Book description
In 1931 a young Columbia anthropology student, Henrietta Schmerler, was raped and murdered on the White Mountain Apache Reservation in Arizona, while engaged in fieldwork. A young Apache man was eventually apprehended and sentenced to life in prison. A niece and nephew of Henrietta's, after many years of research and…
Why read it?
1 author picked Henrietta Schmerler and the Murder that Put Anthropology on Trial as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
As an anthropology graduate student, I’d uncovered the story of Henrietta Schmerler’s murder by investigating an oblique reference to a student of Ruth Benedict’s who was murdered by the Apache.
No professor ever talked about the dangers of fieldwork and the risks of getting romantically involved with the people being studied. I toyed with this taboo while doing my fieldwork, like a moth to a flame, and fortunately survived.
I was thrilled when her nephew published the book detailing the complexities and nuances of her murder. I was troubled by the reflexive self-protection reaction of her sponsoring anthropology department—filled with…
From Elizabeth's list on where curiosity sparks important insights.
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