Introduction to the study of Indian languages

This work is a foundational text from the early period of American linguistic anthropology, reflecting the scientific and governmental efforts of the late 19th century to document and classify Indigenous cultures and languages in North America. It represents a significant attempt to establish systematic methodologies for linguistic study during a time of rapid expansion and cultural change.

This book is a direct outgrowth of John Wesley Powell's extensive work as the director of the U.S. Geographical and Geological Survey of the Rocky Mountain Region and later as the first director of the Bureau of American Ethnology. It reflects his broader commitment to scientific exploration and the systematic study of the natural world and Indigenous peoples of the American West.