Alvin M. Josephy Jr. (May 18, 1915 – October 16, 2005) was an Americanhistorian who specialized inNative American issues.New York Times reviewerHerbert Mitgang called him in 1982 the "leading non-Indian writer about Native Americans".^[1]

Josephy was born inWoodmere, New York. His mother was a daughter of publisher Samuel Knopf and a sister ofAlfred A. Knopf.^[1]

Early in his career, Josephy worked as aHollywoodscreenwriter, New York Citynewspaper correspondent, radio station news director, the WashingtonOffice of War Information, and in thePacific theater asUnited States Marine Corpscombat correspondent, where he was awarded theBronze Star Medal for "heroic achievement in action... [making] a recording of historical significance" during the U.S.invasion of Guam.^[2] After the war, Josephy returned to Hollywood where he wrote for the movies, for a local newspaper, and for veterans groups.^[3] There he married his second wife, Elizabeth Peet. Josephy's reporting on organized crime in Santa Monica was the basis for the filmThe Captive City, which he co-wrote.^[4]

Around 1952, the Josephys moved toGreenwich, Connecticut, when Alvin joinedTime magazine asphoto editor. One assignment sparked his interest in the history ofindigenous peoples of the Americas, especially theNez Perce people, who lived primarily inOregon andIdaho. He developed that interest largely in his free time.^[1][5]

In 1960, he joined theAmerican Heritage Publishing Company as a senior editor of American Heritage books, and in 1976, became editor-in-chief ofAmerican Heritage magazine, a position he served in until 1978.^[1][5][6]

Josephy's works includeThe Patriot Chiefs (1961);Chief Joseph's People and Their War (1964);The Nez Perce Indians and the Opening of the Northwest (1965);The Indian Heritage of America (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1968);Red Power: The American Indians' Fight for Freedom (1971); andNow That the Buffalo's Gone (1982);^[1] alsoBlack Hills, White Sky;The Civil War in the American West andHistory of the Congress of the United States.^[3]

Josephy served as a senior advisor onFederal Indian Policy to Secretary of the InteriorStewart Udall during theKennedy Administration, and later as an advisor to PresidentRichard Nixon on matters pertaining toNative Americans and government policies relating to Indian Tribes. He had strongly disagreed withEisenhower Administration policies on such matters, as President Nixon came to later, in retrospect.^[1] Prior to this time, more than 100 tribes had lost federal recognition, and their land holdings under Federal policies of "termination" and forced assimilation. Based significantly on Josephy's advice and encouragement, the Nixon Administration adopted a policy of "self-determination" for Native Americans, and furthered policies and practices to encourage their cultural survival.)^[5]

Alvin and Elizabeth "Betty" Peet Josephy were married for 56 years, until her death in 2004. He died at his home in Greenwich, Connecticut, a year later. He was survived by one child from his first marriage, three from his second, and their descendants.^[1]

In Joseph, Oregon, where Alvin and Betty owned a ranch and hosted a camp for Nez Perce children,^[3] their legacy is well remembered. TheJosephy Center for Arts and Culture was founded in his name. Included in the Center isthe Alvin M. and Betty Josephy Library of Western History and Culture, which holds much of Josephy's personal collection, as well as related materials.^[7] One of his books, The Nez Perce Indians and the Opening of the Northwest, was included on the list of 100 Oregon Books by theOregon Cultural Heritage Commission.^[8] His papers are held at theKnight Library at theUniversity of Oregon.^[3]

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^[7]

• Audio recording of Josephy describing WWII Iwo Jima battle site (onArchive.org)
• Alvin M. Josephy, Jr. Sioux Interview Cassettes atthe Newberry Library

• 1915 births
• 2005 deaths
• 20th-century American historians
• 20th-century American male writers
• American autobiographers
• American book editors
• American magazine editors
• United States Marine Corps personnel of World War II
• Harvard College alumni
• Historians of Native Americans
• Historians of the American West
• Historians of the United States
• Horace Mann School alumni
• People from Greenwich, Connecticut
• People of the United States Office of War Information
• United States federal Indian policy
• Writers from Connecticut
• American male non-fiction writers

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• Short description matches Wikidata
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