Franz Boas

About

German-American anthropologist and a pioneer of modern anthropology who has been called the "Father of American Anthropology." He argued that culture developed historically through the interactions of groups of people and that consequently there was no process towards continuously "higher" cultural forms.

Before Fame

Instead of studying in Berlin, he chose to study at the University of Kiel, specifically to be closer to his family.

Trivia

He taught at Columbia University, where Margaret Mead and Edward Sapir were among his students.

Family Life

He got married to Marie Krackowizer Boas and had six children together.

Associated With

Another famous German scientist like him is Johannes Kepler.