The career of F.E. Williams, government anthropologist of Papua, 1922-1943

Abstract

Francis Edgar Williams worked for the Government of Papua for almost twenty years, as Assistant Government Anthropologist from 1922 until 1928 and Government Anthropologist from 1928 until 1943. He lived among the people of most parts of Papua and published numerous anthropological works including Orokaiva Society Papuans of the Trans-Fly and Drama of Orokolo3 for which he was awarded respectively the Honours Degree of Master of Arts by Adelaide University and the Bachelor of Science and Doctorate of Science by Oxford University. But beyond the purely anthropological, his job forced him to consider a wide range of administrative questions and, with greatest emphasis of all, questions of ’Native Education'. And both his experiences with Papuan cultures and his deliberations on educational matters frequently brought him into touch with the Christian missions and prompted him to reflect upon the utility of their work and teachings.