Record Details



Enlarge cover image for Give me my father's body : the life of Minik, the New York Eskimo / Kenn Harper ; foreword by Kevin Spacey. Book

Give me my father's body : the life of Minik, the New York Eskimo / Kenn Harper ; foreword by Kevin Spacey.

Harper, Kenn. (Author).

Summary:

A compelling biography of the Eskimo boy who was brought back to the U.S. by explorer Robert Peary recreates the twelve agonizing years little Minik spent living as an alien in New York City, an experience that culminates with the discovery that his father's body is on display at the Museum of Natural History. In his search for the North Pole at the turn of the twentieth century, the renowned Robert E. Peary, long celebrated as an icon of modern exploration, used the Eskimos of northwestern Greenland as the human resources for his expeditions. Sailing aboard a ship called Hope in 1897, Peary entered New York harbor with six Eskimos as his cargo. Depositing them with the American Museum of Natural History as live "specimens" to be poked, measured, and observed by the paying public, Peary soon abandoned any responsibility for their care. Four of the Eskimos died in less than a year. One managed to gain passage back to Greenland. Only the sixth, a boy of six or seven with a precociously solemn smile, remained, orphaned and adrift in a bewildering metropolis. His name was Minik.

Record details

  • ISBN: 074341005X (pbk.)
  • ISBN: 9780743410052 (pbk.)
  • Physical Description: xvi, 277, [40] p. of plates : ill., map ; 21 cm.
  • Publisher: New York : Washington Square Press, 2001.

Content descriptions

General Note:
Originally published: Frobisher Bay, NWT : Blacklead Books, c1986.
"WSP Readers Club"--Cover.
Formatted Contents Note:
Foreword -- Introduction -- Peary's people -- Iron mountain -- Arrival in America -- Eskimo orphan in New York -- Minik, the American -- Wallace affair -- Scam -- Destined to a life of tears -- Give me my father's body -- Interest of science -- Very pitiful case of Minik -- Hopeless condition of exile -- Polar plan -- Runaway -- Iron-clad agreement -- Return to Greenland -- Eskimo again -- Thule station --Uisaakassak: Big liar -- Wanted: Dead or alive -- Crocker land expedition -- Back on broadway -- North country.
Subject:
Wallace, Minik.
Polar Eskimos > New York (State) > New York > Biography.
Polar Eskimos > Biography.
Ethnology > Moral and ethical aspects.
Arctic regions > Discovery and exploration.

Available copies

  • 1 of 1 copy available at Northwest Indian College.

Holds

  • 0 current holds with 1 total copy.

Other Formats and Editions

English (2)
Show Only Available Copies
Location Call Number / Copy Notes Barcode Shelving Location Status Due Date
Lummi Library BIO WALL HARP 2000 277634 Biography Available -

LDR 03009cam a2200385Ia 4500
00131120
003NWIC
00520110622205330.0
008010322s2001 nyuabf 000 0beng d
035 . ‡a(OCoLC)ocm46541594
040 . ‡aSDL ‡cSDL ‡dSPP ‡dOCLCQ ‡dBAKER ‡dXY4 ‡dYDX ‡dZP2
020 . ‡a074341005X (pbk.)
020 . ‡a9780743410052 (pbk.)
035 . ‡a(OCoLC)46541594
043 . ‡an-gl--- ‡an-us-ny
050 4. ‡aE99.E7 ‡bW376 2001
08204. ‡a998.2/0049712 ‡221
1001 . ‡aHarper, Kenn.
24510. ‡aGive me my father's body : ‡bthe life of Minik, the New York Eskimo / ‡cKenn Harper ; foreword by Kevin Spacey.
260 . ‡aNew York : ‡bWashington Square Press, ‡c2001.
300 . ‡axvi, 277, [40] p. of plates : ‡bill., map ; ‡c21 cm.
500 . ‡aOriginally published: Frobisher Bay, NWT : Blacklead Books, c1986.
500 . ‡a"WSP Readers Club"--Cover.
5050 . ‡aForeword -- Introduction -- Peary's people -- Iron mountain -- Arrival in America -- Eskimo orphan in New York -- Minik, the American -- Wallace affair -- Scam -- Destined to a life of tears -- Give me my father's body -- Interest of science -- Very pitiful case of Minik -- Hopeless condition of exile -- Polar plan -- Runaway -- Iron-clad agreement -- Return to Greenland -- Eskimo again -- Thule station --Uisaakassak: Big liar -- Wanted: Dead or alive -- Crocker land expedition -- Back on broadway -- North country.
520 . ‡aA compelling biography of the Eskimo boy who was brought back to the U.S. by explorer Robert Peary recreates the twelve agonizing years little Minik spent living as an alien in New York City, an experience that culminates with the discovery that his father's body is on display at the Museum of Natural History. In his search for the North Pole at the turn of the twentieth century, the renowned Robert E. Peary, long celebrated as an icon of modern exploration, used the Eskimos of northwestern Greenland as the human resources for his expeditions. Sailing aboard a ship called Hope in 1897, Peary entered New York harbor with six Eskimos as his cargo. Depositing them with the American Museum of Natural History as live "specimens" to be poked, measured, and observed by the paying public, Peary soon abandoned any responsibility for their care. Four of the Eskimos died in less than a year. One managed to gain passage back to Greenland. Only the sixth, a boy of six or seven with a precociously solemn smile, remained, orphaned and adrift in a bewildering metropolis. His name was Minik.
60010. ‡aWallace, Minik.
650 0. ‡aPolar Eskimos ‡zNew York (State) ‡zNew York ‡vBiography.
650 0. ‡aPolar Eskimos ‡vBiography.
650 0. ‡aEthnology ‡xMoral and ethical aspects.
651 0. ‡aArctic regions ‡xDiscovery and exploration.
938 . ‡aBaker & Taylor ‡bBKTY ‡c19.95 ‡d19.95 ‡i074341005X ‡n0003617135 ‡sactive
938 . ‡aYBP Library Services ‡bYANK ‡n1715603
0291 . ‡aYDXCP ‡b1715603
0291 . ‡aAU@ ‡b000023150207
994 . ‡aZ0 ‡bWANIC
948 . ‡hNO HOLDINGS IN WANIC - 138 OTHER HOLDINGS
901 . ‡aocm46541594 ‡bOCoLC ‡c31120 ‡tbiblio