Drexel Medal Awarded to Dr. A.V. Kidder
For the first time since 1903, the year of its first presentation, the Lucy Wharton Drexel Medal for outstanding contribution to archaeology was given by the Museum to a scholar engaged in American archaeology.
Dr. A.V. Kidder, former Chairman of the Division of Historical Research of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, received the award for outstanding contributions to the archaeology of the Southwest and Middle America, especially in the Maya area. He was a pioneer in the early days of scientific research into the history of the Pueblo Indians. Later, for the Carnegie Institution, he organized a long-term program of studies of the culture of the Maya, both ancient and modern. Always a leader in his profession, he is now one of its elder statesmen.
The Museum is honored to have had him visit us for the presentation, on November 6, of the Medal by the President, Percy C. Madeira, Jr.
The Medal, given by Mrs. Drexel in 1902, was not awarded from 1914 to 1951. Dr. Kidder is its fourth recipient since its modern revival, having been preceded by Sir Mortimer Wheeler, Sir Leonard Woolley, and Max Mallowan, all distinguished British archaeologists. The Medal is now awarded every two or three years by the Board of Managers of the Museum on the recommendation of those who have received it.
Gordion, Turkey
At Gordion an interim campaign was conducted from June to September under the direction of Dr. Edwards, assisted by Miss Mellink, Mr. and Mrs. Wallace MacLeod from the School at Athens, and Miss Knudsen, with Mr. J.S. Last of Curium as architect. In the last number of Expedition the results achieved were summarized. Nothing further of great interest turned up in the final weeks of the campaign.
Much of Dr. Edwards’ attention was taken up in making arrangements for the loan of Gordion objects from the Ankara Museum. The effort and expense involved, however, seem to have been justified by the success of this exhibition of Phrygian art at the Museum where it was shown from October 30 to December 1. It has now gone to Detroit where it will be shown at the Detroit Institute of Arts from December 15 to January 15; then it will go to the Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore for exhibition from January 26 to February 15; the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, March 1 to April 1; the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, April 15 to May 15; and the Metropolitan Museum in New York from June 1 to July 1.
“What in the World?” Returns
WCAU-TV, Saturday, 12:30 o’clock, Dr. Rainey moderator, Dr. Coon and Dr. Kidder regular panel members with a guest panelist each week. On this museum quiz program the panel is asked to identify pieces from the storerooms of various museums, to determine what they are, where they are from, and their age. The objects, all never previously see by the panel, are usually archaeological or ethnological but sometimes are just gadgets.
Coptic Art
An exhibition of Coptic art, organized and lent to us by the Fred and Florence Olsen Foundation of New Haven, will be shown at the University Museum from January 15 to March 15. With it will be included selected pieces lent by the Philadelphia Museum of Art and from our own collections. the material, which comes from Egypt of the first millennium of the Christian era, consists of stone and wood sculpture, ceramics, ivories, bronzes, textiles, and paintings. Of particular interest are the encaustic portraits of both Roman and Early Christian times from the Fayyum.
Art of the Ancient Maya
The exhibit of Pre-Columbian Maya art, consisting of a very fine collection lent by the National Museum of Guatemala, supplemented by selected pieces from this country, has started its travels to four other American museums: The Detroit Institute of Arts, February 3- March 1; the William Rockhill Nelson Gallery of Art, Kansas City, March 20-April 19; the DeYoung Memorial Museum, San Francisco, May 17-June 17; the Los Angeles County Museum, June 28-July 19.
The show covers Maya art from the early Pre-Classic through the Post-Classic, and displays a number of example of sculpture and pottery that have been illustrated in a commemorative volume now available at the Museum.