Otis Tufton Mason
Encyclopedia
Otis Tufton Mason, Ph.D., LL.D. (April 10, 1838 - November 5, 1908) was an American
ethnologist and Smithsonian Institution
curator.
Mason was born at Eastport, Maine
. He graduated at Columbian University
in 1861, then worked there for 23 years (1861–84)). He worked at the United States National Museum
from 1884 onward, and founded the Anthropological Society of Washington. As part of his curation work at the Smithsonian, Mason developed the culture area concept. Mason was anthropological editor of the American Naturalist and of the Standard Dictionary. He believed in Gustav Klemm's step-wise evolution of cultures and that technology was a marker of a culture's stage of development.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
ethnologist and Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
curator.
Mason was born at Eastport, Maine
Eastport, Maine
Eastport is a small city in Washington County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,640 at the 2000 census. The principal island is Moose Island, which is connected to the mainland by causeway...
. He graduated at Columbian University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
in 1861, then worked there for 23 years (1861–84)). He worked at the United States National Museum
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
from 1884 onward, and founded the Anthropological Society of Washington. As part of his curation work at the Smithsonian, Mason developed the culture area concept. Mason was anthropological editor of the American Naturalist and of the Standard Dictionary. He believed in Gustav Klemm's step-wise evolution of cultures and that technology was a marker of a culture's stage of development.
External links
- Register to the Papers of Otis Tufton Mason, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution