Archives Scrapbooks

The image is a newspaper clipping from the Providence Journal, dated June 9, 1950. The headline reads "Byzantine Period Expert Dies at 79." The article reports the death of Thomas Whittemore, a noted Harvard professor and expert on the Byzantine period, who passed away at the age of 79 in Washington, D.C.

Whittemore was honored posthumously with an honorary degree from Brown University, which he was scheduled to receive on June 12. He was a significant figure in the field of Byzantine studies and was recognized for his work in uncovering the mosaics in the Kariye Camii (Chora Church) in Istanbul.

Whittemore was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on January 2, 1871. He graduated from Harvard University in 1894 and studied at the Sorbonne in Paris and the University of Berlin. He was a fellow of the Royal Geographic Society and a member of the Society of Antiquaries.

He spent 14 years in the Balkans and Asia Minor, contributing to the discovery of Byzantine artifacts and mosaics. Whittemore was unmarried and was known for his extensive research and contributions to Byzantine studies.

The article also mentions that Whittemore was on his way to an appointment with John Foster Dulles to discuss important work in Turkey when he died. The State Department issued a statement praising his achievements and his significant contributions to the field.

The image is a newspaper clipping from the Providence Journal, dated June 9, 1950. The headline of the article is "Byzantine Period Expert Dies at 79" and it discusses the death of Thomas Whittemore.

Key points from the clipping include:

1. Thomas Whittemore's Honors:

   • Whittemore was honored with an honorary Brown University degree on the day of his death.

2. Professional Background:

   • Whittemore was a notable authority on Byzantine art. He was associated with the State Department and had worked closely with the Turkish government on the conservation of Byzantine mosaics.

3. Death and Appointment:

   • Whittemore was on his way to an appointment in Washington when he died suddenly.

4. State Department Statement:

   • A statement from the State Department acknowledged Whittemore’s contributions and the importance of his work on Byzantine art, specifically mentioning his efforts in Turkey.

5. Educational Background:

   • Whittemore was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on January 2, 1871. He received an A.B. degree from Tufts College in 1894 and an M.A. degree from Harvard Graduate School and Oxford University.
   • He taught English and fine arts at Tufts and New York University.

6. Professional Achievements:

   • Whittemore was a fellow of the Royal Geographic Society, a fellow in Byzantine art at Harvard, and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
   • He directed the Byzantine Institute in Boston and was the keeper of Byzantine coins and seals at the Fogg Museum at Harvard University.

7. Notable Work:

   • Whittemore’s significant work included uncovering and preserving Byzantine mosaics, particularly the famous Aya Sofya mosaics in Istanbul.

The clipping also mentions that Whittemore had spent 14 years at the Byzantine Institute in Boston, where he had worked on uncovering and preserving historical artifacts.

BOSTON NEWS CLIP
120 Tremont Street
Boston 8, Mass.

Journal
Providence, R. I.

JUN 9 - 1950

THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL

BYZANTINE PERIOD
EXPERT DIES AT 79

Thomas Whittemore Received
Honorary Brown Degree

Last Monday

Thomas Whittemore, 79, noted Harvard authority on Byzantine art, who was honored last Monday by Brown University with the honorary degree of doctor of laws, died suddenly yesterday in Washington, D. C.

Whittemore was at the State Department, on his way to an appointment with John Foster Dulles, Republican foreign affairs adviser. Associates said he probably had returned to the department to discuss the important work the Byzantine Institute had been doing in Turkey.

The State Department issued a statement saying Dr. Whittemore had the full support and cooperation of the Turkish government since 1934 in his work uncovering the Aya Sofya mosaics in Istanbul. The statement said his achievements in bringing to life the masterpieces of the great artists of the Byzantine Empire had contributed greatly to our knowledge of the artistic development of the period.

Dr. Whittemore was born in Cambridge, Mass., Jan. 2, 1871. He took an A.B. degree at Tufts College in 1894, and later did graduate work at Harvard Graduate School and Oxford University. He taught English and fine arts at Tufts and New York University.

