Description: (American Linguist, Ethnologist, and Episcopalian Missionary)
James Owen Dorsey was an American ethnologist, linguist, and Episcopalian missionary who focused on the Ponca, Omaha, and other southern Siouan languages. He was affiliated with the Bureau of American Ethnology at the Smithsonian Institution and was highly regarded for his expertise on the languages and cultures of southern Siouan tribes. Additionally, Dorsey conducted research on tribes in the Southwest and Northwest, gathering extensive information on their beliefs and social structures. Although much of his work remains unpublished, his narratives from the Ponca and Osage tribes have been incorporated into educational initiatives.