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Draft:J. C. H. King

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Jonathan Colin Harmsworth King

J C H King is a British anthropologist, museum curator, and author. He was the Keeper of Anthropology at the British Museum and is widely recognized for his expertise in Native North American ethnography and the history of museum collections [1][2]. He is credited as the driving force behind the British Museum’s first returns of cultural artifacts to Native American and First Nations communities [3][4]

Career

In 1973 King joined the British Museum as their first dedicated curator of North America [5]. He served for approximately 40 years, initially in the Department of Ethnography (later Africa, Oceania & the Americas), where he specialized in Indigenous North American collections. In 2005 King was made Keeper of Africa, Oceania and the Americas before becoming the Keeper of Anthropology in 2010. Subsequently he was appointed the first Von Hügel Fellow at the University of Cambridge’s Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology in 2012 [6].

King is also a fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute and a member of the scientific committee for the Fondation culturelle Musée Barbier-Mueller, a member of council for the Hakluyt Society and on the advisory board for the Bill Reid Foundation. He was a Governor and is currently a trustee of the Dr. Johnson’s House Trust[7]

Repatriation of cultural objects

King has spoken and written about the complexities of repatriation of cultural objects, particularly from the perspective of museums and source communities. He argues for a nuanced approach that moves beyond simply returning objects to a focus on fostering understanding between cultures and communities[8]. His work highlights the challenges in repatriation, including the potential for conflict when ownership of objects is disputed, and the importance of strong relationships between museums and source communities. He advocates for museums as custodians rather than owners, by providing alternatives to outright repatriation, such as long-term loans, co-curated exhibitions, and other forms of cultural interaction [9][10]

As Keeper, cultural relations with First Nations were improved by the return of articles to originating communities. These included portrait masks and sacred objects from the Northwest Coast—such as Haida and Tlingit masks—returned to community custodians following consultations initiated under his leadership. Notable examples include:

- A Kwakwaka’wakw mask was sent on long term loan to Alert Bay, British Columbia (2005) the mask was seized during a 1921 potlatch ceremony and later acquired by the British Museum. This return was the result of collaborative discussions between the U'mista Cultural Centre and the British Museum, signifying one of the first repatriations of cultural artifacts to their rightful owners [11][12][13]

- Tasmanian human remains were returned home to their aboriginal community (2006). The returned human remains included ash bundles and skeletal fragments from the Tasmanian Aboriginal community. These remains were repatriated following requests from the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre (TAC), supported by the Australian government, and were returned with the understanding they would be cremated in accordance with Aboriginal beliefs. The return of these remains was a significant event, marking a shift in how museums approach the repatriation of indigenous remains and sparking discussions about cultural sensitivity and scientific research[14][15]

- Maori human remains were repatriated to New Zealand (2008) By 2008 repatriation was becoming more common and several institutions, including the British museum, repatriated Maori human remains to New Zealand's Te Papa Tongarewa museum. These included tattooed heads, known as Toi moko, and bone fragments. This was part of an ongoing effort to return ancestral remains to their homeland for proper burial and cultural reburial [16][17]

These repatriations marked a significant policy shift within the British Museum and then the country toward collaborative Indigenous engagement and set a precedent for subsequent returns.

Family

King’s brother Richard Alfred Harmsworth King is a British historian of philosophy and sinologist who works as a professor of philosophy at the University of Bern . His paternal grandfather was Cecil Harmsworth King, prominent British newspaperman who became Chairman of Daily Mirror, International Publishing Corporation, and a director at the Bank of England. His maternal grandfather Sir Arthur Lawrence Hobhouse (1886–1932), was a noted British judge and land reform advocate who set up the National Parks in England and Wales during the 1940s.

King is married with two children.

Early life and education

Jonathan Harmsworth King was educated at Eton College before entering St John’s College Cambridge where he received an exhibition to study archaeology and anthropology.

