Creator(s)
Biddle, Martin, b. 1937
Date(s)
[inclusive] 1977-1981
Call Number
PU-Mu. 0001.08
Physical Description
Extent: 16.4 Linear feet
Language(s)
eng

Martin Biddle was the Director of the University Museum from 1978 to 1981. In addition, he served as a Professor in the Department of Archaeology at the University of Pennsylvania. His administrative records consist of forty archival boxes of correspondence, administrative memos and reports and material related to exhibitions. The records are in two series; alphabetical and chronological.

Martin Biddle was educated at the Merchant Taylors' School and at Pembroke College, Oxford, attaining B.A. and M.A. degrees. Following military service as a 2nd Lieutenant/Lieutenant in the Royal Tank Regiment, Biddle was employed as an Inspector of Monuments for the Ministry of Public Buildings and Works before accepting a position to lecture in Medieval Archaeology at the University of Exeter and as a fellow at Old Souls College, Oxford.

Biddle served as Director at the Winchester Research Unit of the Winchester Excavations Committee before accepting the position as Director of the University Museum in 1977. He also was appointed Professor in the Department of Archaeology at Penn with secondary appointments in the departments of History, History of Art and American Civilization and in the Graduate Groups of Classical Archaeology and Religious Studies.

Biddle was a member of many archaeological and antiquarian societies in both Britain and the United States. He worked and supervised digs in England and the Middle East in his specialty, Urban Archaeology. He published extensively in England and in America.

Biddle remained Director until 1981 when his resignation was requested by the University President.

Martin Biddle served as Director at the Winchester Research Unit of the Winchester Excavations Committee before accepting the position as Director of the University Museum in 1977. He also was appointed Professor in the Department of Archaeology at Penn with secondary appointments in the departments of History, History of Art and American Civilization and in the Graduate Groups of Classical Archaeology and Religious Studies. He remained Museum Director until 1981.

The Martin Biddle Administrative records consist of forty archival boxes of materials. The files are organized in two series; alphabetical and chronological and some of the records may overlap with the previous Director, Froelich Rainey and Biddle's successor, Robert Dyson. The alphabetical files contain mainly correspondence, administrative records and information regarding exhibitions. The chronological files date from May 1978 to June 1981.

Publication Information: University of Pennsylvania: Penn Museum Archives, 2/16/2015

Finding Aid Author:

Use Restrictions:

Geographic Name(s)

  • Egypt
  • Tikal Site (Guatemala)

Personal Name(s)

  • Biddle, Martin, b. 1937
  • Bruckner, Geraldine M., b. 1901-d. 1982
  • Craig, Richard T.
  • Dyson, Robert H., 1927-
  • Rainey, Froelich, Director of the University Museum
  • Ralph, Elizabeth K., 1911-2000

Subject(s)

  • Classical Architecture
  • Excavations (Archaeology)
  • University of Pennsylvania MASCA
  • What in the World? (television program)

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA MUSEUM

University Archaeological Association (1889–1899) First President Joseph Leidy President William Pepper, Jr. 1893–1897

Board of Managers, Department of Archaeology and Palaeontology / Free Museum of Science and Art President Charlemagne Tower, Jr. elected Jan 14, 1892 resigned Oct 9, 1894 President William Pepper, Jr. elected Oct 9, 1894 died Aug 3, 1898 President Daniel Baugh acting Aug 3, 1898 elected Jun 22, 1899 President Justus C. Strawbridge elected Jan 19, 1901 resigned 1903 President Sara Yorke Stevenson elected Jan 15, 1904 resigned Feb 24, 1905 President Samuel F. Houston acting Mar 17, 1905 elected Jan 19, 1906 1910

Directors of the University of Pennsylvania Museum Stewart Culin Jun 1, 1892–Jun 28, 1899 George Byron Gordon Feb 1, 1910–Jan 30, 1927 Jane M. McHugh (Acting) 1927–1929 Horace H. F. Jayne 1929–1940 George C. Vaillant 1941–1945 Marian Angell Godfrey (Acting) 1945–1947 Froelich G. Rainey 1947–1976 James B. Pritchard (Acting) 1976–1977 Martin Biddle 1977–1981 Robert H. Dyson (Acting) 1981-1982 Robert H. Dyson 1982–1994 Jeremy A. Sabloff 1994–2004 Richard M. Leventhal 2004-2006 Jeremy A. Sabloff (Interim) 2006-2007 Richard Hodges 2007-2012 Julian Siggers 2012-

