The Child and Childhood in Folk-Thought Studies of the Activities and Influences of the Child Among Primitive Peoples, Their Analogues and Survivals in the Civilization of To-Day

"The Child and Childhood in Folk-Thought" by Alexander Francis Chamberlain is a scholarly investigation written in the late 19th century. This work explores the roles and perceptions of children in various primitive cultures, alongside their implications for modern society, weaving together anthropology, sociology, psychology, and child development concepts. The emphasis is placed on understanding how childhood experiences shape human civilization and cultural practices through time. The opening of the volume sets the stage for a discourse on the significance of childhood by citing various poets and thinkers who highlight the intrinsic value of children to human existence. Chamberlain presents the idea that comprehensive studies of childhood can reveal essential truths about societal structures and cultural evolution. He aims to investigate child-related activities in primitive societies and their survival in current cultural practices, addressing how children have been thought of throughout history. The author expresses a deep appreciation for the wisdom children embody, asserting their central position in the evolutionary narrative of humanity. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Alexander Francis Chamberlain was a Canadian anthropologist, born in England. Under the direction of Franz Boas he received the first Ph.D. granted in anthropology in the United States from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. After graduating, he taught at Clark, eventually becoming full professor in 1911. Under the auspices of the British Association, his area of specialty was the Kootenay Indians.