Myron Eells (1843–1907) was an American Congregational missionary, ethnologist, and collector who dedicated much of his life to studying the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest. Born to Cushing Eells, the missionary who founded Whitman College, Myron grew up in the region and developed a deep, lifelong interest in its native cultures. Over his career, he established himself as one of the leading authorities on the languages, traditions, and history of the Native American tribes in the Pacific Northwest.
Eells's scholarly contributions were vast and focused heavily on linguistics and ethnography. He is best known for his monograph, The Indians of Puget Sound, which offered a detailed look at the lives and customs of the local tribes. He also conducted extensive research into regional languages, producing voluminous documentation on Twana and Chinook Jargon, which served as vital records for later linguistic study.
Beyond his written scholarship, Eells was an active collector of Indigenous material culture. Throughout his missionary travels, he gathered a diverse array of cultural artifacts. This extensive collection was ultimately donated to Whitman College, preserving a physical legacy of the region's heritage alongside his written observations. His work remains a significant historical resource for understanding the late nineteenth-century Pacific Northwest.