Native North America

[edit]

King is the author of numerous influential works on Native North America. His scholarship is credited with advancing a more nuanced interdisciplinary understanding of Native North American histories, integrating visual materials, anthropology, ethnography, and Indigenous voices. King has suggested that no understanding of the wider world is possible without comprehending the original inhabitants of the United States and Canada: Native Americans, First Nations and Arctic peoples. His works remain a key reference for scholars in ethnohistory, museum studies, and Indigenous studies[2][18][19]. Some of his impactful publications include:

  • Smoking Pipes of the North American Indians (1977) — The book explores the historical, archaeological, and ethnographic research surrounding these objects, moving beyond simplistic perceptions to reveal a more complex understanding of smoking practices and the significance of pipes across various North American cultures[20]
  • First Peoples, First Contacts: Native Peoples of North America (1999) — published by British Museum Press and Harvard University Press, this richly illustrated survey of Indigenous cultures and contact histories is widely cited in ethnohistorical scholarship (collections.si.edu). The book is praised for its historical depth, rich illustrations, and focus on the diversity of Native American traditions. Reviewers highlight its value as a resource for understanding the complex relationship between indigenous peoples and European settlers, spanning from early encounters to more recent history[21]
  • Blood and Land: Native North America and the United States (2016) — critically re-examines the resilience and revival of Native nations (cam.ac.uk). Described as a panoramic portrait of the spirit of the Cherokee that shaped America’s engagement with the world[22]. The book was praised for its comprehensive approach to Native American history, moving beyond common narratives of failure to showcase recovery and resilience[23]


Publications

1977. Smoking Pipes of the North American Indians. British Museum Publications[24]

1979. Portrait Masks from the Northwest Coast of America. Thames and Hudson[25]

1981. Artificial Curiosities from the Northwest Coast of America[26]

1982. Thunderbird and Lightning. Indian Life in Northeastern North America 1600-1900. British Museum Publications[27]

1989. Living Arctic: Report and Catalogue. Trustees of the British Museum and Indigenous Survival International[28]

1992. With M. L. Wayman and P . T . Craddock: 'Aspects of Early North American Metallurgy'. British Museum OccasionalPaper 79, London[29]

1998. Imaging the Arctic. [ed. with Henrietta Lidchi] British Museum Press. British Museum Press. [and Seattle:University of Washington Press][30]

1999. First Peoples, First Contacts. Native Peoples of North America. London: British Museum Press and Cambridge:Harvard.[31]

2000. Human Image [ed.]. British Museum Press.[32]

2002. With W . Wood, eds. Ákaitapiiwa. Ancestors. Lethbridge, Alberta: Sir Alexander Galt Museum & Archives.

2004. Irish American Trade. Native American Art. The Stonyhurst Mullanphy Collection. London: Trustees of the British Museum.

2005. Arctic Clothing. London: British Museum Press, ed. with B. Pauksztat and R.Storrie. [Winner of best textile book, Abel Award, Textile Society of America (NY) 2006][33]

2006. jointly ed. Provenance. Twelve Collectors of Ethnographic Art in England 1760-1990 (with Hermione Waterfield). Paris: Somogy.

2007. jointly ed ‘Three Centuries of Woodlands Indian Art’ ERNAS Monographs 3, Vienna: ZKF Publishers.

2009. jointly ed Provenance. Twelve Collectors of Ethnographic Art in England 1760-1990. London: Paul Holberton 2nd edition.

2012. jointly ed. Extreme Collecting. Challenging Practices for 21st Century Museums . Oxford: Berghahn[34].

2012. jointly ed. Turquoise. History science and culture in Mexico and North America. London: Archetype[35].

