Alfred L. Kroeber Biography

Alfred Louis Kroeber was a prominent American anthropologist known for his contributions to the American Indian ethnology. A very influential figure in the field of anthropology in the first half of the 20th century, Kroeber was the first person to receive a doctorate in anthropology from the Columbia University. His works in the area of anthropology though primarily focused upon understanding the nature of culture and its processes also covered a wide range of related topics such as linguistics, folklore and social structures. One of his major contributions was the studies he conducted on the Yahi people, including his close collaboration with the last surviving member of the now-extinct tribe, Ishi. As a social scientist, he held the belief that all living organisms must be understood as indivisible wholes with respect to their developmental tendencies. It was his own personal experiences, growing up in a German family which had immigrated to the U.S., which kindled his interest in studying the cultural behaviors of people. In addition to his passion for anthropology, he also contributed significantly to the field of archaeology and had a lifelong interest in languages. He was a very hard working, calm and patient person and thus much respected by all those who worked with him.