Anthropologist. Arthur Caswell Parker was a prominent Native American archaeologist and museum director. Born on the Cattaraugus Reservation in New York, his Seneca name was Gawaso Wanneh ("Big Snowsnake"). For more than two decades, he was the Director of the Rochester Museum of Arts and Sciences and first President of the Society for American Archaeology. He founded the Society of American Indians to educate the public about Native Americans. Among his numerous publications was "Secret Medicine Societies of the Seneca" published in the American Anthropologist. In 1911 he is remembered for entering the New York State Capitol when it caught fire to save important artifacts. He made his way through the smoke and fire and, using a tomahawk passed down through his family, smashed display cases, saving as many items as he could.
Anthropologist. Arthur Caswell Parker was a prominent Native American archaeologist and museum director. Born on the Cattaraugus Reservation in New York, his Seneca name was Gawaso Wanneh ("Big Snowsnake"). For more than two decades, he was the Director of the Rochester Museum of Arts and Sciences and first President of the Society for American Archaeology. He founded the Society of American Indians to educate the public about Native Americans. Among his numerous publications was "Secret Medicine Societies of the Seneca" published in the American Anthropologist. In 1911 he is remembered for entering the New York State Capitol when it caught fire to save important artifacts. He made his way through the smoke and fire and, using a tomahawk passed down through his family, smashed display cases, saving as many items as he could.
Bio by: Sharlotte Neely Donnelly
Family Members
Advertisement
