Navaho Witchcraft by Clyde Kluckhohn 1944 – True First Edition & Author Inscribed Copy

Item Details

Cambridge, Mass, Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology, Harvard University, 1944, Soft Covers

First, Good

Navaho Witchcraft by Clyde Kluckhohn. Published by Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., 1944. Soft covers. True first edition. Inscribed by Clyde (Kluckhohn). This title was first published in folio pages (not a hardcover book) through the Peabody Museum of Harvard University. Only after the author, and former Harvard professor, Clyde Kluckhohn's death in 1960, was this material assembled and formatted for a hardcover edition. Kluckhohn’s primary theory is that witchcraft serves an important social purpose. Because traditional Navajo life involved harsh environments and resource scarcity, members of the community faced high levels of stress, anxiety, and hidden anger. Witchcraft provided a safe outlet to express these frustrated feelings and aggression. It allowed people to blame their bad luck, poverty, or illness on a "witch. To write the book, Kluckhohn interviewed 93 informants, the majority of whom were men, elders, and experienced ceremonial practitioners. His work is considered a cornerstone study in psychological anthropology and how culture influences personality. 7 ¾” x 10 ½” and 149 pages. Some mild wrinkles on the two corners and first few pages. Else good. Scarce original publication and even more rare with Clyde’s signature.