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Fogg Art Museum Scrapbooks, January 1950-April 1951

ARCH.2003.31, Rendition: 804189

Qwen, qwen.qwen3-vl-235b-a22b

This image is a vertically oriented, aged newspaper clipping from the Boston Evening Globe, dated June 8, 1950. The paper has yellowed with time and shows signs of wear, including a small tear or fold at the top right corner.

The headline reads:

Prof. Whittemore Expert in Near East Culture

The article details the life and career of Dr. John L. Whittemore, a scholar from Waltham, Massachusetts, who was a specialist in the Byzantine Empire and Near Eastern culture and languages. Key points from the article include:

  • He had just returned from a visit to Brown University to receive an honorary degree.
  • He spent 36 years as an archaeologist and researcher, including 18 years as director of excavations for the Fogg Art Museum.
  • He specialized in archaeology and was known for uncovering the “lost” Church of the Apostles in Constantinople.
  • He graduated from Tufts College in 1888, earned a degree from the Harvard Graduate School in 1890, and later became professor of English and later professor of Byzantine studies at Tufts.
  • During World War I, he was an American delegate to the French Red Cross (1914-1916) and later director of the American Relief Association for Armenian Refugees. He was awarded the Legion of Honor for his humanitarian efforts.
  • He also served in a propaganda role during the war, lecturing to American troops on the history and culture of the Near East.
  • In 1920, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed him U.S. Commissioner for Near Eastern Affairs, based at the U.S. Embassy in Istanbul.
  • The article includes an anecdote where Whittemore humorously declared “Rome is a prison” to describe the city's bureaucratic frustrations, particularly concerning the Byzantine bureaucracy that hindered archaeological progress.

The article ends with information about his affiliations to various prestigious societies, including the American Numismatic Society, the Oriental Club of London, and the Harvard Faculty Club.

At the top right of the clipping, handwritten in red ink, is the price “125¢” — likely the cost to purchase or archive the clipping.

Overall, the clipping serves as a biographical tribute to Dr. Whittemore’s extensive contributions to archaeology, diplomacy, and education in the first half of the 20th century.


Note: The “Boston News Clip” header at the top appears to be a pre-printed, generic label for clippings, indicating the article was from the Evening Globe, Boston, Mass. The text “JUN 8 1950” is typewritten below the newspaper’s masthead.

Qwen, Qwen/Qwen2.5-VL-7B-Instruct

The image is a historical news clipping from the Evening Globe newspaper, dated June 8, 1950. The headline reads: "Prof. Whittemore Expert in Near East Culture." The clipping details the death of Dr. John L. Whittemore, a specialist in Near East culture who was an expert in Byzantine art and archaeology. Dr. Whittemore was unmarried and had spent most of his life abroad conducting archaeological research, particularly in the early Christian mosaics of the Byzantine period. He was awarded an honorary L.H.D. degree at Brown University and was also the director of the Byzantine Institute and keeper of Byzantine coins and seals at the Fogg Art Museum. The article goes on to describe his extensive work in archaeology, his involvement with the French Red Cross during World War I, and his role as an American delegate to the fourth international conference on Byzantine studies. The clipping also includes quotes from various professionals and colleagues, including Dr. Coolidge, who described Dr. Whittemore as a great loss to the field due to his profound knowledge of Near East countries and peoples. The article is well-written and provides a comprehensive overview of Dr. Whittemore's life and work.

Qwen, Qwen/Qwen2.5-VL-72B-Instruct

The image is a scanned newspaper clipping from the "Evening Globe" of Boston, Massachusetts, dated June 8, 1950. The clipping is titled "Prof. Whittemore Expert in Near East Culture" and discusses the sudden death of Professor Charles Rufus Morey, an expert in Near Eastern culture and art, particularly known for his work on early Christian mosaics in the Byzantine period.

The article provides details about Dr. Whittemore's life and achievements, including his role as the director of the Byzantine Institute and his extensive archaeological work in Istanbul, Turkey. It mentions his receipt of an honorary L.H.D. degree from Brown University just days before his death. Whittemore was also noted for his ability to obtain cooperation and permissions for archaeological research in foreign countries in the Near East, which earned him respect and admiration from his colleagues.

The article also highlights Whittemore's educational background, including his graduation from Tufts College and further studies at Harvard and Oxford. His involvement in World War I as an officer with the French Red Cross and his work with Russian refugees in France are also mentioned. The clipping includes a quote from Whittemore about Russia, describing it as a "prison" during the Bolshevik era.

