Alexander Goldenweiser (anthropologist)

Alexander Aleksandrovich Goldenweiser (February 10 [O.S. January 29] 1880 – July 6, 1940) was a Russian-born U.S. anthropologist and sociologist.[1]

Alexander Goldenweiser
Born(1880-02-10)February 10, 1880
DiedJuly 6, 1940(1940-07-06) (aged 60)
Academic background
EducationColumbia University
Doctoral advisorFranz Boas
Academic work
InstitutionsNew School for Social Research
Rand School of Social Science
Oregon State System of Higher Education

Biography

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Alexander Alexandrovich Goldenweiser was born in Kiev, Ukraine, in 1880. He emigrated to the United States in 1900.[1] He studied anthropology under Franz Boas, and earned his AB degree from Columbia University in 1902, his AM degree in 1904, and his Ph.D. in 1910.[2]

In addition to many books, articles, and reviews, Goldenweiser taught at the following institutions: Lecturer, Anthropology, Columbia University, 1910–1919; New School for Social Research, NY, 1919–1926; Lecturer, Rand School of Social Science, 1915–1929; Professor, Thought and Culture, Oregon State System of Higher Education, Portland Extension, 1930–1938; Visiting professor, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1937–1938; Professor, University of Washington, 1923; Visiting professor of sociology, Reed College, 1933–1939.[3]

Among his other contributions, Goldenweiser introduced the term "involution" to social sciences research.[4] It was applied by Clifford Geertz in his Agricultural Involution.

He died on July 6, 1940, in Portland, Oregon.[5]

Works

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  • Totemism; An analytical study, 1910
  • Early civilization, An Introduction to Anthropology, 1922
  • Robots or Gods, 1931
  • Anthropology, An Introduction to Primitive Culture, 1937
  • History, psychology and culture, 1937

Further reading

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  • Goldenweiser, Alexander (1933). History Psychology, and Culture.
  • Kan, Sergei (2023). A Maverick Boasian: The Life and Work of Alexander A. Goldenweiser. Critical Studies in the History of Anthropology Series. University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 978-1-4962-3348-6.

References

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  1. ^ a b Benedict, Ruth (1940). "Obituary Notice: Alexander A. Goldenweiser (1880-1940)". American Sociological Review. 5 (5): 782–782. ISSN 0003-1224.
  2. ^ Alexander Goldenweiser, an American Anthropologist with Russian Jewish Roots, The Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University
  3. ^ Wilson D. Wallis. Alexander A. Goldenweiser, American Anthropologist, New Series, Vol. 43, No. 2, Part 1, April–June, 1941, pp. 250-255
  4. ^ Clifford Geertz. Change without progress in a wet rice culture: A citation classic commentary on Agricultural Involution, in Current Contents/Agriculture, Biology & Environmental Sciences, Philadelphia, Pa., Institute for Scientific Information, vol. 22 no. 12, 1991, p. 8. Archived
  5. ^ Benedict, Ruth (1940). "Obituary Notice: Alexander A. Goldenweiser (1880-1940)". American Sociological Review. 5 (5): 782–782. ISSN 0003-1224.
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