Julia Averkieva's study represents the most comprehensive Native American string collection ever assembled from a single tribe. In addition to characterizing the social conditions that prompted string figure making among the Kwakiutl during the time of her field study, Averkieva noted step-by-step instructions for each figure and transcribed traditional accompanying chants. In editing and expanding Averkieva's manuscript, Mark Sherman addresses string figure enthusiasts as well as cultural anthropologists. Sherman includes in his introduction a complete description of basic openings and string figure moves. For each Kwakiutl figure he has prepared clear illustrations based on Averkieva's original photographs and pencil sketches. In addition he has tested each figure for workability, clarifying instructions where necessary and recasting them in Rivers and Haddon's standard terminology.

Julia P. Averkieva's profile page

Mark A. Sherman's profile page

Julia Averkieva (1907-1980) was director of North American studies at the Institute of Ethnography, Soviet Academy of Sciences, Moscow, and editor-in-chief of the internationally known journal Sovetskaia Etnografia. Mark A. Sherman (editor) is a biochemist who devotes his leisure time to the study of string figures.