William Jones (anthropologist)

William Jones (1871–1909) was a Native American anthropologist of the Meskwaki nation. Alternate name: Megasiáwa (Black Eagle). Jones was born in Indian Territory (an area that is now part of Oklahoma) on March 28, 1871. After studying at Hampton Institute, he graduated from Phillips Academy and went on to receive his B.A. from Harvard. At Columbia University, he studied under Franz Boas, and in 1904, Jones became the fourth person to receive a PhD in linguistic anthropology, twelfth person to receive a PhD in anthropology, and first Native American to receive a PhD in anthropology.

Jones is known as a specialist in Algonquian languages, particularly known for his extensive collection of Algonquian texts. In 1908, while employed as an assistant curator at the Field Museum, he went to the Philippines to do fieldwork.