Collections Inventory

Alphabetical files (inclusive: 1977-1981)

A GeneralBox 1
Accreditation-rough copyBox 1
Accreditation 1982Box 1
Accreditation Copy and Attachments (1 of 2)Box 1
Accreditation Copy and Attachments (2 of 2)Box 1
African sectionBox 1
Aga Khan Award for Architecture (1 of 2)Box 1
Aga Khan Award for Architecture (2 of 2)Box 1
Akhenaten Temple ProjectBox 1
AlaskaBox 1
Amarillo Art Center "Treasures of Ancient Egypt"Box 2
American Association of MuseumsBox 2
American Association of Museums 1975-1980Box 2
American Association of Museums 1981-1982Box 2
American Association of Museums Convention Philadelphia 1982Box 2
American Association of University ProfessorsBox 2
American Council for the ArtsBox 2
American Historical Archaeology/American Civilization 1977-1981Box 2
American Law Institute/American Bar Association Course of StudyBox 2
American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE)Box 2
American Research Institute in Turkey 1976-1979Box 3
American Research Institute in Turkey (ARIT) 1980Box 3
American Research Institute in Turkey Fellowship Porgram Dec.1980Box 3
American Research Institute in Turkey-Papers Dec. 1980Box 3
American Section Caracol (Belize)Box 3
American Section Tikal 1976-1981Box 3
American Section General 1976-1981Box 3
Annenberg School 1977-1979Box 4
Annenberg School 1980Box 4
Anthropology 1976-1979Box 4
Anthropology 1980Box 4
Archaeological Institute of AmericaBox 4
Archaeological Site InformationBox 4
Archaeological Society of AthensBox 4
Archives 1981Box 4
Association of Science Museum Directors 1979-1981Box 5
Association of Science MuseumsBox 5
Ban Chiang (Thailand) 1977-1981Box 5
Ban Chiang ExhibitionBox 5
Biddle 1976, 1977, 1978 (Misc.)Box 5
Biddle 1979 (Misc.)Box 5
Biddle 1980 (Misc.)Box 6
Biddle 1981 (Misc.)Box 6
Biddle, Birthe Kolbe (Asst. Curator, European Archaeology Section)Box 6
Biddle, CraigBox 6
Board of Managers Ad Hoc Committe Reviewing the 1978Box 6
Board of Overseers 1981Box 6
British AirwaysBox 6
British Broadcasting CorporationBox 6
Brooklyn MuseumBox 6
Bruckner, GeraldineBox 6
Budget FY 1978Box 6
Budget FY 1979Box 6
Budget FY 1980Box 7
Budget FY 1980-Box 7
Budget FY 1980/81 April discussionBox 7
Budget FY 1981Box 7
Budget Review by Sub-Committee on Budget and PlanningBox 7
Building and Grounds 1976-1978Box 7
Building and Grounds 1979Box 7
Building and Grounds 1980Box 7
Business OfficeBox 7
Buten Museum of WedgewoodBox 7
Carbon 14 Lab 1978-1979Box 8
Carbon 14 Lab 1980-1981Box 8
Carbon 14 Lab 1982 (1 of 2)Box 8
Carbon 14 Lab 1982 (2 of 2)Box 8
CarpetingBox 8
Case Statement 1979Box 8
Case Statement-Backup PapersBox 8
Case Statement-RepliesBox 8
Case Statement StudyBox 8
Cellulose Nitrate Project (Negative Preservation)Box 9
Center for Medieval StudiesBox 9
C.E.T.A. (Comprehensive Employment and Training Act) 1978Box 9
China-Chinese Jade BookBox 9
China-GeneralBox 9
China-Ming Tomb ProposalBox 9
Classical Archaeology (CLARC) 1975-1976Box 9
Classical Archaeology (CLARC) 1977-1978Box 9
Classical Archaeology (CLARC) 1979-1982Box 9
Classical Archaeology (CLARC) MeetingsBox 9
Clippings-Other Museums newsBox 9
Clippings-University Museum newsBox 10
Colleges and Universities-Misc.Box 10
Committee for the Humanities in PABox 10
Complimentary lettersBox 10
Computer/Computing 1976-1981Box 10
Congressional Arts CaucusBox 10
ConservationBox 10
