Missiological engagement with anthropology in the early 20th century

Anthropology has been a critical dialogue partner for missiology since the inception of both fields of inquiry. Despite this, many missiologists are unaware of the important forays into anthropological theory and practice that missionaries made in the early 20th century. This article reviews and analyzes the contributions of missionaries and anthropologists, especially those that were made in the premier missiological journal of that period, the International Review of Missions. As the field of missiology in North America engages with questions about its future role in academic discourse as well as in practical missionary training, learning from our discipline’s past engagement with anthropology is critical.