HERSKOVITS, Melville J.
The Anthropometry of the American Negro
First edition. 280pp. Boards a little bowed else fine, without dustwrapper, probably as issued. Inscribed by the author: "For Professor H. Labouret with the compliments and kind regards of Melville J. Herskovits." Extensive scholarly study and explication of the physical characteristics of the American Negro. Herskovits was a world-renowned black anthropologist whose studies were instrumental in defining African-Americans as they perceive themselves today. He quantified the intermingling of African-Americans with other races and discovered African influences in what had been considered completely assimilated groups of African-Americans. Among many other things, he founded the first university program for African studies in the United States, contributed the essay "The Negro's Americanism" to Alain Locke's The New Negro, and was Katherine Dunham's mentor when she studied anthropology. A scarce book -- we could locate only a microfilm version at a single university library.
[BTC #25136]
