Preservation of Boas' North Amerindian Anthropometric Data

19世纪末，著名人类学家弗朗茨·博阿斯对近20万北美土著进行了一项人体测量调查。这是有史以来收集的关于北美印第安人的最大和最全面的数据集。博阿斯甚至在大多数部落样本中记录了个体之间的谱系关系。然而，从来没有对这些数据进行系统的汇编或分析。以目前的形式来看，这些数据的研究价值有限。这项研究的目标是：(1)将博阿斯研究中的信息输入计算机数据库；(2)通过缩微胶片保存数据表；以及(3)对数据表、缩微胶片和数据库进行编目和交叉引用，使它们成为研究人类生物变异的有用工具。这些数据提供了唯一具有历史深度的机会，可以在整个大陆范围内综合北美印第安人的人体测量差异。

During the late 1800s the eminent anthropologist, Franz Boas, conducted an anthropometric survey of nearly 200,000 native North Americans. This is the largest and most comprehensive set of data ever assembled on North American Indians. Boas even recorded the genealogical relationships among individuals in most of the tribal samples. However, no systematic compilation or analysis of these data has ever been carried out. In their present form the data are of limited value for research. The goal of this research is: (1) to enter the information from Boas' study into a computerized data base; (2) to preserve the data sheets by microfilming; and, (3) to catalog and cross- reference the data sheets, microfilm, and data base so they will be a useful research tool for students of human biological variation. These data offer the only opportunity, with historical depth, for a continent-wide synthesis of anthropometric variation among North American Indians.