Marion Elizabeth Blake facts for kids

Marion Elizabeth Blake (born March 23, 1892 – died September 11, 1961) was an American professor. She taught classical languages, which means she studied ancient Greek and Latin. Marion Blake is best known for her important research into how the ancient Romans built their amazing structures. She passed away in Rome, Italy, in 1961.

Early Life and Education

Marion Blake was born in New Britain, Connecticut. Her parents were Arthur C. Blake and Elizabeth Snow Blake. She went to college at Mount Holyoke College. In 1913, she earned her first degree, a Bachelor of Arts. She focused on studying the Greek and Latin languages.

Later, Marion Blake continued her studies at Cornell University. She earned her Master of Arts degree in 1917. Then, in 1921, she received her Ph.D. degree. A Ph.D. is the highest university degree you can get.

A Career in Teaching

Marion Blake spent many years teaching classical languages. From 1912 to 1938, she was a professor at several American colleges. These included Illinois College (1921–1922), Converse College (1922–1928), Mount Holyoke College (1929–1936), Sweet Briar College (1936), and Winthrop College (1937–1938).

Researching Roman Buildings

After her teaching career, Blake focused on research. From 1938 to 1947, she worked as a research associate at the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington, D.C.. A research associate helps with scientific studies. Her work there was about Roman Archaeology, which is the study of ancient Roman history through digging up old sites.

From 1947 until her death in 1961, she worked in Italy at the American Academy in Rome. This is a special place where scholars can study and research.

Marion Blake's most famous work was about how the Romans built things. She continued the important research of another woman scholar, Esther Boise Van Deman. When Van Deman passed away in 1937, she left an unfinished book about Roman construction. Marion Blake took on the huge task of finishing it.

Blake herself passed away in 1961 before her final book was complete. However, another talented woman, Doris Taylor Bishop, finished it for her. The book was called Roman construction in Italy from Nerva through the Antonines. This shows how important teamwork and dedication were in studying ancient history.