Lewis Henry Morgan

Lewis Henry Morgan wasn’t just a lawyer or an anthropologist-he was one of the founding figures of American anthropology and a bold thinker who helped shape the modern study of kinship and social evolution. Born in the early 19th century, Morgan’s fascination with Native American cultures and his systematic approach to studying human societies broke new ground in a field that was just beginning to emerge.

Best known for his studies of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) and his theory of social evolution, Morgan’s work provided a framework that influenced generations of anthropologists, sociologists, and even Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. His book Ancient Society remains a cornerstone in the study of social structures and kinship systems.

With a unique blend of intellectual curiosity and on-the-ground research, Lewis Henry Morgan redefined how scholars understand the development of human societies. His legacy continues to spark debate, admiration, and critical reflection across the social sciences.

Early Life and Education

Lewis Henry Morgan was born on November 21, 1818, in Aurora, New York, into a farming family. Raised in the Finger Lakes region, Morgan grew up surrounded by the natural landscapes and Native American histories that would later influence his work. From a young age, he displayed a keen interest in history and the customs of Indigenous peoples, particularly the nearby Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) nations.

Morgan attended Cayuga Academy before enrolling at Union College in Schenectady, New York. He graduated in 1840, having studied the classics and cultivated a broad intellectual curiosity. After college, Morgan returned to upstate New York and read law, eventually beginning a career as an attorney in Rochester.

Though trained in the legal profession, Morgan’s passion for understanding Indigenous cultures-especially their social organization and kinship systems-continued to grow during this period. It was this early blend of legal training and ethnographic interest that laid the groundwork for his pioneering anthropological work.

From Law to Anthropology

While practicing law, Morgan became involved with a local literary society called “The Grand Order of the Iroquois,” which sought to explore and romanticize Native American culture. This interest soon evolved into serious ethnographic research.

Morgan’s first major fieldwork was among the Seneca, one of the six nations of the Iroquois Confederacy. With the help of Ely S. Parker, a Seneca scholar and later U.S. Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Morgan gained rare and valuable access to Haudenosaunee traditions, governance, and kinship structures.

This partnership marked a turning point: Morgan began to gather data systematically, comparing kinship terms across cultures. His meticulous research methods and long-term collaboration with Indigenous informants were revolutionary for the time and marked the beginning of a new era in American anthropology.

Major Theoretical and Ethnographic Work

Lewis Henry Morgan is perhaps best remembered for his landmark contributions to kinship studies and his theories on the evolution of human society. His 1851 book, The League of the Iroquois, was one of the first comprehensive ethnographies written by an American and offered deep insight into the political organization, religion, and social customs of the Haudenosaunee.

Morgan’s most significant contribution came with the publication of Systems of Consanguinity and Affinity of the Human Family (1871), in which he analyzed kinship terminology across over 100 societies. This work introduced systematic methods for comparing kinship systems globally and laid the foundation for future anthropological classifications.

In 1877, Morgan published Ancient Society, a theoretical synthesis proposing that human societies evolved through three stages: savagery, barbarism, and civilization. Although controversial today, this model profoundly shaped 19th-century thinking about social development. The book argued that social institutions, particularly property and family structures, evolved in discernible patterns over time.

Influence on Anthropology and Social Theory

Morgan’s evolutionary theory resonated deeply with European thinkers. His work had a direct influence on Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, with Engels citing Morgan extensively in The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State. Morgan’s materialist interpretation of social change aligned with Marxist theories of historical development, solidifying his legacy beyond anthropology.

In the United States, Morgan is credited with helping establish anthropology as a scientific discipline. His focus on empirical data, cross-cultural comparison, and social structures paved the way for future anthropologists, including Franz Boas, who later revised and challenged Morgan’s evolutionary assumptions.

Despite criticisms of his unilinear model of progress, Morgan’s pioneering efforts in kinship studies, fieldwork, and comparative analysis remain central to the discipline. He is widely regarded as one of the founding figures of modern anthropology.

Later Life and Legacy

In his later years, Lewis Henry Morgan continued to conduct research and write, while also serving in public office. He was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1861 and later to the State Senate, where he advocated for infrastructure and educational reforms. Despite his political role, he remained deeply committed to his anthropological work, using his position to support Indigenous communities and research initiatives.

Morgan maintained a close working relationship with Indigenous collaborators, especially Ely S. Parker, throughout his life. Their partnership not only enriched Morgan’s work but also highlighted the importance of ethical collaboration in anthropology-a value that resonates strongly in the discipline today.

He passed away on December 17, 1881, in Rochester, New York, leaving behind a legacy that would shape the trajectory of anthropology for decades. Though his theories have been revisited and critiqued, especially his linear model of societal evolution, his systematic approach to kinship and field-based research are still widely respected.

Today, Lewis Henry Morgan is remembered as a trailblazer in anthropology-a scholar who bridged the worlds of law, politics, and ethnography. His commitment to understanding human societies through both scientific inquiry and deep cultural respect has cemented his place as a foundational figure in the discipline.

References

1. Lewis Henry Morgan | Britannica
   Detailed biography covering Morgan’s professional background, political roles, and ethnographic work with Indigenous communities.
   https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lewis-Henry-Morgan
2. The League of the Ho-dé-no-sau-nee, or Iroquois (1851) – Internet Archive
   Morgan’s ethnographic study of the Iroquois Confederacy, one of the earliest comprehensive accounts by an American.
   https://archive.org/details/leagueofhodnos00inmorg
3. Ancient Society: Researches in the Lines of Human Progress from Savagery through Barbarism to Civilization (1877) – Project Gutenberg
   Morgan’s classic work outlining his three-stage evolutionary model of societies.
   https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/45950
4. Systems of Consanguinity and Affinity of the Human Family (1871) – Wikipedia
   Foundational monograph on kinship terminology and comparative social organization.
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systems_of_Consanguinity_and_Affinity_of_the_Human_Family