''Handbook of Middle American Indians'' (HMAI) is a sixteen-volume compendium on
Mesoamerica
Mesoamerica is a historical region and cultural area in southern North America and most of Central America. It extends from approximately central Mexico through Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and northern Costa Rica. Wit ...
, from the prehispanic to late twentieth century. Volumes on particular topics were published from the 1960s and 1970s under the general editorship of Robert Wauchope. Separate volumes with particular volume editors deal with a number of general topics, including archeology, cultural anthropology, physical anthropology, linguistics, with the last four substantive volumes treating various topics in Mesoamerican ethnohistory, under the editorship of
Howard F. Cline
Howard F. Cline (June 12, 1915 – June 1, 1971) was an American government official and historian, specialising in Latin America. Cline served as Director of the Hispanic Foundation at the Library of Congress from 1952 until his death in June 19 ...
. Select volumes have become available in e-book format.
A retrospective review of the HMAI by two anthropologists discusses its history and evaluates it. One review calls it a fundamental work. Another reviewer says "since the first volume of the HMAI appeared in 1964 is far and away the most comprehensive and erudite coverage of native cultures of any region in the Americas." A review in the journal ''Science'' says that "There can be little doubt that, like the ''
Handbook of South American Indians
The ''Handbook of South American Indians'' is a monographic series of edited scholarly and reference volumes in ethnographic studies, published by the Smithsonian Institution between 1940 and 1947.Victoria Bricker.
Volumes
Volume 1. Natural Environment and Early Cultures, Robert C. West, volume editor. (1964)
* 1. Geohistory and Paleogeography of Middle America (Manuel Maldonado-Koerdell)
* 2. Surface Configuration and Associated Geology of Middle America (Robert C. West)
* 3. The Hydrography of Middle America (Jorge L. Tamayo, in collaboration with Robert C. West)
* 4. The American Mediterranean (Albert Collier)
* 5. Oceanography and Marine Life along the Pacific Coast (Carl L. Hubbs and Gunnar I. Roden)
* 6. Weather and Climate of Mexico and Central America (Jorge A. Vivo Escoto)
* 7. Natural Vegetation of Middle America (Philip L. Wagner)
* 8. The Soils of Middle America and their Relation to Indian Peoples and Cultures (Rayfred L. Stevens)
* 9. Fauna of Middle America (L. C. Stuart)
* 10. The Natural Regions of Middle America (Robert C. West)
* 11. The Primitive Hunters (Luis Aveleyra Arroyo de Anda)
* 12. The Food-gathering and Incipient Agriculture Stage of Prehistoric Middle America ( Richard S. MacNeish)
* 13. Origins of Agriculture in Middle America ( Paul C. Mangelsdorf, Richard S. MacNeish, and Gordon R. Willey)
* 14. The Patterns of Farming Life and Civilization (Gordon R. Willey, Gordon F. Ekholm, and Rene F. Millon)
Volumes 2–3. Archeology of Southern Mesoamerica, Gordon R. Willey, volume editor. (1965)
Volume 4. Archeological Frontiers and External Connections G.F. Ekholm and G. R. Willey, volume editors. (1964)
* 1. Archaeology and Ethnohistory of the Northern Sierra (Charles C. DiPeso)
* 2. Archaeology of Sonora, Mexico (Alfred E. Johnson)
* 3. Archaeology and Ethnohistory of Lower California (William C. Massey)
* 4. Archaic Cultures Adjacent to the Northeastern Frontiers of Mesoamerica (Walter W. Taylor)
* 5. Mesoamerica and the Southwestern United States (J. Charles Kelley)
* 6. Mesoamerica and the Eastern United States in Prehistoric Times (James B. Griffin)
* 7. Archaeological Survey of El Salvador (John M. Longyear, III)
* 8. Archaeological Survey of Western Honduras (John B. Glass)
* 9. Archaeology of Lower Central America (S. K. Lothrop)
* 10. Synthesis of Lower Central American Ethnohistory (
Doris Stone
Doris Zemurray Stone (November 19, 1909 – October 21, 1994) was an archaeologist and ethnographer, specializing in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica and the so-called "Intermediate Area" of lower Central America. She served as the director of the Natio ...
