Homer Barnett
Encyclopedia
Homer Garner Barnett was an American
anthropologist
, thinker, fieldworker, and teacher.
for his Ph.D.
, granted in 1938. His specialization was culture change
and applied anthropology
.
As a student, Barnett did field work among the American Indians
of Oregon
, Washington, and northwestern California
, particularly the Yurok, Hupa
, Yakima, and several small groups of the Oregon coast. Some research concerned diverse ethnological matters
but focused primarily on the Indian Shaker religion and the potlatch
. The latter was the subject of his doctoral dissertation.
as the field director of the Jemez Archeological Field School. Soon after this position ended he moved on to the University of Oregon
. Here he became the second member of the Anthropology department, along with Luther Cressman
. After serving for a few years during World War II
, Barnett returned to the University of Oregon and continued to study Pacific cultures.
From 1947 to 1948, Barnett conducted field research on the indigenous people of Palau
.
Barnett continued to study American Indians in California and the Pacific Northwest and displaced communities in the Pacific. He served as a visiting lecturer for the American Anthropological Association
from 1960 until 1961. He spoke at college campuses that did not have anthropology departments, trying to spread his knowledge of anthropology.
Barnett became an emeritus professor at the University of Oregon in 1971 and officially retired in 1974. After his retirement Barnett worked on writings and publications up until the time of his death May 9, 1985.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
anthropologist
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
, thinker, fieldworker, and teacher.
Education
He began his studies at Stanford in civil engineering but soon quit to rethink his major. When he returned to Stanford it was as a liberal arts major with an emphasis on philosophy. He graduated in 1927. He later attended the University of CaliforniaUniversity of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
for his Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
, granted in 1938. His specialization was culture change
Culture change
Culture change is a term used in public policy making that emphasises the influence of cultural capital on individual and community behaviour. It places stress on the social and cultural capital determinants of decision making and the manner in which these interact with other factors like the...
and applied anthropology
Applied anthropology
Applied anthropology refers to the application of the method and theory of anthropology to the analysis and solution of practical problems. In as much as anthropology traditionally entails four sub-disciplines--Archaeology, biological/physical, cultural/social, and linguistic anthropology—the...
.
As a student, Barnett did field work among the American Indians
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, Washington, and northwestern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, particularly the Yurok, Hupa
Hupa
Hupa, also spelled Hoopa, are a Native American tribe in northwestern California. Their autonym is Natinixwe, also spelled Natinookwa, meaning "People of the Place Where the Trails Return." The majority of the tribe is enrolled in the federally recognized Hoopa Valley Tribe; however, some Hupa are...
, Yakima, and several small groups of the Oregon coast. Some research concerned diverse ethnological matters
Ethnology
Ethnology is the branch of anthropology that compares and analyzes the origins, distribution, technology, religion, language, and social structure of the ethnic, racial, and/or national divisions of humanity.-Scientific discipline:Compared to ethnography, the study of single groups through direct...
but focused primarily on the Indian Shaker religion and the potlatch
Potlatch
A potlatch is a gift-giving festival and primary economic system practiced by indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast of Canada and United States. This includes Heiltsuk Nation, Haida, Nuxalk, Tlingit, Makah, Tsimshian, Nuu-chah-nulth, Kwakwaka'wakw, and Coast Salish cultures...
. The latter was the subject of his doctoral dissertation.
Teaching
In 1939 after receiving his Ph.D. he began working at the University of New MexicoUniversity of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
as the field director of the Jemez Archeological Field School. Soon after this position ended he moved on to the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
. Here he became the second member of the Anthropology department, along with Luther Cressman
Luther Cressman
Luther Sheeleigh Cressman was an American anthropologist. He is known as the father of Oregon anthropology....
. After serving for a few years during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Barnett returned to the University of Oregon and continued to study Pacific cultures.
From 1947 to 1948, Barnett conducted field research on the indigenous people of Palau
Palau
Palau , officially the Republic of Palau , is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Philippines and south of Tokyo. In 1978, after three decades as being part of the United Nations trusteeship, Palau chose independence instead of becoming part of the Federated States of Micronesia, a...
.
Barnett continued to study American Indians in California and the Pacific Northwest and displaced communities in the Pacific. He served as a visiting lecturer for the American Anthropological Association
American Anthropological Association
The American Anthropological Association is a professional organization of scholars and practitioners in the field of anthropology. With 11,000 members, the Arlington, Virginia based association includes archaeologists, cultural anthropologists, biological anthropologists, linguistic...
from 1960 until 1961. He spoke at college campuses that did not have anthropology departments, trying to spread his knowledge of anthropology.
Barnett became an emeritus professor at the University of Oregon in 1971 and officially retired in 1974. After his retirement Barnett worked on writings and publications up until the time of his death May 9, 1985.
World War II
During World War II he stopped teaching to participate in the Far Eastern Language and Area Training Program of the University of California at Berkeley. Here he trained volunteer service men to be effectively gain information from native informants to help the war effort. In 1944 he began working with the Ethnogeographic Board to provide scientific information about human and natural resources of world areas. He later began working with the War Document Survey in the Pacific to give advice about documents that the U.S. government was acquiring from other governments during the war.Select bibliography
- Culture element distributions. VII: Oregon coast, 1937
- Gulf of Georgia Salish, 1939
- Innovation: the basis of cultural change, 1953
- The Coast Salish of British Columbia, 1955
- Anthropology in administration, 1956
- Indian Shakers; a messianic cult of the Pacific Northwest, 1957
- Peace and progress in New Guinea, 1959
- Being a Palauan, 1959
- Palauan society, a study of contemporary native life in the Palau Islands, 1959
- Application to the National Science Foundation for research funds in support of a project entitled a comparative study of cultural change and stability in displaced communities, 1962
- The nature and function of the potlatch, 1968
- The Yakima Indians in 1942, 1969
- Qualitative science, 1983 (ISBN 0533053730)
- Culture processes, 1992
External links
- Homer G. Barnett papers at the University of Oregon
- Register to the Papers of Homer Barnett, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution