1909 – 1967

Morris Swadesh

American linguist (1909–1967)

linguistanthropologistuniversity teacher
Born
1909-01-22, Holyoke
Died
1967-07-20
Birthplace state
Massachusetts

Biography

Morris Swadesh was born in Holyoke, Massachusetts in 1909 to Bessarabian Jewish immigrant parents. He studied under Edward Sapir at the University of Chicago, earning bachelor's and master's degrees, then followed Sapir to Yale University, where he completed a Ph.D. in 1933. He taught at the University of Wisconsin–Madison from 1937 to 1939 and during World War II worked on projects with the United States Army and Office of Strategic Services. After the war he became a professor at City College of New York but was fired in 1949 due to his membership in the Communist Party. He spent most of the remainder of his career teaching in Mexico and Canada, developing his work in comparative and historical linguistics at UNAM in Mexico before his death in 1967.

Occupation

Morris Swadesh is recorded as a linguist, a anthropologist and a university teacher, born in Massachusetts (1909–1967).

Connections to Massachusetts

Morris Swadesh was born in Holyoke, Massachusetts in 1909. Explore other notable figures from Massachusetts, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Massachusetts›Massachusettshistory ›Historic sites in Massachusetts›
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Holyoke

Morris Swadesh came from Holyoke. A full Aubrey report on Holyoke pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Holyoke report
Or see a real report first

More notable figures from Massachusetts

Other historical figures born in Massachusetts, ranked by historical prominence.

John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
president of the United States from 1961 to 1963 (1917–1963)
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe
American writer and literary critic (1809–1849)
Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
American polymath and statesman (1706–1790)
George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
president of the United States from 1989 to 1993 (1924-2018)
John Adams
John Adams
Founding Father, U.S. president from 1797 to 1801
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams
President of the United States from 1825 to 1829
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson
American philosopher (1803–1882)

Frequently asked about Morris Swadesh

Who was Morris Swadesh?
Morris Swadesh was American linguist (1909–1967), born in Massachusetts (1909 – 1967).
When and where was Morris Swadesh born?
Morris Swadesh was born on 1909-01-22 in Holyoke.
When did Morris Swadesh die?
Morris died on 1967-07-20.
What was Morris Swadesh known for?
Morris Swadesh is recorded as a linguist, a anthropologist and a university teacher.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your locationView a free sample report