)
* 11. Mesoamerica and the Eastern Caribbean Area (Irving Rouse)
* 12. Mesoamerica and Ecuador (Clifford Evans and Betty J. Meggers)
* 13. Relationships between Mesoamerica and the Andean Areas (Donald W. Lathrap)
* 14. The Problem of Transpacific Influences in Mesoamerica (Robert Heine-Geldern)
* 15. The Role of Transpacific Contacts in the Development of New World Pre-Columbian Civilizations (Philip Phillips)
Volume 5. Linguistics, Norman A. McQuown, volume editor. (1968)
* 1. History of Studies in Middle American Linguistics (Norman A. McQuown)
* 2. Inventory of Descriptive Materials (William Bright)
* 3. Inventory of Classificatory Materials (María Teresa Fernández de Miranda)
* 4. Lexicostatistic Classification (
Morris Swadesh
Morris Swadesh (; January 22, 1909 – July 20, 1967) was an American linguist who specialized in comparative and historical linguistics.
Swadesh was born in Massachusetts to Bessarabian Jewish immigrant parents. He completed bachelor's and ma ...
)
* 5. Systemic COmparison and Reconstruction (Robert Longacre)
* 6. Environmental Correlational Studies (Sarah C. Gudschinsky)
* 7. Type Linguistics Descriptions
* A. Classical Nahuatl (Stanley Newman)
* B. Classical Yucatec (Maya) (Norman A. McQuown)
* C. Classical Quiche (Munro S. Edmonson)
* D. Sierra Popoluca (Benjamin F. Elson)
* E. Isthmus Zapotec (Velma B. Pickett)
* F. Huautla de Jimenez Mazatec (Eunice V. Pike)
* G. Jiliapan Pame (Leonardo Manrique C.)
* H. Huamelultec Chontal (Viola Waterhouse)
* 8. Language-in-Culture Studies (Miguel León-Portilla)
Volume 6. Social Anthropology, Manning Nash, volume editor. (1967)
* 1. Introduction, Manning Nash
* 2. Indian Population and its Identification, Anselmo Marino Flores
* 3. Agricultural Systems and Food Patterns, Angel Palerm
* 4. Settlement Patterns, William T. Sanders
* 5. Indian Economies, Manning Nash
* 6. Contemporary Pottery and Basketry, George M. Foster
* 7. Laquer, Katharine D. Jenkins
* 8. Textiles and Costume, A.H. Gayton
* 9. Drama, Dance and Music, Gertrude Prokosch Kurath
* 10. Play: Games, Gossip, and Humor
* 11. Kinship and Family, A. Kimball Romney
* 12. Compadrinazgo, Robert Ravicz
* 13. Local and Territoria Units, Eva Hunt and June Nash
* 14. Political and Religious Organizations, Frank Cancian
* 15. Levels of Communal Relations, Eric R. Wolf
* 16. Annual Cycle and Fiesta Cycle, Ruben E. Reina
* 17. Sickness and Social Relations, Richard N. Adams and Arthur J. Rubel
* 18. Narrative Folklore, Munro S. Edmonson
* 19. Religious Syncretism, William Madsen
* 20. Ritual and Mythology, E. Michael Mendelson
* 21. Psychological Orientations, Benjamin N. Colby
* 22. Ethnic Relationships, Julio de la Fuente
* 23. Acculturation, Ralph L. Beals
* 24. Nationalization, Richard N. Adams
* 25. Directed Change, Robert H. Ewald
* 26. Urbanization and Industrialization, Arden R. King
Volumes 7–8, Ethnology, Evon Z. Vogt, volume editor. (1969)
Volume 7. Introduction (Evon Z. Vogt)
;Section I: The Maya
* 2. The Maya: Introduction (Evon Z. Vogt)
* 3. Guatemalan Highlands (Manning Nash)
