George Gustav Heye
George Gustav Heye | |
|---|---|
Heye in 1917 | |
| Born | 1874 |
| Died | January 20, 1957 (aged 82–83) |
| Alma mater | Columbia University |
| Occupation(s) | engineer, investment banker |
| Known for | Collector and authority on Indigenous peoples of the Americas |
| Notable work | Museum of the American Indian |
George Gustav Heye (1874 – January 20, 1957) was an American collector of Native American artifacts in the Western Hemisphere, particularly in North America. He founded the Museum of the American Indian, and his collection became the core of the National Museum of the American Indian.
It is described as the largest and most comprehensive collection in the world. During his years of collecting and study, Heye funded numerous archeological expeditions and supported scholarly work of the time. He established the Heye Foundation in the early 20th century to support such work, as well as contributing independently.