Franz Boas is known for their instrumental role in establishing the field of anthropology through extensive expeditions and research. Often regarded as the "Father of American Anthropology," Boas emphasized the importance of cultural relativism and advocated for a four-field approach that includes cultural, linguistic, archaeological, and biological anthropology. His expeditions to the Arctic and Pacific Northwest, where he studied indigenous cultures, significantly shaped the understanding of human diversity. Boas's commitment to empirical research and opposition to racial determinism laid the groundwork for modern anthropological methods and theories.