Our Mission
The Lewis Henry Morgan Chapter is the Rochester chapter of the New York State Archaeological Association (NYSAA). We foster an interest in New York State archaeology. We meet almost monthly to share finds, hear speakers and explore the region's history, and we welcome members from every background.
We give professional archaeologists and enthusiastic amateurs a place to work together through field work, educational programs and scholarly discussion. You do not need any experience to join.
- Founded 1916. The earliest chapter of the NYSAA, with more than a century of archaeology and community in New York State.
- Rochester based. Centrally located in Western New York, serving the greater Rochester region and beyond.
- Open to all. Professionals, students and anyone with an interest in archaeology and New York's cultural heritage.
Our Goals
The chapter works toward five goals:
- Promote archaeological and historical research on the artifacts, customs, beliefs and lives of the earlier peoples of New York State.
- Preserve archaeological sites, working with the NYSAA and other archaeological institutions.
- Keep a sympathetic appreciation of the history of Native Americans, particularly those native to New York State.
- Encourage accepted methods of archaeological research, and publish papers on members' field work and other matters within the chapter's purview.
- Help secure legislation for anthropological, archaeological and historical purposes.
Who Was Lewis Henry Morgan?
Lewis Henry Morgan (1818 to 1881) was a Rochester lawyer and one of the founders of modern anthropology. He was born in Aurora, New York, and died in Rochester. Our chapter carries his name and his commitment to careful research.
He spent much of his life studying the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) of New York. Ely S. Parker, a Seneca interpreter, introduced him to Seneca leaders and worked with him on his first book. In 1847 the Seneca adopted Morgan into the Hawk Clan.
Major Works
- League of the Iroquois (1851): an early, detailed study of a Native American society.
- Systems of Consanguinity and Affinity of the Human Family (1871): his comparison of kinship systems, a foundation of kinship studies.
- Ancient Society (1877): his theory of social evolution, read by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.
His Legacy
Morgan's careful fieldwork and deep respect for Indigenous cultures set standards for later research. Some of his ideas about social evolution have since been revised, but his kinship studies and his work on the Haudenosaunee still matter. He also helped found the University of Rochester, which has held the Lewis Henry Morgan Lecture every year since 1963.