Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-31
|DR. FEWKES, NOTED
/ SCIENTIST, EXPIRES.
Former Chief of Bureau of
American EthnoIogy Dies
at Maryland Home.

DR.. j. Walter Fewkes, noted scientist
and former chief of the Bureau of
American Ethnology of the Smithsonian
Institution, died at his home, in Forest
Glen, Md, early today after long ILL
ness. He was 70 years old. He retired
as administrative head of the bureau in
February, 1928.
DR.. Fewkes was prominent in three
fields of science. He first worked in
physics at Harvard University and pub
lished the results of some original re-
searches in electricity. Then he became
student Of Louis AgasSiZ, and later in
Leipzig. and for is years devoted himself
in zoology, specializing in the lower in
Vertebrates. He had obtained his bach
elor of arts degree at Harvard in 1878
and his master of arts and doctor of
philosophy degrees there in 1877. He
also studied at Naples and in France
He was assistant in museum COM
parative zoology at Harvard University
18S1-99. Subsequently he was editor of
the Journal of Ethnology and Archie
ology, 1890-94
Meanwhile, during a trip West in
1887, DR.. Fewkes became interested in
study of Indians and had devoted the
greater part of his time to the study
OF the original Americans" past and
present, since.
Initiated by Hopi Tribes.
He had been initiated into the secret
rites Of the Hopi Indian tribes He was
the flrSt man to make use of the phono-
graph in recording Indian music And
he was widely recognized for having
transformed the excavation of ancient
Indian monuments from looting oper-
alton to one of preservation. His work
made the Mesa Verde National Park a
To-,
addition, he is known to have gathered
the largest collection of Indian pottery
ever brought out of the Southwest.
DIR. FewkeS was field director of the
Homepway Southwestern Archaeological
Expedition field work in Arizona in
189l-94. In 1895 he became ethnologist
in the Bureau of American Ethnology,
serving in that capacity until 1918. In
the latter year he was promoted to chief
OF the bureau.
For more than 80 years, DR.. Fewkes
was member Of the Committee to
Visit Peabody Museum of Harvard Col
lege. During hts career, he had charge
OF the excavation and repair of Casa
Grande, Ariz.: Spruce Tree House, Cliff
Palace, Sun Temple, Fire Temple, Far
View House, Pipe Shrine House, Mesa
Verde National Park, Colo; Wupatki
Eden and Pueblo.
Studies Other Peoples.
In addition, DR.. Fewkes conducted
research and study of the native peo-
Piles of Porto Rico, Florida, the Gulf
Coast of Mexico, the Lesser Antilles and
the Alabama Coast.
The writer of many articles pertaining
to ethnology and Indian history, DR..
Fewkes in, 1894 published what stands
as the classical account of the famous
Walpi snake dance. He was deeply in
terested in primitive religions. The
Hopi Indians gave him the name of
Naquapi, or Medicine Bowl, because they
said they were always pouring informa-
ton into him.
For some time after his retirement as
head of the Bureau of American
Ethnology Of the Smithsonian Institu-
ton, DR.. Fewkes maintained a study in
the building there, but was prevented
from doing much research work be-
cause Of failing health.
DR.. Fewkes was member of the Ma
tional Academy of Sciences, the Ameri-
can Antiquarian Society, was fellow of
the American Academy of Art and
Sciences and of the American ASsocia-
ton for the Advancement of Science,
of which he was past vice president;
the American Anthropological Society,
which he also had served as vice presi-
dent; the Anthropological Society of
washington, which he served as vice
president, 1909-10; the American Folk
Lore Society, which he also served as
vice president, and the Washington
Academy of Sciences.
Member Of Many Societies.
In addition, DR.. Fewkes was q CORE
spending member of the Boston Society
OF Natural History, the Essex Institute.
Salem, Mass; the Society of American
Geographers, Gessellschaft t. Wiss.
Ethnologie, Berlin, Germany. He was
an honorary member of the Societe des
Americanists, 1907. Paris, France, and
the Knight Order of Isabella the
Catholic, Spain, 1892.
DR.. Fewkes was q member Of the
Cosmos Club Of this city. Besides his
vivid descriptive writing of the snake
dance, DR.. Fewkes had written various
articles ON his numerous other ex-
petitions.
DR.. Fewkes was q native of Newton,
Mass. He was married to Miss Harriet
o. Cutler Of Cambridge, Mass, In 1898.
His wife died several weeks ago.
He is survived by a brother, Charles
Fewkes of Newton, Mass and sister,
Mrs. Nettie M. Little of Warner, N. H
Funeral services will be conducted
at his late residence at Forest Glen Mon
day morning at 10 o'clock. Interment
will be in Abbery Mausoleum, Arlington
County, Va.
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