He was a fellow of the Royal Geographic Society, a fellow in research in Byzantine art at Harvard and a consultant to the Byzantine Institute. He was director of the Byzantine Institute in Boston and keeper of Byzantine coins and seals at the Fogg Museum at Harvard University. He was unmarried.

As director of the Byzantine Institute, he had spent 14 years with assistants, chipping plaster from the walls of the Aya Sofya to reveal a thousand years of history depicted in hidden Christian mosaics.

The image is a newspaper clipping from the Boston News Clip featuring an obituary from The Providence Journal. The headline reads "Byzantine Period Expert Dies at 79," and the article reports the death of Thomas Whittemore.

Key points in the article:

1. Honorary Degree:

   • Thomas Whittemore, a noted Harvard authority on Byzantine art, received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Brown University the previous Monday.

2. Death:

   • Whittemore died suddenly the following day (Tuesday) in Washington, D.C.

3. Career and Contributions:

   • Whittemore was connected with the State Department, working under John Foster Dulles during the Republican administration.
   • He was likely involved in discussions concerning the Byzantine Institute's work in Turkey.
   • Whittemore had full support from the Turkish government since 1932 for his work on the mosaics of the Aya Sofia mosque in Istanbul.
   • His efforts significantly contributed to the preservation and understanding of Byzantine art.

4. Background and Education:

   • Born in Cambridge, Mass., on January 2, 1871, Whittemore studied at Tufts College and later at Harvard University.
   • He taught English at Tufts and New York University.
   • Whittemore was a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and a researcher in Byzantine art at Harvard.
   • He was also the director of the Byzantine Institute in Boston and a keeper of Byzantine coins and seals at the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University.

5. Restoration Work:

   • As director of the Byzantine Institute, Whittemore spent 14 years restoring mosaics from the walls of the ancient church of Saint Sophia, revealing a rich history of hidden Christian murals.

The article highlights Whittemore's significant contributions to Byzantine studies and art preservation.

The image is a news clipping from the Providence Journal, dated June 9, 1950. The headline reads "BYZANTINE PERIOD EXPERT DIES AT 79" and the subheading mentions that Thomas Whittemore received an honorary Brown degree last Monday.

The article details the life and achievements of Thomas Whittemore, a noted authority on Byzantine art. Whittemore, who was 79 years old, died suddenly in Washington, D.C., while en route to an appointment with John Foster Dulles, the Republican foreign affairs adviser.

Key points from the article include:

• Whittemore was honored by Brown University with the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters.
• He was a leading figure in Byzantine studies and had been working on the Byzantine Institute in Istanbul.
• Whittemore was praised by the State Department for his contributions to the preservation and understanding of Byzantine art, particularly the Aya Sofya mosaics in Istanbul.
• Born on January 2, 1871, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Whittemore earned an A.B. degree from Tufts College in 1894 and an A.M. from Harvard Graduate School and Oxford University.
• He taught English and fine arts at Tufts and New York University.
• Whittemore was a fellow of the Royal Geographic Society and a research fellow at Harvard.
• He was the director of the Byzantine Institute in Boston and the keeper of Byzantine coins and seals at the Fogg Museum of Harvard University.
• Whittemore had been working on restoring and studying the mosaics at the Aya Sofya, which are over a thousand years old and depict Christian history.

The article concludes by mentioning his significant contributions to the field of Byzantine art and history.

The image is a newspaper clipping from The Providence Journal, dated June 9, 1950. The headline reads "BYZANTINE PERIOD EXPERT DIES AT 79," and it reports on the passing of Thomas Whittemore, a renowned authority on Byzantine art.

