This is an exhibition illustrating the establishment and development of the Anthropology Department at LSE, from its beginnings as part of the Sociology syllabus, to the consolidation of its reputation as a centre of excellence in the 1930s.
These pages showcase documents and images from the extensive anthropology collections held by LSE Archives. These include the papers of Charles Seligman and Bronislaw Malinowski, as well as other key figures in the history of anthropology at LSE, including Sir Raymond Firth, Phyllis Kaberry, Siegfried Nadel, Audrey Richards, Ernest Gellner and Isaac Schapera.
Page 1: Foundation and early days
Anthropology appeared for the first time at LSE in 1904-1905 in the form of a course on Ethnology established as part of the School's new Sociology degree. The course was taught by AC Haddon and according to the LSE calendar for that year were aimed particularly at 'Civil Servants destined for the tropical portions of the Empire, and Missionaries'.
The next significant step in the teaching of anthropology at LSE occurred in 1910 with the appointment of Charles Seligman to the ethnology lectureship. Seligman lobbied to expand anthropology teaching and research at the School, and by 1923 he had significantly increased the number and range of courses available, as well as securing a permanent teaching post for his former student Bronislaw Malinowski.
In the early years Seligman's demands were not always met, and in particular he failed to get the School to commit any money to support anthropological fieldwork. The following letters record his energetic but unsuccessful efforts to secure funds for his student Bronislaw Malinowski to undertake fieldwork in the Sudan.
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Above: Letter to Seligman from CS Mactaggart, 28 June 1912 (Malinowski/27/1).
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Above two images: Letter to Malinowski from Seligman, 1 July 1912 (Malinowski/27/1).