Norton Rendered Great Service to Cause of Archaeology, Says Chase--Founded American Institute, Foreign Schools

The following article dealing with Charles Eliot Norton's contribution to the development of archaeology was written for the Crimson by Professor G. H. Chase '96, dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and president of the Boston Society of the American Institute of Archaeology.

The appearance of a lecturer for the Archaeological Institute of America as part of the program in celebration of the hundredth anniversary of Professor Charles Eliot Norton's birth may seem unusual to those who are not familiar with Professor Norton's great services to the cause of archaeology. In 1879, soon after he had been appointed as a teacher at Harvard; Professor Norton sent out invitations to a group of friends, suggesting the establishment of the Archaeological Institute of America.

This was immediately founded, with Professor Norton as President, and has ever since remained one of the important organizations for the prosecution of research in archaeology and the fine arts. Largely through the Institute the schools for American students in Athens, Rome, Jerusalem, Bagdad, and Santa Fe, New Mexico, were founded. The Journal of the Institute is one of the leading archaeological periodicals, and it has been active in the organization of expeditions, either alone or in collaboration with one of the foreign schools.

Professor Norton's interest in the organization was unflagging to the time of his death, and this is the reason that the Boston Society of the Institute wishes to contribute something to the centenary celebration. It seems especially appropriate that the lecture should deal with the American School at Athens, since this was the first of the foreign schools to be established. Indeed, many of Professor Norton's friends believe that he organized the Institute primarily for the purpose of establishing the School at Athens.