The Indians of Texas: From Prehistoric to Modern Times [Paperback]

W. W. Newcomb Jr. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1972

This book covers the history of the Indian tribes who lived in Texas at the beginning of the colonial period.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Newcomb's book is likely to remain the best general work on Texas Indians for a long time. (American Antiquity )

The Indians of Texas, by W. W. Newcomb, Jr., is an excellent and long-needed survey of the ethnography of the Indian tribes who resided within the present limits of Texas since the beginning of the historic period.... The book is the most comprehensive. scholarly, and authoritative account covering all the Indians of Texas, and is an invaluable and indispensable reference for students of Texas history, for anthropologists, and for lovers of Indian lore. (Ethnohistory )

Dr. Newcomb writes persuasively and with economy, and he has used his material very well indeed.... his presentation makes good reading of what might have been a book only for the specialists. (Saturday Review )

Product Details

• Paperback: 436 pages
• Publisher: University of Texas Press (1972)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0292784252
• ISBN-13: 978-0292784253
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #383,497 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Provides an overview of the cultural aspects of the tribes, January 17, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Indians of Texas: From Prehistoric to Modern Times (Paperback)

Using the basic cultural aspects of each tribe, Newcomb provides the definitive reference on the Indians of Texas. Each chapter uses parallel structure providing ease of use...food, clothing, housing, warfare, social structure, religion, education, transportation---, and the information is dependable. This book should be considered a standard purchase for every school in Texas, 7 up,or a must for any Native American collection!

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Much Needed Native American History, October 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Indians of Texas: From Prehistoric to Modern Times (Paperback)

This book is a long-needed survey of the ethnography of the Indian tribes who lived in Texas since the beginning of recorded history. Newcomb's work is a scholarly and authoritative account covering all the tribes in Texas and is an invaluable reference for students of Texas history, cultures, and Indian lore. Newcomb is a professor of anthropology at the University of Texas and former director of the Texas Memorial Museum.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Somewhat dated, esp. on use of language, but still full of good information, January 21, 2006

By 

S. J. Snyder "De gustibus non disputandum" (Various, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Indians of Texas: From Prehistoric to Modern Times (Paperback)

Newcomb does, it is true, use the words "savage" and "barbaric." However, in his forward, he explicitly says that these words refer to levels of technological development only and are not a moral assessment.

That said, this book provides a great overview of all the Indian tribes of a large and diverse state, not just headline grabbing Comanches or Apaches. Relatively peaceful Caddoans and Wichitans are here, as are bloodthirsty Karankawa.

The other way this book is dated is simply the passage of 40-plus years. A number of archaeological studies, plus linguistic analysis, have provided new information on Texas Indians since this was written.

But, especially used, this is still a great buy.