Herskovits, Melville J. (1895–1963)

An American anthropologist, Herskovits studied at the University of Chicago and Columbia where he was influenced by Franz Boas. He taught at Columbia and Howard, before moving to Northwestern University and creating the first substantial program of African studies at an American university in 1948. He published several works regarding black culture, such as The Myth of the Negro Past and Man and His Works. He had an interest in economics, African folk art and music, and incorporated these into his anthropological studies.