Donald Harden facts for kids

Donald Benjamin Harden (born 8 July 1901 – died 13 April 1994) was an important Anglo-Irish archaeologist and museum expert. He was especially good at studying old glass. He taught at universities and worked in famous museums, helping to look after amazing ancient objects.

Who Was Donald Harden?

Donald Harden was a very respected archaeologist and museum curator. An archaeologist is someone who studies human history by digging up old things. A museum curator is like a manager for a museum's collections, making sure artifacts are safe and well-displayed. Donald Harden was known for his deep knowledge of ancient glass, which means glass made a very long time ago.

A Career in Museums

Donald Harden started his career by teaching at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland and the University of Michigan in the United States. This helped him share his knowledge with students.

Working at the Ashmolean Museum

From 1929 to 1956, he worked at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England. He started as an assistant keeper in the Department of Antiquities, which is a section that looks after very old items. He then became the main keeper of that department in 1945. This meant he was in charge of many ancient treasures.

Leading the London Museum

Later, from 1956 to 1970, Donald Harden became the Director of the London Museum. This was a big job, as he was responsible for the entire museum. When the London Museum joined with the Guildhall Museum, it formed the new Museum of London. Donald Harden helped with this big change, serving as the Acting Director of the new museum until 1970.

Helping During Wartime

During the Second World War, Donald Harden took a break from his museum work to help his country. He worked as a temporary civil servant for the government in the Ministry of Supply and the Ministry of Production. This meant he helped organize important resources and goods needed for the war effort.

Important Roles and Awards

Donald Harden was also a leader in the world of archaeology. He was the President of the Council for British Archaeology from 1950 to 1954. He also served twice as the Vice-President of the Society of Antiquaries of London, which is a very old and respected group of experts who study history and ancient objects.

For his important contributions, Donald Harden received several special honors. He was made a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London (FSA) in 1944. Later, in 1987, he was also made an Honorary Fellow of the British Academy (FBA). These titles show how much his work was valued by other experts. He also received the CBE, which is a high honor given by the British government for important work.