Call Number:

9LS.39

Repository:

Bryn Mawr College

Extent:

1 volumes

Language:

English

Date:

1923-1929 (inclusive)

Abstract:

Lucy T. Shoe Meritt (1906- 2003) was an acclaimed archaeologist, scholar, teacher and editor who received her B.A, M.A, and Ph.D degrees from Bryn Mawr. During her life time, Shoe Meritt taught at Mount Holyoke College and the University of Texas at Austin, was a fellow at the American Academy of Rome, and served as the Editor of Publications for the American School of Classical Studies in Athens. Additionally, she was a member of the Institute for Advanced Study and the American Institute of Archaeology. She received the Gold Medal of the Archaeological Institute of America for Distinguished Archaeological Achievement in 1976. The Lucy Shoe Meritt scrapbook houses Meritt's one-volume scrapbook. The scrapbook ranges from 1923-1929, and primarily contains correspondence, programs, and newspaper clippings. This scrapbook provides insight into Bryn Mawr athletic and social life in the 1920s.

The renowned archaeologist, scholar, teacher, and editor Lucy Taxis Shoe was born on the 7th of August 1906 in Camden, New Jersey. Her fascination with antiquity began at age nine, with a visit to the Memorial Hall of Philadelphia where she saw by chance the stereopticon views of Pompeii left over from an 1876 exhibit. By the time she began to attend the Philadelphia High School for Girls (1919-1923), Lucy already knew that she wanted to be an archaeologist, and her teachers took extra time to work with her outside of class in order to make sure she was prepared to meet Bryn Mawr College's entrance requirements. She graduated with honors and was accepted by Bryn Mawr College on a partial scholarship (1923-1935). At Bryn Mawr Lucy earned her A.B., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees and began the preparation for her well-known studies of ancient architectural moldings.

During the years 1929-1934, Lucy studied at the American School of Classical Studies at Athens as a fellow in archaeology. She then worked for a time as a slide cataloger in the Art Department of Smith College (November 1935-June 1936), before accepting a position as Assistant Professor (1937-1941) and then as Associate Professor (1941-1950) at Mount Holyoke College. During her time at Mount Holyoke, she was also periodically in residence as a fellow at the American Academy of Rome. From 1950 until 1972 she was the Editor of Publications for the American School of Classical Studies in Athens. In 1964 she married her colleague Benjamin D. Meritt and in 1972 they both moved to Austin to her family home. There she accepted a position as a visiting professor and scholar at the University of Texas at Austin, which she maintained until her death in 2003. She was also a member of the Institute for Advanced Study and the American Institute of Archaeology, among other institutions. Her awards include the Gold Medal of the Archaeological Institute of America for Distinguished Archaeological Achievement, (1976) and honorary degrees from Brown University (1974) and Hamilton College (1994).

The Lucy Shoe Meritt scrapbook houses the one-volume scrapbook of acclaimed archaeologist and scholar Lucy Meritt, Bryn Mawr class of 1906. The scrapbook ranges from 1923-1929, and primarily contains correspondence, programs, and newspaper clippings. This scrapbook provides insight into Bryn Mawr athletic and social life in the 1920s.

The scrapbook consists of one volume. It contains many pieces of Bryn Mawr correspondence, concerning clubs, classes, bills, etc. The scrapbook also contains many dramatic programs (with commentary on the shift from class plays at Bryn Mawr to performance groups) and newspaper clippings, mainly regarding hockey, archery, and other sports at Bryn Mawr. Materials of note include: newspaper clippings (with many photographs) of field hockey at Bryn Mawr, 1925; newspaper clippings of hockey and archery photos; lists of basketball and hockey team players, 1926-1927; and a large collection of letters, note from friends, calling cards, and invitations, 1923-1927. Everything contains detailed commentary.

There is a great deal of material in the scrapbook, which is all in good condition and easy to read. It would be highly valuable to those interested in Bryn Mawr history in the 1920s, especially those interested in field hockey, basketball, and other sports. It should be noted that there are a large quantity of other materials pertaining to Meritt housed in the Lucy Shoe Meritt papers.