Scope and Contents
In the academic year of 1941-1942, Dumbarton Oaks initiated two research projects - "Fontes" and "Archives of Byzantine Art" (also known as "Archives" or "Research Archives") - which were initially supervised by Wilhelm Koehler (1941-1943) and followed by other renowned scholars, and carried out by Junior Fellows (see the list below).
The aim was to create an inventory of Early Christian and Byzantine monuments by compiling bibliographic information and photographic reproductions for each site. The goal of the Research Archive was to gather in one place all available documentation from extant publications and make this resource available to all scholars. Koehler, as Senior Fellow in charge of Research, supervised the work of Junior Fellows. Each Junior Fellow was assigned a geographic region and was responsible for surveying and documenting all the monuments within that area. For example, in 1941-1942, the assignments were, as follows: North Africa - Donald F. Brown; Balkans - Ernst Kitzinger; Italy - Herbert Bloch; Anatolia - Mary E. Crane; and Syria and Palestine - Andrew S. Keck.
The resulting collection consists of photographs and prints, along with accompanying notes from the Junior Fellow's individual findings. Geographic coverage includes: Algeria, Bulgaria, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Libya, Syria, Transjordan, Tunisia, Turkey, (former) Yugoslavia.
List of participants:
Academic Year 1941-1942:
Research program supervisor: Wilhelm Koehler
Junior Fellows for the "Fontes:" Paul Alexander and Milton V. Anastos
Junior Fellows for the "Archives:" Franklin M. Biebel (second half of the academic year), Herbert Bloch, Donald F. Brown, Mary E. Crane, Florence E. Day, Andrew S. Keck, and Ernst Kitzinger
Academic Year 1942-1943:
Research program supervisor: Wilhelm Koehler
"Fontes" supervisor: Robert Blake
Junior Fellows for the "Fontes:" Deferred due to the Second World War
Junior Fellows for the "Archives:" Continued to contribute toward the war effort
Academic Year 1943-1944:
General research program supervisors: Edward Kennard Rand and George La Piana
"Archives" supervisor: Wilhelm Koehler
Academic Year 1944-1945:
Research program supervisor: Albert M. Friend, Jr.
Academic Year 1945-1946:
Research program supervisor: Albert M. Friend, Jr.
Dates
- Creation: circa 1940s
Creator
- Dumbarton Oaks (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
An appointment is required for access to these papers. To request an appointment, fill out the online form: http://www.doaks.org/research/library-archives/access-and-hours/schedule-an-appointment.
For research queries, contact the staff of Image Collections and Fieldwork Archives (library@doaks.org).
Conditions Governing Use
Duplication of the collection may be governed by copyright and other restrictions.
Extent
25 linear feet (60 boxes)Arrangement
Arranged roughly in alphabetical order by region (Aegean Islands, Anatolia, Bulgaria, Egypt, Greece, Italy, North Africa, Palestine, Sicily, Sinai, Transjordan, Yugoslavia), and then geographically by area, city, and site.
Other Finding Aids
A detailed inventory is available here: https://www.doaks.org/research/library-archives/inventories/ms-bz-018/view.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The original materials were compiled by Dumbarton Oaks Junior Fellows, starting in the academic year of 1941-1942. An additional three (3) boxes relating to North Africa (Algeria and Tunisia) were found within the collection, The Byzantine Institute and Dumbarton Oaks Fieldwork Records and Papers (MS.BZ.004); the North Africa boxes were removed from the aforementioned collection in February 2011 and added to the present collection.
Processing Information
Initially processed by former ICFA Curator Gerrianne Schaad, former Archives Assistant Laura Bang, and former intern Jackie Meyers, Intern (ca. 2008-2010).
Sources used for background information include:
Dumbarton Oaks Annual Report, 1941-1942, p. 2-3, 7.
Dumbarton Oaks Annual Report, 1942-1943, p. 1.
Dumbarton Oaks Annual Report, 1943-1944, p. 2.
Wilhelm R. W. Koehler, "Proposed Programme for Research at Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection," Bulletin of the Fogg Art Museum 9, no. 4 (March 1941): 81-84.
Wilhelm R. W. Koehler, "News Reports: Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection in Washington, D.C.," College Art Journal 1, no. 2 (January 1942): 34-36.
Creator
- Dumbarton Oaks (Organization)
- Friend, Albert Mathias, Jr., 1894-1956 (Person)
- Title
- Dumbarton Oaks research archive project papers, circa 1940s (MS.BZ.018): Finding Aid
- Author
- Image Collections and Fieldwork Archives; Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, Harvard University.
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)
- Language of description
- eng
- EAD ID
- dca00020
Repository Details
Part of the Dumbarton Oaks Repository
Dumbarton Oaks holds archival collections in its Rare Book Collection, Image Collections and Fieldwork Archives, and the Dumbarton Oaks Archives. The collections include: the papers of noteworthy scholars in the three fields that Dumbarton Oaks supports (Byzantine, Pre-Columbian, and Garden and Landscape); image collections depicting objects or sites of topical interest to scholars in the three fields; Beatrix Farrand’s personal archive of letters and original drawings that document the development of the Dumbarton Oaks Garden; and institutional records and architectural plans and drawings documenting the history of Dumbarton Oaks. For more information about hours and to make an appointment to consult any of the collections listed here, please fill out the request form: https://www.doaks.org/research/library-archives/schedule-an-appointment