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Fogg Art Museum Scrapbook, October 1955-March 1958

ARCH.2003.33, Rendition: 803246

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This image shows two newspaper clippings pasted onto a page in a scrapbook or bound volume, likely from the late 1940s or early 1950s, given the visible date and the condition of the paper.

The larger, top clipping is from the Boston Herald, dated Thursday, February 13, 1958. Its headline reads:

Ancient Sardis Due to Be Unearthed

It features a sub-headline: Archeologists See 3-Year Job Ahead.

The article details a joint Harvard-Cornell archaeological expedition planned to excavate the ruins of the ancient Lydian city of Sardis, located in modern-day Turkey. The expedition is set to begin that summer and will last three years, sponsored by Cornell University, the Fogg Art Museum of Harvard University, and the Bollingen Foundation, under the auspices of the American Schools of Oriental Research.

The article mentions that the venture will be directed by George M. A. Hanfmann, Professor of Fine Arts at Harvard and Keeper of Classical Art in the Fogg Museum. A. Henry Detweiler of Cornell will serve as field advisor and architect.

It notes that the site, once a great capital in ancient times, is in a state of "little more than deteriorating ruins" and that previous excavations by Prof. T. L. Shear of Princeton were interrupted by WWII and abandoned due to conflict between Turks and Greeks in the early 1920s.

The expedition aims to uncover the ruins of the Palace of Croesus and the temple of Zeus of the Hellenic period, both believed to be buried underground. Other experts involved include Dean Sherman E. Johnson of the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, Thomas H. Canfield (archaeologist and epigrapher), Mrs. Catharine Detweiler (numismatist), Marion Dean Ross (professor of architecture), Donald P. Hansen (junior prize fellow), and John Washeba (technician).

A small, grainy black-and-white photograph accompanies the article, captioned:

UNDERGROUND CHAMBERS which support an unknown building in the ruins of the ancient Turkish city of Sardis, which a Harvard-Cornell group intend to start excavating on archeological expedition this summer.


The smaller clipping below, also from the Boston Herald on the same date, has the headline:

Expedition Will Hunt King Croesus’ City

It reiterates that the Harvard-Cornell expedition will begin searching for the ruins of the ancient city once ruled by Croesus. It reconfirms the sponsorship, leadership (Hanfmann and Detweiler), and affiliation with the American Schools of Oriental Research.


The clippings are affixed to a yellowed, aged page of a bound volume, with a visible reddish-brown binding on the left. The paper shows signs of aging—browning and slight stains—and the top edge of the scrapbook page is torn or frayed.

In sum, the image documents the announcement of a major mid-20th-century archaeological endeavor to uncover the fabled city of Sardis, associated with the legendary King Croesus, marking renewed scholarly interest in this ancient Lydian capital.

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The image appears to be a page from a book or a collection of historical clippings, featuring newspaper articles about archaeological expeditions. The main article, dated February 13, 1958, in "The Boston Herald," is titled "Ancient Sardis Due to Be Unearthed" and discusses an archaeological expedition to uncover the ruins of the ancient Lydian city of Sardis in Turkey. The article mentions that the venture is sponsored by Cornell University, the Fogg Art Museum of Harvard University, and the Bollingen Foundation, and is being conducted under the auspices of the American Schools of Oriental Research. It also notes that the expedition will be led by George M. A. Hanfmann, professor of fine arts at Harvard, and that it will continue the work of the late Prof. Howard Crosby Butler.

Below this article, there is a smaller clipping from "The Harvard Crimson," also dated February 13, 1958, titled "Expedition Will Hunt King Croesus' City." This article repeats the information about the joint Harvard-Cornell expedition to Turkey to search for the ruins of the ancient city ruled by King Croesus, with the same details about the sponsorship and leadership of the expedition.

The page shows signs of aging, with some discoloration and the edges of the paper showing wear.

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This image shows a page from a scrapbook containing two newspaper clippings. The top clipping is from "The Boston Herald," dated Thursday, February 13, 1958. The headline reads "Ancient Sardis Due to Be Unearthed," and the subhead states, "Archeologists See 3-Year Job Ahead." The article discusses an archaeological expedition to uncover the ruins of the ancient Lydian city of Sardis in Turkey. The expedition is sponsored by Cornell University, the Fogg Art Museum of Harvard University, and the Bollingen Foundation under the auspices of the American Schools of Oriental Research. The director of the expedition is George M. A. Hanfmann, and other participants include A. Henry Detweiler, Donald P. Hansen, and others.

