.

In recent years, an increasing institutionalization of anthropology departments occurred in several Kentucky universities. Professionally trained personnel has been hired to design and teach the curriculum of the newly-formed departments. So much time and energy was directed low and the development of adequate study programs in anthropology that the professional anthropologist had little time for interaction with his colleagues at other schools in the state.

In an effort to decrease this isolation, several interested anthropologists suggested that application be made to the Kentucky Academy of Science in nineteen seventy-four for the establishment of an Anthropology Section in the Academy. The application was accepted, and the Anthropology Section met formally for the first time the following year with Henry F. Dobyns of the University of Kentucky serving as Chairman, and Louise M. Robbins of the same institution acting as Secretary.

Since the first session was of historical note for the profession in Kentucky, it was deemed appropriate that the papers presented should emphasize the historical development of the discipline in the state. Few anthropology departments, and other academic departments, for that matter, make an effort to record their historical development. and as a result contribute nothing to the history of science, especially in the United States. One of the few anthropology departments that has published even a short history of itself is the one in the London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London.

The papers reproduced here record the history of anthropology departments in three Kentucky universities. Anthropological beginnings at other schools were discussed in the Anthropology Section meeting, since the subject is also taught at Eastern Kentucky State University, Western Kentucky State University, and in several of the Community Colleges of the University of Kentucky system. It is notable that each contributor assesses the development of a department in terms of the emphasis placed upon anthropology in his or her school at a given period of time. Consequently, the course programs of the different departments are not replications of each other, which is as it should be if the discipline as a whole is to continue growing.

The authors of these three histories are eminently qualified by their key roles in departmental development to write their sketches.

Dr. Cara E. Richards, the first professional anthropologist at Transylvania University, received her doctorate from Cornell University in nineteen fifty-seven. Her research interests center around the ethnohistory of the American Indians, particularly the Iroquois, the effects of cultural change in Peru, and the study of inter-ethnic relations and urban social patterns in complex societies.

Dr. Frank J. Essene, former Head of the University of Kentucky anthropology department, received his Ph. D. from the University of California at Berkeley in nineteen forty-seven. His research has dealt mainly with the ethnology of American Indians with special emphasis on California and the Navajo of the American Southwest.

Dr. Frederic N. Hicks received his doctorate from the University of California at Los Angeles in nineteen sixty-three. He is considered a Latin Americanist among anthropologists since his interest and research are in cultural changes in contemporary Latin America. In keeping with his areal specialization, he taught for a year at the National University of Paraguay as a Fulbright Lecturer, stimulating anthropological research there. He also specializes in ecological anthropology.

One. ANTHROPOLOGY AT TRANSYLVANIA

In the late seventeen eighties interest in American Indians was not limited to antiquarians, missionaries or other precursors of modern anthropologists. The subject was of considerable importance to military men and business men-especially those involved in fur trade and land speculation. It was also a topic of considerable interest to the average layman. In Kentucky, which for some years after the founding of Transylvania University remained frontier territory, interest in Indians was far from academic. Perhaps for this reason no courses in Indian lore or antiquities were offered during the earliest period of Transylvania's growth. Following the pattern of most institutions of higher learning at the time, attention at Transylvania was focused on classical subjects. A typical curriculum of the early part of the nineteenth century (nineteen twenty-four) offered Greek, Latin, Grammar, Logic, Rhetoric, Declamation and Ethics along with Mathematics, History, Chemistry, Astronomy and in the Senior year Forensics and Political Economy.

Professors at Transylvania University on the other hand had diverse interests, and the limited course offerings did not prevent individuals from pursuing those interests outside the University, nor did it interfere with their publishing articles that today might be thought appropriate for inclusion in an anthropological journal. Constantine Samuel Rafinesque was one of the more prolific early Transylvania professors who became involved in what would today be anthropological research. He was a naturalist with broad interests that included archeology, physical anthropology (he theorized about evolution), ethnology and linguistics.

