Remembering Lewis Henry Morgan

Lewis Henry Morgan (1818-1881) was a distinguished Rochester attorney and businessman who served two terms in the New York State Legislature. He was also an internationally known scholar who corresponded with Charles Darwin, influenced Karl Marx, and established the fields of anthropology and archaeology in the United States. In 1931, a Democrat and Chronicle article hailed Morgan as “Rochester’s most distinguished man of science.” Today, however, Morgan is hardly remembered in the city that he once called home. In observance of the bicentennial of Morgan’s birth, we aim to share his story with a new generation of Rochesterians.

Lewis Henry Morgan at 200 is a critical appreciation of Morgan’s various legacies. It is a collaboration among community partners that features public talks and film screenings as well as exhibits and a digital humanities project.

This exhibit focuses on Morgan’s life as a citizen of Rochester. Related exhibits scheduled for fall 2018 at Rush Rhees Library, University of Rochester and the Rochester Museum & Science Center will focus on Morgan’s anthropological scholarship and his collection of Haudenosaunee material culture.

Acknowledgments: This exhibit was designed and researched by University of Rochester undergraduate students Anna Remus, Naomi Ruetz, and Samuel Schacht, and their instructor, Professor Robert Foster. Jiangtao (Harry) Gu and Michelle Furlano contributed valuable curatorial assistance. Special thanks to Dr. Michelle Finn and the staff of the Rochester Public Library’s Local History & Genealogy Division for their generous support and collegiality