The article also mentions that the city of Sardis was once one of the great capitals of the world, where trade and the arts flourished, and it was destroyed in the 15th century by the Mongols. The expedition aims to continue the work of previous archaeologists and hopes to find early coins of Sardis, the Palace of Croesus, and other significant structures.

The bottom clipping is from "The Harvard Crimson," also dated Thursday, February 13, 1958. The headline reads "Expedition Will Hunt King Croesus' City." This article provides similar information about the Harvard-Cornell expedition to Turkey, focusing on the search for the ruins of the ancient city once ruled by Croesus. It mentions the three-year program of excavation and the key figures involved in the expedition.

Both clippings are pasted onto a yellowed page, and there is a black and white photograph in the top clipping showing underground chambers believed to be part of the ancient city of Sardis.

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The image is a photograph of a newspaper clipping pasted onto a page of a scrapbook. The clipping is from the Boston Herald, dated Thursday, February 13, 1958. The headline reads, "Ancient Sardis Due to Be Unearthed." The article discusses an upcoming archaeological expedition to excavate the ancient city of Sardis in Turkey, sponsored by Harvard University's Fogg Art Museum, the Bollingen Foundation, and the Schools of Oriental Research.

The article mentions that the expedition, led by George M. A. Hanfmann, professor of fine arts at Harvard and Keeper of Classical Art in the Fogg Museum, will take place over three years. The primary objective is to uncover the ruins of Sardis, which was once one of the great cities of the ancient world and is believed to be the site of the Temple of Artemis and the Palace of Croesus. The expedition aims to find the remains of the Romans and few better-preserved buildings that were still standing at the time of the city's destruction.

The article also highlights the involvement of various experts in the expedition, including Donald P. Hansen, junior prize winner at Harvard; John Washbusch, technician; Thomas H. C. C. Canfield, architecture professor at Cornell; Mrs. Claire Detweiler, numismatist (coin expert); and Marion Dean Ross, professor of architecture at the University of Oregon.

The clipping is pasted on a page with a red border, and the scrapbook page appears to be part of a larger collection of newspaper clippings and other documents. The text is written in black ink on white paper, and the photograph shows a barren landscape with a few trees in the distance, possibly representing the site of the excavation.

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A newspaper clipping from the Boston Herald on February 13, 1958, discusses an archaeological expedition to Sardis, Turkey. The expedition, spanning three years, aims to uncover the ruins of the ancient Lydian capital. Sponsored by Cornell University, the Fogg Art Museum of Harvard University, and the Bollingen Foundation, the venture is under the direction of George M. A. Hanfmann, professor of fine arts at Harvard. The article highlights the expedition's objectives, including the discovery of the site of the Palace of Croesus, the exploration of underground chambers supporting an unknown building, and the conservation of significant structures like the Temple of Artemis and the Church of St. John.

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The image shows an open book with a newspaper clipping from the Boston Herald, dated Thursday, February 13, 1958. The article is titled "Ancient Sardis Due to Be Unearthed" and is subtitled "Archaeologists See 3-Year Job Ahead." The article discusses an upcoming archaeological expedition to Sardis, an ancient city in Turkey, which was once ruled by the Lydians and later by the Romans. The expedition is sponsored by Cornell University, the Fogg Art Museum of Harvard University, and the Bollingen Foundation, under the auspices of the American Schools of Oriental Research.

Key points from the article include:

  1. Expedition Details: The expedition, led by George M. A. Hanfmann (Professor of Fine Arts at Harvard and Keeper of Classical Art at the Fogg Museum), will commence in the summer of 1958 and is expected to last three years. Hanfmann will serve as the field director, with Henry T. Rowley acting as the field advisor.

  2. Historical Significance: Sardis is noted as the capital of the Lydian Kingdom, one of the great ancient cities. It was ruled by the Lydians, who were known for their wealth and trade, and later by the Romans. The city is believed to have been buried under ruins, with some structures still standing.

  3. Archaeological Objectives: The expedition aims to uncover the ruins of Sardis, including the ancient Turkish city. Key objectives include exploring underground chambers that support an unknown building and searching for the ruins of the ancient city. The article mentions the discovery of a great temple of Zeus and the Heliopolis, as well as the Palace of Croesus.

  4. Expert Involvement: The expedition includes notable experts such as Dean Sherman E. Johnson of the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, Thomas H. Cannell (architect and professor at Cornell), John Washeba (technician), and others. These experts will contribute to the excavation, restoration, and study of the site.

  5. Historical Context: The article highlights the historical importance of Sardis, noting its role as a significant city in the ancient world. It also mentions the conflict between the Turks and the Greeks, indicating the complex history of the region.

