Kwakiutl Society: Rank without Class

Abstract

T HE question of the presence or absence of social classes among the Kwakiutl is the main issue in a recent controversy over the value of the work of Franz Boas (Ray 1955:138-140; 1956:164-170; Kroeber 1956:151- 159; Lowie 1956:159-164; Herskovits 1956: 734). The question is not only of interest to students of social organization but also of general importance, since the course of future work will depend upon the reputation accorded Boas. If some of Boas' specific conclusions and consequently his general conclusions were erroneously devalued, it would be wasteful of scientific time and talent to fail to use them or to rediscover them. It would also be destructive from a scientific point of view to ignore or to make insufficient use of types of data that cannot be duplicated by field work among the acculturated Kwakiutl of today. This article will try to demonstrate that Kwakiutl society was, as Boas said, a classless society in which social rank was the organizing principle.' Whether or not this demonstration is successful, it should serve the secondary but still important purpose of publicizing the general nature of the data upon which Boas based his conclusions and with which others can test them and form additional hypothes