The clipping is marked with "128 F" in red ink at the top right corner and appears to be from a collection or archive, as indicated by the "BOSTON NEWS CLIP" header at the top.

Amazon, amazon.nova-pro-v1:0

The image depicts a newspaper clipping from the Boston News Globe, dated June 8, 1950. The clipping is titled "Prof. Whittemore Expert in Near East Culture." The article is about Professor Whittemore, who was an expert in Near East culture. The clipping is a single-page document, and it appears to be a black-and-white photograph of the newspaper article. The text is written in a serif font and is arranged in columns. The article provides details about Professor Whittemore's expertise in Near East culture and his contributions to the field.

Amazon, amazon.nova-lite-v1:0

The image shows a newspaper clipping from the Boston Evening Globe, dated June 8, 1950. The clipping features an article about Professor Whittemore, an expert on Near Eastern culture. The article highlights his academic achievements, including his studies at Brown University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1913 and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1914. It also mentions his extensive archaeological work in Turkey, where he worked on restoring the Hagia Sophia and other Byzantine sites. The article emphasizes his expertise in Near Eastern art and culture, as well as his contributions to the field of archaeology.

Amazon, us.amazon.nova-2-lite-v1:0

Description of the Image

The image is a scanned newspaper clipping from the Boston News Clip, dated June 8, 1950, and published by Evening Globe from Boston, Mass. The article is titled "Prof. Whittemore Expert In Near East Culture" and appears to be a news report detailing the career and achievements of Professor Richard T. Whittemore, an expert in Near Eastern cultures.

Content Overview:

  1. Headline and Subheading:

    • The main headline is "Prof. Whittemore Expert In Near East Culture", emphasizing the professor's expertise in Near Eastern studies.
    • The subheading mentions "Whittemore Dies at Harvard," indicating that the article is likely a tribute or obituary for the professor, who passed away at Harvard.
  2. Introduction:

    • The article begins by stating that Richard T. Whittemore, a professor of art history at Harvard University, had passed away. It highlights his contributions to the field of Near Eastern art and archaeology.
  3. Professional Background:

    • Whittemore is described as having shocked associates with his death, as he was only 54 years old.
    • He was a leading authority on Near Eastern art, particularly known for his work on Mesopotamian art and the Bronze Age.
    • The article notes that he was a graduate of Tufts College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1917 and a Master of Arts degree in 1919.
  4. Academic and Professional Achievements:

    • Whittemore studied at the American School of Classical Studies in Athens and later at the American School of Oriental Research in Jerusalem.
    • He held a fellowship at the American Academy in Rome and was a member of the Archaeological Institute of America.
    • He served as a professor of fine arts at New York University and was a professor at the American University in Cairo.
    • He was also an officer with the Russian Red Cross during World War I and later served with the American Red Cross in the Near East.
  5. Research and Expeditions:

    • Whittemore conducted significant archaeological work in the Near East, including excavations in the Bronze Age.
    • He was known for his work on the archaeology of the Bronze Age in Mesopotamia, particularly in areas such as Ur and Eridu.
    • The article mentions his contributions to the understanding of early Mesopotamian art and his role in organizing excavations in Turkey and Iran.
  6. Honors and Recognition:

    • Whittemore was a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a member of the Royal Society of Archaeology.
    • He was also associated with the Archaeological Institute of America and the American Philosophical Society.
  7. Legacy:

    • The article emphasizes Whittemore’s significant impact on the field of Near Eastern art and archaeology, noting his extensive research, publications, and contributions to academic institutions.
    • It highlights his role in advancing the understanding of ancient cultures and his dedication to preserving historical artifacts.

Visual Layout:

  • The article is formatted in a typical newspaper style, with a clear headline, subheading, and body text organized into several paragraphs.
  • The text is printed in a serif font, typical of mid-20th-century newspapers.
  • The article includes a date stamp at the top right corner: "JUN 8 1950" and a file number: "128-F".

Contextual Notes:

  • The article reflects the mid-20th-century interest in archaeology and ancient civilizations, particularly the Near East, which was a focal point of academic and public fascination during that era.
  • Whittemore’s work appears to have been highly regarded, as evidenced by his affiliations with prestigious institutions and his contributions to the field.

Overall, the image is a historical newspaper clipping that provides a detailed account of Professor Richard T. Whittemore’s life, career, and contributions to the study of Near Eastern art and archaeology.

OpenAI, gpt-4

This image shows a newspaper clipping from the Boston News Clip service, dated June 8, 1950, from the Evening Globe, Boston, Massachusetts. The headline reads "Prof. Whittemore Expert in Near East Culture" followed by the information that he was unmarried, with the code "185F" handwritten in red ink.