Key points from the article include:

• Whittemore was honored by Brown University with an honorary degree from Brown University's Graduate School of Art on the same day he passed away.
• He died suddenly in Washington, D.C., on his way to an appointment with John Foster Dulles, the Republican foreign affairs advisor.
• Whittemore was noted for his extensive work on Byzantine mosaics, particularly the Aya Sofya mosaics in Istanbul.
• He was a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society and a prominent figure in Byzantine art research.
• Whittemore was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on January 2, 1871, and had a distinguished academic career, earning degrees from Tufts College, Harvard University, and the University of Oxford.
• He taught English and fine arts at Tufts and New York University.
• Whittemore was the director of the Byzantine Institute in Boston and a keeper of Byzantine coins and seals at the Fogg Art Museum of Harvard University.
• He was unmarried and had spent many years studying and documenting Byzantine art and history, notably the mosaics in the Hagia Sophia.

The article also mentions that Whittemore's work contributed significantly to the understanding of Byzantine art and history.

The image is of a newspaper clipping from the "Boston News Clip," showing an address at 120 Tremont Street, Boston 8, Mass., and referencing the "Journal Providence, R. I." with a date stamp of "JUN 9 - 1950." The headline of the article reads, "BYZANTINE PERIOD EXPERT DIES AT 79," and a subheadline follows, "Thomas Whittemore Received Honorary Brown Degree Last Monday."

The article details the life and work of Thomas Whittemore, a 79-year-old Harvard authority on Byzantine art who passed away suddenly the previous day in Washington, D.C. He had recently been honored with an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters by Brown University. The article goes on to explain Whittemore's association with the State Department and his scheduled appointment with John Foster Dulles, then the Republican foreign affairs adviser. It highlights Whittemore's involvement with the Byzantine Institute and the uncovering of Aya Sofya mosaics in Istanbul, noting the support and cooperation of the Turkish government since 1932.

Further biographical details include Whittemore's birth date (January 2, 1871), educational background (A.B. degree at Tufts College, studies at Harvard Graduate School and Oxford University), and his roles, including the director of the Byzantine Institute in Boston and keeper of Byzantine coins and seals at the Fogg Museum, Harvard University. The article mentions that he was unmarried and describes his role as director of the Byzantine Institute, where he worked for 14 years uncovering hidden mosaic Christian murals in the ancient Santa Sophia Church in Istanbul.

The clipping is shown against a neutral gray background, and it appears to be somewhat aged with slight discoloration and crease marks, indicative of the artifact's historical nature.

The image is a newspaper clipping from "The Providence Journal" dated June 9, 1950, reporting the death of Thomas Whittemore, a noted expert on Byzantine art who died at age 79. The headline reads "BYZANTINE PERIOD EXPERT DIES AT 79" with a subheading stating that Whittemore received an honorary degree from Brown University the previous Monday.

The article highlights Whittemore’s achievements, including his honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Brown University. It mentions that he died suddenly in Washington, D.C., while on his way to an appointment at the State Department with John Foster Dulles, a Republican foreign affairs adviser. The article notes Whittemore’s important work with the Byzantine Institute, especially related to uncovering the mosaics of Aya Sofya (Hagia Sophia) in Istanbul, with support from the Turkish government since 1932.

Further, it details Whittemore's background:

• Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on January 2, 1871.
• Earned his A.B. degree at Tufts College in 1894.
• Studied at Harvard Graduate School and Oxford University.
• Taught English and fine arts at Tufts and New York University.
• Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society, in Byzantine art research at Harvard, and the Society of Antiquaries.
• Director of the Byzantine Institute in Boston.
• Keeper of Byzantine coins and seals at the Fogg Museum, Harvard University.
• Unmarried.

The article also notes that as director of the Byzantine Institute, Whittemore spent 14 years working in Istanbul alongside associates, chiseling plaster from the ancient Santa Sophia Church (Hagia Sophia) to reveal hidden mosaic Christian murals representing a thousand years of history.

The image is a newspaper clipping from the Boston News Clip, dated June 9, 1950. The clipping features a headline that reads "BYZANTINE PERIOD EXPERT DIES AT 79," indicating the focus on the death of a notable expert in the field of Byzantine studies. The article is from The Providence Journal and includes details about the expert, Thomas Whittemore.