Rafinesque's first article of record, published after he joined the Transylvania faculty, on what today would be considered an anthropological topic was "On a remarkable ancient monument near Lexington." This appeared in a Lexington magazine in December of the same year he came to Transylvania, eighteen nineteen. He followed this up with two other archeological articles in the same journal in May and August of eighteen twenty. In eighteen twenty-four Rafinesque published several articles in the Cincinnati Literary Gazette. Most were on archeological topics, but two were ethnological. One dealt with "Nazahual, the Nabijos and Comanchees," and the other was a "Biography of the American Solomon." One was on a linguistic topic. An exhaustive bibliography of Rafinesque's works published in Fitzpatrick's biography of Rafinesque lists scores of such publications. From descriptions of Rafinesque's character, it is probably safe to assume he did not confine his opinions on these subjects to his publications but discussed them at length with students, colleagues, and anyone else who would listen. Anthropology at Transylvania therefore probably dates at least from the appearance of Rafinesque on the faculty in eighteen nineteen.

Rafinesque was not the only Transylvanian interested in anthropological matters. A museum, of which the present one is the lineal descendant, was started by Regent J. B. Bowman about eighteen sixty-six or eighteen sixty-seven. Housed in the old Henry Clay home of Ashland for several years, it then moved to Morrison Hall and finally to the present science building when it was built in nineteen oh eight. The first active curator was Professor Alexander Winchell who divided his time between the University of Michigan and Kentucky University (which was the name of Transylvania between eighteen sixty-five and nineteen oh eight). The acquisition of Indian relics by the museum is first mentioned in the University records in eighteen seventy when some were given to the college by Daniel Boothe. Gifts and purchases continued actively at least until the turn of the century. Unfortunately when the museum collections were moved from the first floor of the Science building to the attic in nineteen thirty-three or nineteen thirty-four, essential records were misplaced. When (and if) the Ledger of Acquisitions and the record books of Professor Winchell and his successors are located, more detailed information will be available. In nineteen sixty-nine there was a fairly extensive collection of Indian artifacts in the museum that was uncatalogued and not on display.

The first formal course offering of Anthropology appears much later in Transylvania's history. Robert Peter's history of the school during the period from the founding in seventeen eighty up to eighteen sixty-five makes no mention of any offerings in anthropology. There is also no mention of an anthropology course in Peter's history of the medical department which covers the period from seventeen ninety-nine to eighteen fifty-seven. A sampling at five year intervals of the catalogues of Kentucky University does not reveal any offerings in anthropology either. The first mention of a course offered after nineteen zero eight when Transylvania resumed its present name is in the nineteen twenty-five to nineteen twenty-six catalogue. It states: "Sociology four hundred thirty-one, Anthropology (not offered in nineteen twenty-six to nineteen twenty-seven)."

The nineteen twenty-six to nineteen twenty-seven catalogue describes an anthropology offering as follows:

Sociology four hundred thirty-one. Cultural anthropology. A brief survey of physical anthropology is followed by a study of the social and mental life of primitive men, his economic and industrial activities, his science, magic, and religion, his ethics, social organization, and culture. Prerequisite, Sociology two hundred sixty and six additional hours. First semester, three hours.

This course was listed through nineteen thirty-five to nineteen thirty-six, when twenty-one students enrolled. The nineteen thirty-six to nineteen thirty-seven catalogue did not list an anthropology course, but one reappeared with the same description in the nineteen thirty-seven to nineteen thirty-eight catalog. Anthropology apparently dropped out of the curriculum in the wartime academic year nineteen forty-one to nineteen forty-two. Records indicate that thirty-nine students took a course in anthropology in the Spring quarter of nineteen fifty to nineteen fifty-one. A five quarter-hour course reappeared in the biennial catalogue for nineteen fifty-three to nineteen fifty-five, listed as "Sociology". Beginning with the Fall quarter of nineteen fifty-four to nineteen fifty-five, the five credit hour anthropology course taught as "Sociology two hundred twenty-six" was taught by Arnold Foster, an Assistant Professor of Sociology. From then on a course has been offered regularly, although sometimes in alternate years. In nineteen fifty-five to nineteen fifty-six anthropology became "Sociology one hundred twenty-six." Arnold Foster taught "Sociology one hundred twenty-six" until the Winter quarter of