Encyclopedia of American Indian Costume (Paperback)

~ (Author) "It was in the Southeastern Woodlands that Europeans first came in contact with American Indians north of Mexico..." (more)
Key Phrases: front with thongs, footed trousers, twined sagebrush bark, Smithsonian Institution, American Indians, Northwest Coast (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Many nations share the North American continent; the diversities of clothing styles of Native Americans are documented in this book. Offering complete descriptions and the cultural context of the dress and ornamentation of these Americans, this authoritative book is accessible to everyone from the upper elementary student to adults.

The book is divided into 10 cultural regions north of Mexico. Each region is described in a general manner. The tribes that inhabited the area are listed in a table at the beginning of the chapter, and those that are further described are followed by a page number. The description of the costume of each specific tribe is given in a consistent order, including men's basic, women's basic, footware, outer wear, hairstyles, headgear, accessories, jewelry, armor, special costumes, garment decoration, face and body embellishment, and masks. A final paragraph on transitional dress refers to how clothing changed after involvement with Europeans. Beyond the basic description, the author includes insight into the culture, natural materials, and societal influences that led to the diversity of costumes. More than 400 large black-and-white photographs, some of them by famous photographers such as Edward Curtis, and drawings and paintings by noted artists, such as Karl Bodmer and George Catlin, illustrate the entries. A list of key sources for the information follows each entry. Appendixes include a glossary and descriptions of the materials used in clothing and the techniques of their production, with line drawings of many articles. An extensive bibliography, divided by cultural region, is followed by a detailed index. The index lists not only tribes and pieces of clothing, but also such subjects as puberty customs and looms.

Although technically a book on clothing, the Encyclopedia of American Indian Costume would serve well in the college, public, or school library for broader research on the many tribes listed. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

[A]uthoritative. . . . Beyond the basic description, the author includes insight into the culture, natural materials, and societal influences that led to the diversity of costumes. (Booklist )

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Product Details

• Paperback: 536 pages
• Publisher: W.W. Norton & Co.; Later Printing edition (March 17, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393313824
• ISBN-13: 978-0393313826
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #201,746 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A picture's worth a thousand words, March 17, 2003

By	Laura Redish (Twin Cities, MN) - See all my reviews

The author does a good job addressing the many different native peoples of North America in this book, but I was disappointed by the lack of pictures. You'd think she could have at least put a sketch in with each tribal description. No one who goes into this book without already knowing what these clothing articles look like is going to come out of this book with a mental impression of what an outfit from any given tribe might have looked like. It's still an interesting reference and I'm glad to have it, but I can't recommend it for schools.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent general reference on American Indian costume., December 11, 1998

By	Catherine Raymond (Malvern, PA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is the best general guide I've ever seen to the different costume practices of each major North American Indian tribal group. The book has only two significant drawbacks for the general reader: not enough illustrations (though many are rare photographs almost 100 years old) and unclear chronology. All tribes' costume changed after European contact and such contact occurred at different times for different areas; these factors can make it challenging to pick the relevant information from the text. However, I still learned a lot from this book.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This reference book is loaded!, November 6, 2002

By A Customer

For anyone fascinated by the customs and dress of the American Indians, this book is a rich reference. The adaptation of materials found in nature along with the practicality of clothing in different regions provides interesting reading for hours. Anyone who thinks all Indians dressed alike in drab buckskins or adorned themselves or wore their hair alike needs to read about the skill and beauty involved in making their wonderful clothing and jewelry. It would be nice to see more photos and some color pictures, but it is still a great book! My only disappointment is in the choice of the word "costume" in the title. Go to any Pow Wow and you'll see today's Indians cringe at that term as it implies dressing up as something they are not. "Regalia" is their preferred term for their outfits. I recommend this book.