Key points from the article include:

• Thomas Whittemore received an honorary Brown degree last Monday, recognized for his contributions to Byzantine art.
• Whittemore was honored by Harvard University with the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters.
• He died suddenly in Washington, D.C., while on his way to an appointment with John Foster Dulles, a Republican foreign affairs adviser.
• Whittemore had been involved in significant work in Turkey, including uncovering the Aya Sofya mosaics in Istanbul.
• He was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1871, and pursued studies in art and fine arts at Harvard, Tufts, and New York University.
• Whittemore was a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, a member of the Society of Antiquaries, and the director and keeper of Byzantine coins at the Fogg Museum, Harvard University.
• He was unmarried and spent 14 years in Istanbul, uncovering hidden mosaics in the Santa Sophia Church.

The article highlights Whittemore's contributions to the field of Byzantine studies and his significant achievements in uncovering and preserving Byzantine art and artifacts.

The image shows a scanned newspaper clipping from the Boston News Clip dated June 9, 1950, published in the Providence Journal. The headline reads: "BYZANTINE PERIOD EXPERT DIES AT 79", indicating that the article is an obituary or tribute to a notable scholar in the field of Byzantine studies.

Key Details from the Image:

Headline and Subheadings:

• Main Headline: "BYZANTINE PERIOD EXPERT DIES AT 79"
• Subheadline: "Thomas Whittemore Received Honorary Brown Degree"
• Secondary Subheadline: "Last Monday"

Content Overview:

The article reports on the death of Thomas Whittemore, a distinguished expert in Byzantine art, who passed away at the age of 79. It highlights his significant contributions to the field and his association with prestigious institutions.

Key Points from the Article:

1. Honorary Degree:

   • Whittemore received an honorary degree from Brown University in the Honorine Letters Department on the previous Monday. This is noted as a posthumous recognition of his achievements.

2. Professional Background:

   • Whittemore was described as a noted Harvard authority on Byzantine art.
   • He was a Republican foreign affairs adviser and had been appointed as an associate with John Foster Dulles, who was likely a prominent political figure at the time.

3. Professional Achievements:

   • Whittemore had made significant contributions to the study of Byzantine art and architecture, particularly through his work on the Aya Sofia mosque in Istanbul.
   • He was recognized for his work on uncovering and documenting Byzantine mosaics, including those in the Church of St. Sophia, which revealed plaster mosaics depicting Christian murals from centuries of history.

4. Academic and Professional Roles:

   • Whittemore was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on July 2, 1871.
   • He earned an A.B. degree from Tufts College in 1894 and later attended Harvard University.
   • He taught English and fine arts at Tufts and Oxford University.
   • He was a fellow of the Royal Geographic Society, a fellow in research in Byzantine art at Harvard University, and a fellow of the Fogg Art Museum in Boston.
   • He served as the director of the Byzantine Institute of America and was known for his work at the Fogg Art Museum, where he uncovered and studied Byzantine coins and seals.

5. Legacy:

   • The article emphasizes Whittemore’s role in bringing life to the achievements of the Turkish government in preserving Byzantine treasures.
   • It notes that his work contributed greatly to the understanding of the Byzantine Empire and its artistic and cultural legacy.

Visual Elements:

• The clipping is a black-and-white photograph of a printed newspaper page.
• The text is clearly legible, with the headline and subheadings prominently displayed at the top.
• The article is formatted in a typical newspaper style, with columns of text and a structured layout.

Summary:

The image depicts a newspaper clipping commemorating the death of Thomas Whittemore, a renowned expert in Byzantine art and architecture. The article highlights his academic achievements, professional roles, and significant contributions to the field, including his work on Byzantine mosaics and his association with prestigious institutions such as Harvard University and the Byzantine Institute of America. The piece serves as both an obituary and a tribute to his legacy in the study of Byzantine culture.