Sinuous paths to the indigenous Northeast region of Brazil: William Hohenthal Jr., a North-American anthropologist in the 50s

Abstract

This paper is a contribution to the history of ethnology and the anthropology of knowledge. It analyzes a part of the biographic itinerary of the North American anthropologist William D. Hohenthal Jr. and is particularly focused on the circumstances that entailed him to carry out empirical researches among indigenous peoples in the Northeast region of Brazil in the 50s. Hohenthal Jr. was a pioneer: until then, little was known about these peoples and it was commonly assumed that there was no more indigenous in this region. He published historical and ethnographical data that still essentials for researchers and indigenous peoples. An analysis of the correspondence exchanges between, principally, William Hohenthal Jr. and Robert Lowie helps us to understand the elaboration of a research proposal in many ways unprecedented. It allows us to consider Hohenthal Jr.’s work from the angle of its meticulous construction, as groundbreaking proposal that it was necessary to defend. Hohenthal Jr. prepared his fieldwork in the Northeast region of Brazil since 1945, passed on misunderstandings with Lowie, faced the lack of knowledge of Wagley during the attribution of a fellowship, among other incidents.

Keywords
History of ethnology; William Hohenthal Jr; Northeast region of Brazil; Indigenous peoples