* 4. The Maya of Northwestern Guatemala (Charles Wagley)
* 5. The Maya of the Midwestern Highlands (Sol Tax and Robert Hinshaw)
* 6. Eastern Guatemalan Highlands: The Pokomames and Chorti (Ruben E. Reina)
* 7. Chiapas Highlands (Evon Z. Vogt)
* 8. The Tzotzil (Robert M. Laughlin)
* 9. The Tzeltal (Alfonso Villa Rojas)
* 10. The Tojolabal (Roberta Montagu)
* 11. Maya Lowlands: The Chontal, Chol, and Kekchi (Alfonso Villa Rojas)
* 12. The Maya of Yucatán (Alfonso Villa Rojas)
* 13. The Lacandon (Gertrude Duby and Frans Blom)
* 14. The Huastec (Robert M. Laughlin)
;Section II: Southern Mexican Highlands and Adjacent Coastal Regions
* 15. Southern Mexican Highlands and Adjacent Coastal Regions: Introduction (Ralph L. Reals)
* 16. The Zapotec of Oaxaca (Laura Nader)
* 17. The Chatino (Gabriel DeCicco)
* 18. The Mixtec (Robert Ravicz and A. Kimball Romney)
* 19. The Trique of Oaxaca (Laura Nader)
* 20. The Amuzgo (Robert Ravicz and A. Kimball Romney)
* 21. The Cuicatec (Roberto J. Weitlaner)
* 22. The Mixe, Zoque, and Popoluca (George M. Foster)
* 23. The Huave (A. Richard Diebold, Jr.)
* 24. The Popoloca (Walter A. Hoppe, Andres Medina, and Roberto J. Weitlaner)
* 25. The Ichcatec (Walter A. Hoppe and Roberto J. Weitlaner)
* 26. The Chocho (Walter A. Hoppe and Roberto J. Weitlaner)
* 27. The Mazatec (Roberto J. Weitlaner and Walter A. Hoppe)
* 28. The Chinantec (Roberto J. Weitlaner and
Howard F. Cline
Howard F. Cline (June 12, 1915 – June 1, 1971) was an American government official and historian, specialising in Latin America. Cline served as Director of the Hispanic Foundation at the Library of Congress from 1952 until his death in June 19 ...
)
* 29. The Tequistlatec and Tlapanec (D. L. Olmsted)
* 30. The Cuitlatec (Susana Drucker, Roberto Escalante, and Roberto J. Weitlaner)
Volume 8, Section III: Central Mexican Highlands
* 31. Central Mexican Highlands: Introduction (Pedro Carrasco)
* 32. The Nahua (William Madsen)
* 33. The Totonac (H. R. Harvey and Isabel Kelly)
* 34. The Otomi (Leonardo Manrique C.)
;Section IV: Western Mexico
* 35. The Tarascans (Ralph L. Beals)
;Section V: Northwest Mexico
* 36. Northwest Mexico: Introduction (Edward H. Spicer)
* 37. The Huichol and Cora (Joseph E. Grimes and Thomas B. Hinton)
* 38. The Southern Tepehuan and Tepecano (Carroll L. Riley)
* 39. The Northern Tepehuan (Elman R. Service)
* 40. The Yaqui and Mayo (Edward H. Spicer)
* 41. The Tarahumara (Jacob Fried)
* 42. Contemporary Ethnography of Baja California, Mexico (Roger C. Owen)
* 43. Remnant Tribes of Sonora: Opata, Pima, Papago, and Seri (Thomas B. Hinton).
Volumes 6 & 7 were reviewed when the appeared. One reviewer highlights several articles, including those by Eric R. Wolf, Angel Palerm, and Willilam Sanders, but he goes on to say "These volumes are ... more valuable for reference than for reading. Sections dealing with distribution, history, and bibliography are very useful, but sections dealing with social structure or the character of the peoples generally fail to provide integrated analyses indicating the essential features."
