ABSTRACT
Totemism was on the chopping block, as it was linked to what many considered flawed evolutionary models. Durkheim was publishing his theory in a growing anti-evolutionary climate, and one where totemism was fast becoming "yesterday's news." Totemism was also on the chopping block, as it was linked to what many considered flawed evolutionary models. Durkheim was publishing his theory in a growing anti-evolutionary climate, and one where totemism was fast becoming "yesterday's news." This chapter discusses how Durkheim met this challenge by positioning his thesis in the historical light of American totemism. Robertson Smith played a pivotal role as Durkheim adopted his ideas on totemism and his method but ignored his reconstruction of ancient Semitic society. In Elementary Forms, Durkheim's narrative on the history of totemism covered how it was identified, how it was originally seen as an American institution, and why it was historically important.