The article memorializes Professor Whittemore, acknowledging his sudden death while he was visiting the State Department and highlighting his contributions as an expert in Near East culture, especially of Byzantine origin. It mentions his significant archaeological investigations abroad, his expertise in early Christian mosaics, and his role as director of the Byzantine Institute and keeper of Byzantine coins and seals at the Fogg Art Museum.

The clipping further details Prof. Whittemore's educational background as a Tufts College graduate and a postgraduate from Cambridge, Harvard, and Oxford. His extensive field experience includes work in Egypt under the Egypt Exploration Fund, experiences in World War I, and his role during the Russian revolution.

Additionally, it addresses his appointment as the American delegate by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939, contributions to the restoration of mosaics at St. Sophia in Istanbul, and his scholarly activities which included giving lectures and his involvement with various academic clubs and societies.

The clipping represents a piece of historical documentation on Prof. Whittemore's life and work, emphasizing his scholarly achievements and his contributions to the field of archaeology and cultural heritage.

OpenAI, gpt-4o-2024-11-20

The image displays a newspaper clipping titled "BOSTON NEWS CLIP," from the "Evening Globe," Boston, dated June 8, 1950. It features an article about Professor Whittemore, described as an expert in Near Eastern culture, who passed away suddenly. The article highlights his contributions to archaeology, his studies of early Christian mosaics, and his leadership of the Byzantine Institute.

The text emphasizes his achievements, including his work on mosaics at St. Sophia's (Hagia Sophia) in Istanbul, and mentions accolades such as being appointed the official U.S. delegate to a conference on Byzantine studies by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Details are provided about his educational background at Tufts College, his academic roles, and his involvement in archaeological and educational projects in Russia, Egypt, and Turkey. The article also references his thoughts on Russia and Bolshevism, alongside his memberships in prestigious societies and clubs.

The clipping is long and narrow, featuring dense, typewritten text with a handwritten notation reading "128 F" in red ink.

OpenAI, gpt-4.1-mini-2025-04-14

This image shows a newspaper clipping from the "Boston News Clip" dated June 8, 1950, originally from the Evening Globe, Boston, Mass. The headline reads: "Prof. Whittemore Expert in Near East Culture."

The article reports on the sudden death of Professor Whittemore while visiting the State Department. Dr. John L. Coolidge, director of the Fogg Art Museum, is quoted expressing loss due to Whittemore’s profound knowledge of Near East countries and peoples, and his warm humanitarian understanding. Whittemore was noted for his expertise in Byzantine culture.

The article outlines his career, mentioning his honorary LHD degree from Brown University and his extensive archaeological work, particularly on early Christian mosaics from St. Sophia’s Church in Istanbul, Turkey. It highlights his academic background as a Tufts College graduate who also studied at Harvard Graduate School and Oxford University. He served as a professor of English and fine arts, and worked at New York University and with the Egyptian Exploration Fund.

During WWI, Whittemore served with the French Red Cross and was involved with Russian refugee education. He also gave a series of lectures on mosaics at the Lowell Institute in 1937.

In 1939, he was appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as the official American delegate to a Byzantine studies conference in Bulgaria. Whittemore’s early explorations were in Egypt, and he did extensive relief work for Russian refugees after World War I.

He is quoted about his views on Bolshevism and Russia, describing Russia as a "prison" under Bolshevism, and criticizing the regime’s dishonesty and violence.

The article concludes by listing Whittemore’s numerous scholarly affiliations and memberships, including with the Royal Geographic Society, Harvard and Oxford clubs, the Archaeological Institute of America, and several others.

Overall, the clipping is an obituary and tribute emphasizing Whittemore’s significant contributions to archaeology, Near East studies, and humanitarian efforts.

OpenAI, gpt-5-nano-2025-08-07

  • A small, narrow newspaper clipping mounted on a light gray wall.
  • Header reads “BOSTON NEWS CLIP” with an address (120 Tremont Street, Boston 8, Mass.) and “Evening Globe Boston, Mass.”
  • A date stamp: JUN 8 1950.
  • The main title: “Prof. Whittimore Expert in Near East Culture.”
  • The article continues in a single column with dense, small print, describing the professor’s death, his work, and his achievements in Near East culture, including quotes from colleagues and details of his education and career (Tufts College graduate, Harvard connections, Byzantine Institute, etc.).
  • There is a red ink stamp/mark (looks like “128F” or similar) across the page.
  • Overall, it’s a vintage, archival newspaper clipping about a professor’s life and work.