The Conflict Between the California Indian and White Civilization presents six groundbreaking essays by Sherburne Cook, originally published in the 1940s, which transformed the study of California's Native populations and their interactions with European settlers. Employing a biologist's analytical rigor, Cook approached historical records as if observing a population in a controlled experiment, systematically examining the reactions of indigenous communities to the disruptive influences of missionization, secularization, and Anglo-American settlement. Through meticulous statistical analysis of mission punishment records, food distribution, and settlers' treatment of Native peoples, Cook revealed a sobering narrative of systemic exploitation and destruction. These essays not only challenged the romanticized views of Franciscan missions but also highlighted the devastating impact of Anglo-American policies, igniting passionate debates upon their release.
This reissued collection is a timeless contribution to California history and anthropology, widely recognized for its pioneering methodologies and transformative insights. By placing Cook’s earlier works on population trends and dietary adaptation alongside his later essays on Indian-white relations, this edition offers a comprehensive look at his evolving perspectives. A seminal work in the field of ethnohistory, it continues to inform and inspire new generations of scholars, shedding light on the profound consequences of cultural conflict in California's past.
This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1976.
