Indian languages of Mexico and Central America and their geographical distribution / by Cyrus Thomas, assisted by John R. Swanton ; accompanied with a linguistic map.

  • Cyrus Thomas
Date:
1911
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Indian languages of Mexico and Central America and their geographical distribution / by Cyrus Thomas, assisted by John R. Swanton ; accompanied with a linguistic map. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    PREFATORY NOTE About the year 1895 Maj. J. W. Powell, Director of the Bureau of American Ethnology, determined on the preparation of a linguistic map of that part of North America south of the Mexican boundary, having in view the extension southward of the classification and map- ping of the hnguistic famihes north of that border. Dr. Cyrus Thomas was assigned the task of assembling the prehminary data and the ]wei> aration of a sketch map, but the death of Major Powell before the research had assumed final shape, and the assignment to Doctor Thomas of more urgent work, necessitated delay in the comple- tion until the latter part of 1908. At that time Dr. J. R. Swanton, who had entered on a study of the languages of the tribes of the lower Mississippi valley and the Gulf coast, became interested in the hnguistic classification of the tribes of middle America, and on the joint suggestion of Doctors Thomas and Swanton copies of the map were prepared and submitted to a number of students who had devoted attention to the languages and ethnology of- Mexico and Central America, soliciting criticism and making inquiry respecting the advisability of pubhcation at tliis stage. The following anthi’o- pologists responded, furnisliing valuable data: Dr. Carl Sapper, Dr. A. L. Kroeber, Dr. Frederick Starr, Dr. Nicolfi.s Leon, Dr. H. Pittier de FS,brega, Dr. A. M. Tozzer, Senor Francisco Belmar, Dr. Ale§ Hrdhcka, and Dr. Franz Boas. Corrections and additions were made in accordance Avith some of the suggestions offered, bringing the classification and the map as nearly to date as possible. These results are now submitted, not as a final Avork, but as an attempt to repre- sent the present state of knoAvdedge regarding a subject A\dfich may never be cleared entirely of obscurity. W. II. Holmes, Chief. June 2, 1909.
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