2016. Blood and Land: The Story of Native North America. London, Penguin[36]




References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Collections Online | British Museum". www.britishmuseum.org. Archived from the original on 2023-09-23. Retrieved 2025-07-20.
  2. ^ a b "J. C. H. King". www.penguin.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-07-20.
  3. ^ Gabriel, Mille (November 2007). "Conference on Repatriation of Cultural Heritage: Nuuk, Greenland, February 12 to 15, 2007". International Journal of Cultural Property. 14 (4): 447–448. doi:10.1017/S0940739107070312. ISSN 1465-7317.
  4. ^ Davies, Maurice (2010-08-20). "Opening up the debate". Museums Association. Retrieved 2025-07-20.
  5. ^ Davy, Jack (2014-07-08). "History of the British Museum's Native North American Collection". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. ^ "Collections Online | British Museum". www.britishmuseum.org. Archived from the original on 2023-09-23. Retrieved 2025-07-20.
  7. ^ https://maa.cam.ac.uk/files/media/maa-2013-2014.pdf
  8. ^ "Repatriation". obo. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
  9. ^ Gabriel, Mille (November 2007). "Conference on Repatriation of Cultural Heritage: Nuuk, Greenland, February 12 to 15, 2007". International Journal of Cultural Property. 14 (4): 447–448. doi:10.1017/S0940739107070312. ISSN 1465-7317.
  10. ^ Davies, Maurice (2010-08-20). "Opening up the debate". Museums Association. Retrieved 2025-07-20.
  11. ^ "British Museum releases a Canadian Potlatch mask on renewable loan". www.returningheritage.com. 2021-10-15. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
  12. ^ "Where the Thunderbird lives". The British Museum. Archived from the original on 2023-10-04. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
  13. ^ Matthew (2005-11-05). "British Museum returns mask to Canada". Elginism. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
  14. ^ Sample, Ian; correspondent, science (2006-11-18). "Scientists mourn loss of Aboriginal remains to be sent back to Australia". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-07-24. {{cite news}}: |last2= has generic name (help)
  15. ^ "Request for Repatriation of Human Remains to Tasmania". The British Museum. Archived from the original on 2025-03-20. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
  16. ^ Ming, Ye Charlotte (2021-01-14). "Trapped in Museums for Centuries, Maori Ancestors Are Coming Home". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
  17. ^ Besterman, Tristram (2009-11-13). "Why the British Museum should give back Maori human remains if it wants to take a truly enlightened approach". Museums Association. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
  18. ^ "J. C. H. King talks to Sarfraz Manzoor". Hay Festival. 2017-05-31. Retrieved 2025-07-20.
  19. ^ "J. C. H. King — Harvard University Press". Harvard University Press. Archived from the original on 2024-08-16. Retrieved 2025-07-20.
  20. ^ Donne, J. B. (1980). "Review of PORTRAIT MASKS FROM THE NORTH-WEST COAST OF AMERICA". Newsletter (Museum Ethnographers Group) (9): 20–22. ISSN 0260-0366. JSTOR 40839071.
  21. ^ "Amazon.co.uk: First Peopl, First Contacts: Books: King". www.amazon.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2007-06-10. Retrieved 2025-07-20.
  22. ^ McGrath, Melanie (2016-08-19). "Blood and Land by J C H King - review". The Standard. Retrieved 2025-07-20.
  23. ^ Trahant, Mark (2016-12-15). "Blood and Land: The Story of Native America by JCH King – review". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-07-20.
  24. ^ "Smoking Pipes of the North American Indians - King, J. C. H.: 9780714115474 - AbeBooks". www.abebooks.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-07-20.
  25. ^ "Portrait Masks from the Northwest Coast of America (Tribal art) - King, J. C. H.: 9780500060063 - AbeBooks". www.abebooks.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-07-20.
  26. ^ "Artificial Curiosities From The Northwest Coast Of America by J.C.H. King: Near Fine Hardcover (1981) 1st Edition | Grimes Hill Books (Member of the PBFA)". www.abebooks.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-07-20.
  27. ^ "Thunderbird and Lightning - King, J. C. H.: 9780714115672 - AbeBooks". www.abebooks.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-07-20.
  28. ^ "Living Arctic : hunters of the Canadian north : report and catalogue / [edited by J.C.H. King]". catalogue.nlpl.ca. Retrieved 2025-07-20.
  29. ^ L., Wayman, Michael; J.C.H., King; Paul, Craddock (["1992"]). "Aspects of Early North American Metallurgy". [""]. Archived from the original on 2022-10-06. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  30. ^ King, Jonathan C. H.; Lidchi, Henrietta (1998). Imaging the Arctic. British Museum Press. ISBN 978-0-7141-2537-4.
  31. ^ "First Peoples, First Contacts: Native Peoples of North America - J.C.H. King: 9780714125381 - AbeBooks". www.abebooks.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-07-20.
  32. ^ "Amazon.co.uk: First Peopl, First Contacts: Books: King". www.amazon.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2007-06-10. Retrieved 2025-07-20.
  33. ^ King, J. C. H.; Pauksztat, Birgit; Storrie, Robert, eds. (2005). Arctic clothing of North America: Alaska, Canada, Greenland. Montreal: Mc-Gill-Queen's Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0-7735-3008-9.
  34. ^ Were, Graeme; King, J. C. H., eds. (2012). Extreme collecting: challenging practices for 21st century museums. New York: Berghahn Books. ISBN 978-0-85745-363-1.
  35. ^ King, J. C. H.; British Museum, eds. (2012). Turquoise in Mexico and North America: science, conservation, culture and collections. London: Archetype. ISBN 978-1-904982-79-1.
  36. ^ King, J. C. H. (2016). Blood and land: the story of native North America. London: Allen Lane. ISBN 978-0-241-28235-9.
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