Volume 9. Physical Anthropology, T.D. Stewart, volume editor. (1970)
Volume 10–11. Archeology of Northern Mesoamerica, G. F. Ekholm and
Ignacio Bernal
Ignacio Bernal (February 13, 1910 in Paris - January 24, 1992 in Mexico City) was an eminent Mexican anthropologist and archaeologist.
Bernal excavated much of Monte Albán, originally starting as a student of Alfonso Caso, and later led major ar ...
, volume editors. (1971)
Volumes 12–15, Guide to Ethnohistorical Sources,
Howard F. Cline
Howard F. Cline (June 12, 1915 – June 1, 1971) was an American government official and historian, specialising in Latin America. Cline served as Director of the Hispanic Foundation at the Library of Congress from 1952 until his death in June 19 ...
, Volume editor.
Volume 12, Guide to Ethnohistorical Sources, Part 1. (1972)
* 1. “Introductory Notes on Territorial Divisions of Middle America” ,
Howard F. Cline
Howard F. Cline (June 12, 1915 – June 1, 1971) was an American government official and historian, specialising in Latin America. Cline served as Director of the Hispanic Foundation at the Library of Congress from 1952 until his death in June 19 ...
, pp. 17–62
* 2. “Colonial New Spain, 1519-1786: Historical Notes on the Evolution of Minor Political Jurisdictions”, Peter Gerhard, pp. 63–137
* 3. “Viceroyalty to Republics, 1786-1952: Historical Notes on the Evolution of Middle American Political Units,” Howard F. Cline, pp. 138–165
* 4. “Ethnohistorical Regions of Middle America,” Howard F. Cline, pp. 166–182
* 5. “The ''
Relaciones Geográficas
were a series of elaborate questionnaires distributed to the lands of King Philip II of Spain in the Viceroyalty of New Spain in North America. They were done so, upon his command, from 1579–1585. This was a direct response to the reforms impos ...
'' of the Spanish Indies, 1577-1648,” Howard F. Cline, pp. 183–242
* 6. “The Pinturas (Maps) of the Relaciones Geográficas, with Catalogue,” Donald Robertson, pp. 243–278
* 7. “The Relaciones Geográficas, 1579-1586: Native Languages,” H.R. Harvey, pp. 279–323
* 8. “A Census of the Relaciones Geográficas of New Spain, 1579-1612,” Howard F. Cline, pp. 324–369
* 9. “The Relaciones Geográficas of Spain, New Spain, and the Spanish Indies: An Annotated Bibliography,” Howard F. Cline, pp. 370–395
* 10. “The Relaciones Geográficas of Mexico and Central America, 1740-1792,” Robert C. West, pp. 396–452.
Volume 13. Guide to Ethnohistorical Sources, Part 2. (1973)
* 11. “Published Collections of Documents Relating to Middle American Ethnohistory”, Charles Gibson
* 12. “An Introductory Survey of Secular Writings in the European Tradition on Colonial Middle America, 1503-1818,” J. Benedict Warren, pp. 42–137
* 13. “Religious Chronicles and Historians: A Summary and Annotated Bibliography,” Ernest J. Burrus, S.J.
* 14. “
Bernardino de Sahagún
Bernardino de Sahagún, OFM (; – 5 February 1590) was a Franciscan friar, missionary priest and pioneering ethnographer who participated in the Catholic evangelization of colonial New Spain (now Mexico). Born in Sahagún, Spain, in 1499, ...
