Aghvook White Eskimo Otto Geist & Alaskan Archaeology

This remarkable biography recounts the life and work of Otto Geist, an archaeologist who spent his career studying Eskimo cultures. Given the name “Aghvook,” meaning bowhead whale, by St. Lawrence Islanders, Geist did pioneering field work with Alaskan native cultures and his journal notes are reproduced in the book. Charles J. Keim also chronicles Geists personal life, from his German childhood to his service in world wars I and II to his vast collection of Alaskan artifacts and natural specimens that was donated to the University of Alaska. Wholly readable and compelling, Aghvook, White Eskimo offers a fascinating biographical study of one of Americas pioneering scientists. 

Charles J. Keim is a writer and journalist who has been published widely in the United States and internationally.

Foreword, by Olaus J. MuriePrologue       I     Honors     II     Childhood    III     The Immigrant    IV     Mexican Border Service and the Draft     V     The Hell Ship    VI     France   VII     Heading North  VIII    The Boatman    IX     Second Engineer     X     The Miner    XI     "Christmas" and the Cleanup   XII     Back to the Koyukuk  XIII     Charting a Course  XIV     Thrown Off Course   XV     The Reconnaissance Trip  XVI     Back to St. Lawrence XVII     The Early AlaskansXVIII     Lost Siberians   XIX    Food    XX    Customs, Clothing, and Collecting   XXI    Aghvook Participates in Ceremonies and Hunting  XXII    The Moon Worship XXIII    The Whale Hunt and Worship XXIV    Life and Death on the Island  XXV    War and Marriage XXVI    Plans for the "Big Dig" XXVII   The Test CutXXVIII   A Book and a Galloping Glacier  XXIX    Fossil Hunter   XXX    Major Geist  XXXI    Cape Yakataga Expedition XXXII    Old Crow River ExpeditionXXXIII    Porcupine River ExpeditionXXXIV    "So Much to Do" EpilogueIndex