The layout of the article includes a small black-and-white photograph on the right side, though the image is not clearly visible in the provided description. The text is printed in a classic newspaper style, with clear headings and subheadings. The book itself appears to be a bound collection, possibly a scrapbook or archive, with visible page numbers and a spine indicating it is part of a larger volume. The overall presentation suggests the document is part of a historical or archival collection.

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The image displays a scanned page from a newspaper with an article titled "Ancient Sardis Due to Be Unearthed." This article is dated Thursday, February 13, 1958, and comes from "The Boston Herald." The article discusses a planned archaeological expedition to the ancient Turkish city of Sardis. The expedition is mentioned to be a three-year project spearheaded by Harvard University in conjunction with the University of Cornell and the sponsorship of the American Schools of Oriental Research as well as the Fogg Museum and the Mellon Foundation.

The article highlights that the expedition is a significant effort, with the team consisting of archaeologists and researchers, including a professor of archaeology, an architect, and experts in various fields related to the study and conservation of historical sites.

There is a black and white photograph at the top of the article that presumably shows the site of ancient Sardis with rolling hills and what may be the ruins of structures or excavation sites. Below the main article, there's a smaller section with the headline "Expedition Will Hunt King Croesus' City," which describes a joint Harvard-Cornell expedition to search for the remains of the city associated with King Croesus.

The page itself appears aged, with some yellowing and visible crease marks, while the edges of the paper are slightly frayed, reflecting the physical condition of the newspaper clipping. The text is in a mix of bold and regular fonts typical for newspaper layouts of the time.

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The image shows a newspaper clipping from the Boston Herald dated Thursday, February 13, 1958. The headline reads, "Ancient Sardis Due to Be Unearthed." The article discusses an upcoming archaeological expedition aimed at uncovering the ruins of the ancient Lydian city of Sardis in Turkey. The excavation is planned to begin that summer and is expected to last three years.

Key points from the article include:

  • The venture is sponsored by Cornell University, the Fogg Art Museum of Harvard University, and the Bollingen Foundation, under the American Schools of Oriental Research.
  • George M. A. Hanfmann, a professor of fine arts at Harvard and keeper of Classical Art in the Fogg Museum, and A. Henry Detweiler, a field advisor and architect from Cornell, will direct the expedition.
  • The article mentions the city's historical significance as once being the capital of the Lydian Empire, ruled by King Croesus, and some features of the site like underground chambers believed to support an unknown building.
  • Excavation goals include studying the city's batteries, architecture, and artifacts, some dating back to the 15th century BC.
  • The expedition aims to uncover elements like the ancient palace of Croesus, and the team will include various experts and technicians.
  • There is a small photo showing large underground chambers being excavated.

Also, attached is a smaller clipping titled "Expedition Will Hunt King Croesus' City," summarizing that a joint Harvard-Cornell expedition will begin a search for the ruins of Sardis, led by professors Henry Detweiler and George M. A. Hanfmann.

Overall, the clipping highlights an important mid-20th-century archaeological project focusing on uncovering the ancient city of Sardis.

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The image shows a scrapbook page with two vintage newspaper clippings about archaeology at ancient Sardis (in what is now Turkey).

  • The main clipping has a bold headline: “Ancient Sardis Due to Be Unearthed,” with a subheading “Archaeologists See 3-Year Job Ahead.” It includes a photograph of a dig site, captioned about underground chambers and a Harvard–Cornell excavation team.
  • A smaller clipping below is titled: “Expedition Will Hunt King Croesus’ City,” describing a joint Harvard-Cornell expedition.
  • The page has an aged, yellowed look with a few stains and is bound in a red-bound scrapbook; the clipping dates appear to be from 1958.
  • Overall, it conveys historical newspaper coverage of mid-20th-century archaeological excavations at Sardis.

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This image shows a newspaper clipping mounted on a page, dated February 13, 1958, and sourced from the Boston Herald. The headline reads "Ancient Sardis Due to Be Unearthed," with a subheading mentioning archaeologists' plans for a three-year excavation. The article reports on an archaeological expedition organized by Harvard and Cornell Universities, along with other institutions, aiming to uncover ruins in Sardis, an ancient city linked to King Croesus in Turkey.

The text mentions the deteriorating state of Sardis' ruins, focusing on its underground chambers and notable artifacts such as the Palace of Croesus. The expedition's goal is to excavate and restore the site. There is an old black-and-white photograph of the ruins within the article, showing overgrown hills and masonry.

Attached to the main article is a smaller related clipping titled “Expedition Will Hunt King Croesus’ City,” which reiterates details about the same archaeological effort.