McGee, W. J., 1853-1912

Geologist, anthropologist, and hydrologist.

From the description of Papers of W. J. McGee, 1822-1916. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 78067600

Biographical Note

• 1853, Apr. 17: Born near Farley, Iowa
• 1878 - 1882 : Made surveys of the geology of Iowa
• 1883: Joined the United States Geological Survey
• 1883 - 1894 : Surveyed the geology of the Atlantic Coastal Plain
• 1888: Married Anita Newcomb (died 1940)
• 1893: Became anthropologist in charge, Bureau of American Ethnology
• 1903 - 1904 : In charge of the anthropological and historical exhibit, Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis, Mo. Appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt to the Inland Waterways Commission Appointed by the secretary of agriculture to take charge of the study of the water resources of the United States.
• 1912, Sept. 4: Died, Washington, D.C.

From the guide to the W J McGee Papers, 1880-1916, (bulk 1885-1905), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)

Born in Iowa in 1853, anthropologist, ethnologist, and geologist William J. McGee worked for the U.S. Geological Survey from 1881 until 1893 when the Bureau of American Ethnology was formed. He was in charge of the Bureau from 1893 to 1903. During that time, he conducted field expeditions to study the Tohono O’odham Indians in southern Arizona and Seri Indians in Sonora, Mexico in late 1894 and late 1895. He held various other prominent scientific positions until his death in 1912.

Photographer William Dinwiddie, born in Virginia in 1867, worked for the Bureau of American Ethnology from 1886 to 1895, then became a journalist and war correspondent.

From the guide to the W.J. McGee Photograph Collection, 1894-1895, (University of Arizona Libraries, Special Collections)