, 1499-1590
** A. “Sahagún and His Works,” Nicolau d’Olwer and Howard F. Cline, 186-206
** B. “Sahagún’s ''Primeros Memoriales''.” Tepepulco, H. B. Nicholson, pp. 207–217
** C. “Sahagún’s Materials and Studies,” Howard F. Cline, pp. 218–239
* 15. “ Antonio de Herrera, 1549-1625,” Manuel Ballesteros Gaibrois, pp. 240–255
* 16. “ Juan de Torquemada, 1564-1624,” José Alcina Franch, pp. 256–275
* 17. “ Francisco Javier Clavigero, 1731-1787,” Charles F. Ronan, S. J., pp. 276–297
* 18. “ Charles Etienne Brasseur de Bourbourg, 1814-1874,” Carroll Edward Mace, pp. 298–325
* 19. “ Hubert Howe Bancroft, 1832-1918,” Howard F. Cline, pp. 326–347
* 20. “ Eduard Georg Seler, 1849-1922,” H. B. Nicholson, pp. 348–369
* 21. “Select Nineteenth-Century Mexican Writers on Ethnohistory,” Howard F. Cline, pp. 370–403. Carlos María de Bustamante, José Fernando Ramírez,
Manuel Orozco y Berra
Manuel Orozco y Berra (8 June 1816 – 27 January 1881; He was born and died in Mexico City) was a Mexican historian and a member of the Mexican Academy of Language. He was a disciple of José Fernando Ramírez and Joaquín García Icazbalceta ...
,
Joaquín García Icazbalceta
Joaquín García Icazbalceta (August 21, 1824 – November 26, 1894) was a Mexican philologist and historian. He edited writings by Mexican writers who preceded him, wrote a biography of Juan de Zumárraga, and translated William H. Prescott's '' ...
,
Alfredo Chavero
Alfredo Chavero (1841–1906) was a Mexican archaeologist, politician, poet, and dramatist.
According to Howard F. Cline, "Chavero's most enduring claim to remembrance rests...on iscompletion and extension of Ramírez's plans to republish majo ...
,
Francisco del Paso y Troncoso Francisco de Borja del Paso y Troncoso (October 8, 1842 in Veracruz, Veracruz Mexico – April 30, 1916 in Florence, Italy) was an important Mexican historian, archivist, and Nahuatl language scholar. He "was and remains the outstanding maj ...
Volume 14. Guide to Ethnohistorical Sources Part 3. (1975)
* 22. “A Survey of Native Middle American Pictorial Manuscripts,” John B. Glass, pp. 3–80
* 23. “A Census of Native Middle American Pictorial Manuscripts,” John B. Glass with Donald Robertson, pp. 81–252
* 24. “Techialoyan Manuscripts and Paintings with a Catalog,” Donald Robertson, pp. 253–280
* 25. “A Census of Middle American Testerian Manuscripts,” John B. Glass, pp. 281–296
* 26. “A Catalogue of Falsified Middle American Pictorial Manuscripts,” John B. Glass, pp. 297–309
* Illustrations and maps, 1-103
Volume 15. Guide to Ethnohistorical Sources Part 4. (1975)
* 27A. “Prose Sources in the Native Historical Tradition,” Charles Gibson, pp 312–319
* 27B. “A Census of Middle American Prose Manuscripts in the Native Historical Tradition,” Charles Gibson and John B. Glass, pp. 322–400
* 28. “A Checklist of Institutional Holdings of Middle American Manuscripts in the Native Historical Tradition,” John B. Glass, pp. 401–472
* 29. “The Boturini Collection,” John B. Glass, pp. 473–486
* 30. “Middle American Ethnohistory: An Overview,” H. B. Nicholson, pp. 487–505
* 31. “Index of Authors, Titles, and Synonyms,” John B. Glass, pp. 506–536
* 32. “Annotated References,” John B. Glass, pp. 537–724.
Volume 16. Sources Cited and Artifacts Illustrated. Margaret A.L. Harrison, volume editor. (1976) – Bibliography for all volumes.
Supplement to the Handbook of Middle American Indians
Handbook of North American Indians
The ''Handbook of North American Indians'' is a series of edited scholarly and reference volumes in Native American studies, published by the Smithsonian Institution beginning in 1978. Planning for the handbook series began in the late 1960s and ...