Background
Mcgee, W. J. was born on April 17, 1853 in Dubuque Company, Iowa, United States. Son of James and Martha (Anderson) M.
anthropologist geologist hydrologist
Mcgee, W. J. was born on April 17, 1853 in Dubuque Company, Iowa, United States. Son of James and Martha (Anderson) M.
Self educated; (Doctor of Laws, Cornell College, Iowa, 1901).
While at farm work, 1863-1873, studied Latin, higher mathematics, astronomy and surveying. Also read law; in land surveying and justice-court practice, 1873-1875. Invented, patented and mfd. agricultural implements, working at forge and bench, 1874-1876.
Studied geology and archæology, 1875-1877.
Made geologic and topographic survey of Northeastern Iowa—most extensive ever executed in America without public aid, 1877-1881. Examined and reported upon building stones of Iowa for 10th Census, 1881-1882.
Became attached to the United States Geological Survey, and in 1885 assumed charge of important division. Surveyed and mapped 300,000 square miles in Southeastern United States.
Compiled geologic maps of the United States and of New New York
Investigated Charleston earthquake, 1886. Explored, 1894-1895, Tiburon Island, home of a savage tribe never before studied. Ethnologist in charge bureau of America Ethnology, 1893-1903.
Resigned July 1903, to become chiew department of anthropology, Saint Louis Exposition, 1904, bringing together an unprecedented assemblage of the world’s peoples.
Director Saint Louis Public Museum, 1905-1907. United States commissioner Inland Waterways Commission, since 1907.
Expert unites states department of Agriculture, 1907. Lecturer; United States commissioner American International communications of Archæology and Ethnology, from 1902.
Chairman organizing committee for International Geographic Congress, 1904.
Senior speaker department of anthropology, World’s Congress of Arts and Sciences, 1904. Secretary Conference of Governors in White House, 1908. Leading founder Columbian History Society.
President American Anthropological Association.
President Anthropological Society Washington. Acting president American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1897-1898.
President National Geography Society, 1904-1905. Vice president Archæol.
Institute America, 1902-1905.
Author: Pleistocene History of Northeastern Iowa, 1891. Geology of Chesapeake Bay, 1888. The Lafayette Formation, 1892.
The Portable Waters of Eastern United States, 1894.
The Siouan Indians, 1897. Primitive Trephining in Peru, 1898.
The Seri Indians, 1900. Primitive Numbers, 1901.
Outlines of Hydrology, Bulletin Geological Society, America, 1908.
Soil Erosion, 1911. The Agricultural Duty of Water, 1911. Editor department anthropology, International Encyclopedia.
Author: Pleistocene History of Northeastern Iowa, 1891. Geology of Chesapeake Bay, 1888. The Lafayette Formation, 1892.
The Portable Waters of Eastern United States, 1894. The Siouan Indians, 1897. Primitive Trephining in Peru, 1898.
The Seri Indians, 1900. Primitive Numbers, 1901. Outlines of Hydrology, Bulletin Geological Society, America, 1908.
Soil Erosion, 1911
The Agricultural Duty of Water, 1911. Editor department anthropology, International Encyclopedia.
Married Anita, daughter