Why did James Mooney lose his job?

Question

James Mooney the anthropologist.

Answer 1

he made a mistake

Answer 2

James Mooney was born in Richmond, Indiana in 1861. Mooney was consumed by the North American Indian culture. He worked as a newsman in his hometown before he moved to Washington, D.C., in 1885, to settled down with his wife, Ione Lee Gaut, and their six children. He found a job with the Bureau of American Ethnology. He was so fascinated with this job that he stayed with it for the remainder of his life. During his career with the Bureau, he studied the mythology of the Cherokee, Kiowa, and the Sioux Tribes. These tribes fascinated him so he started to write about his findings. One of his most famous writings is about the American Indian Ghost Dance, a ritual that is common among American Indian tribes.

James Mooney's main interest of study was of the Cherokee people. Many say that Mooney wrote the most accurate accounts of the Cherokee culture and history. James spent years living with the Cherokee people in North Carolina. He was able to gain their acceptance and trust, which allowed him to write more first hand accounts. This made his work more reliable and very accurate. This was also very beneficial to others who have not and will not ever experience tribal life.

At his home in Washington, D.C., James Mooney died from heart disease that had first appeared in the early 1890’s. Mooney was a member of the first generation of professional anthropologists; he left behind a wealth of ethnographical and historical data.