Mary Hamilton Swindler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Hamilton Swindler
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | January 2, 1884 |
| Died | January 16, 1967 (aged 83) |
| Occupation | Archaeology educator |
| Parent(s) | Harrison T. Swindler Ida M. Hamilton |
Mary Hamilton Swindler (born January 2, 1884 – died January 16, 1967) was an amazing American archaeologist. She was also a scholar of ancient art and a professor. She taught classical archaeology at important colleges like Bryn Mawr College.
Mary Swindler started the Ella Riegel Memorial Museum at Bryn Mawr College. She also helped dig up ancient sites in Greece, Egypt, and Turkey. She won many awards for her studies. Her most famous book was Ancient Painting (1929). It covered painting from the earliest times to the start of Christian art.
Contents
Early Life and School
Mary Hamilton Swindler was born in Bloomington, Indiana. Her birthday was January 2, 1884. Her parents were Harrison T. and Ida Hamilton Swindler. Her friends called her "Mayme."
Mary went to public school in Bloomington. She said her childhood was very active. She enjoyed playing football and doing circus stunts. She also rode her bicycle a lot and loved sports.
After high school, Mary went to Indiana University. She earned her first degree in 1905. She got her master's degree in 1906. She focused on Greek, Latin, and archaeology.
Mary then went to Bryn Mawr College for more studies. She received a special scholarship for Greek in 1906–07. She also won the Mary E. Garrett European Fellowship in 1909–10. This allowed her to study in Berlin, Germany, and at the American School in Athens, Greece.
She came back to Bryn Mawr and earned her doctoral degree in 1912. After that, she joined the Bryn Mawr faculty.
Her Career as a Professor
Mary Swindler started teaching at Bryn Mawr College in 1912. She taught Latin and archaeology. From 1931 until she retired in 1949, she was a professor of classical archaeology.
Besides teaching, Mary Swindler started something special. In 1940, she founded the Ella Riegel Memorial Museum. It is also known as the Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology Collection. She also created the Ella Riegel Study Collection at Bryn Mawr College.
A famous student named Dorothy Burr Thompson was inspired by Mary Swindler. They worked together on ancient vases at the Bryn Mawr College Museum. Mary also helped Bryn Mawr join archaeological digs. These digs were in Cilicia in Tarsus, Turkey (1934–38).
From 1932 to 1936, Mary Swindler made history. She became the first female editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Archaeology . This journal started in 1885. She also worked as an advisor for the Encyclopædia Britannica.
Mary Swindler wrote several books about early ancient art. Her most important book was Ancient Painting (1929). It gave a full look at the topic for both experts and students.
Later Years and Retirement
In her later years, Mary Swindler continued her work. She became a research fellow at the University of Pennsylvania. She also taught archaeology at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. She taught at Bryn Mawr College too.
After retiring from Bryn Mawr College in 1949, Mary stayed busy. She kept working with different archaeological sites. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, she went on digs in Greece, Egypt, and Turkey. She worked at the Gordium archaeology site in 1951.
Many groups asked Mary Swindler for advice. These included the American Council of Learned Societies and the Archaeological Institute of America.
Death and What She Left Behind
Mary Swindler passed away on January 16, 1967. She died in Haverford, Pennsylvania.
Mary Swindler joined Bryn Mawr College in 1912. She was a well-known professor of classical archaeology. She was also an expert on ancient painting. She founded the Ella Riegel Memorial Museum at Bryn Mawr.
She was also the first woman editor of the American Journal of Archaeology . This was from 1932 to 1946. In 1941, Indiana University gave her an honorary degree. She was the first woman to give a graduation speech there.
Awards and Special Honors
Mary Swindler was seen as an expert on ancient Greek paintings. She received many honors and awards:
- 1941 – She received an honorary LL.D. degree from Indiana University.
- 1951 – She won the Achievement Award of $2,500 from the American Association of University Women.
- 1959 – She received a Special Award of $10,000 from the American Council of Learned Societies.
Groups She Belonged To
- Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts, London.
- Fellow of the German Archaeological Institute.
