Historical information

Adolphus Peter Elkin (1891-1979), professor of anthropology was president of the Association for the Protection of Native Races and vice-president of the N.S.W. Aborigines Welfare Board from 1940. He wrote numerous articles, reports and books with detailed descriptions of the aboriginal way of life.

Significance

This book was one of the few authoritative works on the subject of Australian Aborigines published before the second world war. It is of interest because Elkin was one of the
very few white Australians who was prepared to speak for the Aboriginal people.

Physical description

A dark blue cloth-covered book. The Australian Aborigines: How to Understand Them. Written by A.P. Elkin, Univ. of Sydney. 4th edition.