Plains Indian Studies - Smithsonian Institution Libraries

Plains Indian Studies
Editors' Introduction
Douglas H. Ubelaker and Herman J. Viola
Publication of this volume completes a project
begun in late 1978 to honor John C. Ewers and
Waldo R. Wedel, two distinguished emeritus curators
in the Department of Anthropology at the
Smithsonian Institution. Although Jack and
Waldo had recently retired, they kept their offices
and continued their research and writing about
the ethnology and archeology of the Plains, much
as they had been doing for the previous forty
years. Indeed, both of these quiet and unassuming
gentlemen had asked nothing more than to enjoy
a tranquil retirement and to remain members of
the community of scholars on the Mall.
But this could not be. Since both men had
been outstanding scholars their entire professional
lives and could claim a large part of the credit for
the prestige and distinction that Smithsonian
anthropology enjoys today, they obviously deserved
special recognition. Accordingly, a departmental
planning group of Kate C. Duncan (postdoctoral
fellow), James A. Hanson (Office of
Museum Programs), Sarah M. Quilter, William
C. Sturtevant, and Douglas H. Ubelaker (staff
members) met to exchange ideas and suggestions.
Two symposia were first suggested, one in honor
of Ewers and one in honor of Wedel. However, as
the group discussed thematic and geographical
Douglas H. Ubelaker, Deparlmenl of Anthropology, National Museum
of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, B.C.
20560. Herman J. Viola, National Anthropological Archives, National
Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington,
D.C. 20560.
1
coverage of each and the respective lists of possible
scholars to be consulted, the overlap became
apparent. The research of both men had focused
on the Plains area of the United States, with
Wedel concentrating on its prehistory as revealed
through archeology and Ewers on its early history
as gleaned from archival and ethnological
sources. Through Wedel's use of the direct historical
approach and Ewers' desire to trace history
as far back as possible, the common ground
emerged. Early in their years at the Smithsonian
a symbiotic intellectual relationship grew between
them, nurtured by their mutual respect for
scholarship and knowledge. In addition they have
remained good friends and continue to share
information, ideas, and professional contacts. Accordingly,
the planning group agreed upon a
single symposium to honor them jointly.
At this point, the work of co-ordinating the
symposium was turned over to Douglas H. Ubelaker
and Herman J. Viola. They not only agreed
to serve as organizers of the symposium, but also
to edit the resulting publication. After receiving
a financial commitment from the Smithsonian
Institution, Ubelaker and Viola met with Ewers
and Wedel to discuss topical coverage and potential
participants. All agreed that presentations
should be on topics within the geographical limits
of the Plains area of the United States and the
scholarly limits of the anthropology of Indians
(including history, folklore, and linguistics). Besides
meeting the above requirements, partici-