Hall of Fame: J. Walter Fewkes

Biographical info Name: Jesse Walter Fewkes; as a medusologist he often went by J. Walter Fewkes, or Walter Fewkes, but as an archaeologist he was often known as Jesse Fewkes. Born: 1850, in Newton, Massachusetts; Died: 1930 PhD: 1877, in Marine Zoology, from Harvard. Major Accomplishments: Fewkes's early career focused on the medusae and siphonophores of the Gulf Stream; he then switched his focus to archaeology and anthropology. Fewkes had a huge falling out with Alexander Agassiz, but it is unclear whether this preceded or postdated his career change. Fewkes was curator of lower invertebrates at the Museum of Comparative Zoology until 1887, and spent much time at the Newport Marine Laboratory, where he described many new taxa. Fewkes is best known for his archaological discoveries on the prehistoric Southwest, Mexico, and West Indies, while working with the Smithsonian's Bureau of American Ethnology (1895-1928). He served as President of the American Anthropological Association from 1911-1912, and was appointed Chief of the BAE in 1918, where he served until his retirement in 1928. Honorific taxa: Vermicularia fewkesi Yates, 1890

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Fewkes, J. W. (1879). “Note on the structure of Rhizophysa filiformis.” Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist. 20: 292-303, pl. 1.

Fewkes, J. W. (1880a). “Contributions to a knowledge of the tubular jelly-fishes.” Bull MCZ 6: 127-146.

Fewkes, J. W. (1880b). “The siphonophores. I. The anatomy and development of Agalma.” Amer. Nat. 14: 616-630.

Fewkes, J. W. (1881). “Budding in free medusae.” Am. Nat. 14: 50-51.

Fewkes, J. W. (1881). “The siphonophores. II. The anatomy and development of Agalma.” Amer. Nat. 15: 186-195.

Fewkes, J. W. (1881a). “Report on the Acalephae.” Harvard Univ., Mus. Compar. Zool. Bull. 8(7): 127-140, pl. I-IV.

Fewkes, J. W. (1881b). “Studies of the jelly-fishes of Narrangansett Bay.” Harvard Univ., Mus. Compar. Zool. Bull. 8(8): 141-182, pl. I-X.

Fewkes, J. W. (1882a). “Notes on acalephes from the Tortugas, with a description of new genera and species.” Bull. MCZ 9(7): 251-289, 7 pls.

Fewkes, J. W. (1882b). “On the Acalephae of the East Coast of New England.” Bull. MCZ 9(8): 291-310, pl. 1.

Fewkes, J. W. (1883). “The affinities of Tetraplatia volitans.” Amer. Nat. 17: 426.

Fewkes, J. W. (1883a). “The siphonophores.” Amer. nat. 17: 833-845.

Fewkes, J. W. (1883b). “On a few medusae from the Bermudas.” Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. at harvard College 11(3): 79-90, 1 pl.

Fewkes, J. W. (1884). “Bibliography to accompany "selections from embryological monographs, compiled by Alexander Agassiz, Walter Faxon, and E.L. Mark".” Bull. MCZ 11(10): 209-238.

Fewkes, J. W. (1885). “Development of Agalma.” Harvard Univ., Mus. Comp. Zool. Bul. 11.

Fewkes, J. W. (1885). “A preliminary list of the Acalephae collected by the "Albatross" in 1883 in the region of the Gulf Stream.” Rep. U.S. Comm. Fish. for 1883: 595-601 (in Verrill, 1885).

Fewkes, J. W. (1886). “Report on the medusae collected by the U.S. Fish Commission steamer "albatross" in the region of the Gulf Stream in 1883-84.” Rep. U.S. Comm. Fish. for 1884: 927-977, 10 pls.

Fewkes, J. W. (1887). “A new rhizostomatous medusa from New England.” Amer. J. Sci., Ser. 3 33: 119-125, pl. 4

Fewkes, J. W. (1888). “Are there deep sea medusae.” Ann. Mag. nat. Hist., Ser. 6 1: 253-255.

Fewkes, J. W. (1888). “On a new Physophore, Plaeophysa, and its relationships to other siphonophores.” Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. May 1888: 317-322, pl. 17.

Fewkes, J. W. (1888). “On certain medusae from New England.” Bull. MCZ 13(7): 209-240, pl. I - VI.

Fewkes, J. W. (1889). “On a method of defence among certain medusae.” Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History 24: 200-208.

Fewkes, J. W. (1889). “On the emission of a colored fluid as a possible means of protection resorted to by medusae.” The Microscope 9(3): 65-69.

Fewkes, J. W. (1889). “Report on the medusae collected by the U.S. Fish Commission steamer "albatross" in the region of the Gulf Stream in 1885 and 1886.” Rep. U.S. Comm. Fish. for 1886: 513-536, pl. 1.

Fewkes, J. W. (1889a). “On a few Californian medusae.” American Naturalist 23: 591-602, pl. 22-28.

Fewkes, J. W. (1889b). “New invertebrata from the coast of California.” Bulletin Essex Institute 21(7): 99-146.

Fewkes, J. W. (1889c). “On Amgelopsis and its relationships to certain Siphonophora taken by the "Challenger".” Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. Lond. Series 6 4: .... pl. 7, figs. 1-3.

 

A few of the more intriguing archaeological publications of Jesse Fewkes:

Fewkes, Jesse Walker. "The Snake ceremonials at Walpi." Boston: Houghton, Mifflin and Company. 1894.

1907 -- Aborigines of Porto Rico and Neighboring Islands -- (this book has become a classic of early archaeology).

Fewkes, J. Walter. 1923. Designs On Prehistoric Mimbres Pottery From The Mimbres Valley, New Mexico. Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, Vol. 76, No. 6., Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.

 

LINKS

Biographical Etymology of Marine Organism Names (BEMON)

SI Biography

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