The Indians of To-Day by George Bird Grinnell (Chicago: Herbert S. Stone, 1900) is a seminal early 20th-century work examining Native American life at the turn of the century. As an anthropologist, historian, and longtime advocate for Indigenous peoples, Grinnell combines ethnographic observation, historical analysis, and social commentary to document the cultures, customs, and contemporary conditions of various American Indian tribes.
The book is distinguished by its 55 black-and-white photographic portraits, which provide a visual record of Native individuals from multiple tribes, capturing clothing, adornments, and expressions that complement the textual descriptions. Grinnell’s work addresses both traditional practices and the impacts of Euro-American expansion, including displacement, assimilation pressures, and adaptation to changing political and economic circumstances.
Academically, The Indians of To-Day serves as both a historical source and ethnographic study, offering researchers insight into the state of Native communities at a pivotal period in U.S. history. While reflecting early 20th-century anthropological perspectives, some interpretations are shaped by the period’s cultural assumptions, making it important for modern readers to approach the work critically. Nevertheless, the combination of photographic documentation and narrative description makes it a valuable reference for scholars of Indigenous studies, history, and visual anthropology.