The Wild Tribes of Davao District, Mindanao The R. F. Cummings Philippine Expedition

"The Wild Tribes of Davao District, Mindanao" by Fay-Cooper Cole is an anthropological study written in the early 20th century. This work focuses on the diverse tribal communities inhabiting the Davao region of Mindanao in the Philippines, providing insights into their customs, social structures, religious beliefs, and daily life. The author conducted extensive fieldwork among several tribes, particularly the Bagobo, and aims to contribute to the understanding of their cultural practices and historical contexts. At the start of the text, the author introduces the premise of his journey into the Davao District and outlines his aim to study and classify the tribes encountered during his exploration. The opening establishes Cole's methodology and the context of his research, including his observations regarding the fluid nature of tribal identities due to factors such as migration, intermarriage, and external influences. He highlights the distinct but interconnected cultural dimensions of various tribes, suggesting a complex mosaic of traditions and interactions that characterize the region. This introductory section sets the stage for a detailed examination of specific tribes, their living conditions, customs, and the impact of colonization and modernization. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Fay-Cooper Cole was a professor of anthropology and founder of the anthropology department at the University of Chicago; he was a student of Franz Boas. Most famously, he was a witness for the defense for John Scopes at the Scopes Trial. He graduated from Northwestern University in 1903 and became Assistant Curator of Anthropology of at the Field Museum of Natural History the following year. He led the museum's Philippine expeditions, collecting more than 5,000 objects, traveling together with his wife, Mabel Cook Cole, with whom he co-authored The Story of Man. He helped establish the University of Chicago's graduate program in Anthropology and started an archeological survey of Illinois. Cole also played a central role in planning the anthropology exhibits for the 1933 Century of Progress World's Fair. He was elected a Member of the American Philosophical Society in 1941.