Conservation of the Built EnvironmentBox 10
ContinuumBox 10
Cook, Alan M.Box 10
Craig, Richard (current)Box 10
Craig, Richard (1 of 2)Box 11
Craig, Richard (2 of 2)Box 11
Crockett ReportBox 11
Curators 1979Box 11
Curators-Budget Requests-General 1980Box 11
Curators-Museology 1976Box 11
Curators-Research and Publications 1976-81Box 11
Curators 1975-78 (Missing)Box 11
Cyrene(Libya)-SolicitationsBox 11
D GeneralBox 11
Daily PennsylvanianBox 11
Deaccessioning Policy 1978-1979Box 11
Dean's Search Committee (FAS)Box 12
Director's OfficeBox 12
Director's Office-Objects on DisplayBox 12
Director's Reports 1972-(1980)Box 12
Dumbarton OaksBox 12
E GeneralBox 12
East European Archaeology ConferenceBox 12
Education 1976-1978Box 12
Education 1979-1981Box 12
Egypt 1976-1978Box 12
Egypt 1979Box 13
Egypt 1980Box 13
Egyptian Artifacts for Sale-Sotheby Parke-Bernet, Inc.Box 13
Egypt-"The Future of Egypt's Past" ConferenceBox 13
Egypt-"The Search for Ancient Egypt" ExhibitBox 13
Egypt TodayBox 13
Encyclopedia BrittanicaBox 13
EndowmentsBox 13
Evans CollectionBox 13
Exhibitions 1976Box 13
Exhibitions 1977-1978Box 13
Exhibitions 1979-1981Box 14
Exhibitions-BasketryBox 14
Exhibitions "Camera and I, Belau of Micronesia"Box 14
Exhibitions "Chinese Jade"Box 14
Exhibitions "Dowries from Kutch" (India)Box 14
Exhibitions "Echoes of the Samurai"Box 14
Exhibitions "Egyptian Mummy"Box 14
Exhibitions "Era of the Pet: Four Centuries of People and their Dogs"Box 14
Exhibitions "Florence and Philadelphia" (not held)Box 14
Exhibitions "Great Ideas"Box 14
Exhibitions "Lenape"Box 14
Exhibitions "Maasai"Box 14
Exhibitions "Music and Dance in Papua New Guinea"Box 14
Exhibitions "Polynesia"Box 14
Exhibitions "Shiva, The Manisfestations of"Box 14
Exhibitions-SyrianBox 15
Exhibitions-"Turkish Architecture"Box 15
Expedition MagazineBox 15
Exhibitions 1976-1981Box 15
Exhibitions Committee 1971-1980Box 15
Explorers ClubBox 15
F GeneralBox 15
Interim Report on FAS Advisory Board on DevelopmentBox 15
FAS Meetings, Memos, Minutes 1976-1977Box 15
FAS Meetings, Memos, Minutes 1978Box 15
FAS Meetings, Memos, Minutes 1979Box 15
FAS Meetings, Memos, Minutes 1980Box 15
Faculty SenateBox 15
Fakes and MysteriesBox 15
Feasibility Study 1980Box 16
Feasibility Study 1981Box 16
FilmsBox 16
FinanceBox 16
Fort Hill, PA-Robert F. LenhartBox 16
FumigationBox 16
G GeneralBox 16
Gifts of Artifacts 1976-1981Box 16
Goddard College Architectural Research CommitteeBox 17
Goff, RonBox 17
Gordion (Turkey) 1976-1979Box 17
Gordion (Turkey) 1980-Box 17
Gordion Reports (Rodney S. Young)Box 17
Gorman, Chester (Selected copies from Anthropology Department files)Box 17
Gorman, Chester 1975-1981Box 17
Graduate Group-AnthropologyBox 17
Graduate Group-Religious StudiesBox 17
Grants-Misc. Information on ObtainingBox 17
Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance 1979Box 18
Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance 1980Box 18
Guidelines and Policies 1979-1981Box 18
H GeneralBox 18
Hellenic Cruise-Finances 1979Box 18
Hellenic Cruise-GeneralBox 18
Hellenic Cruise-General 1978Box 19
Hellenic Cruise-Reunion 1979Box 19
History of Art, Department ofBox 19
Hitchcock, William M.Box 19
Hudson, DaphneBox 19
Hurst, John G.Box 19
Identification of ObjectsBox 19
IndiaBox 19
Institute of Museum Services 1979-1981Box 19
Institute of Nautical ArchaeologyBox 19
InsuranceBox 19
International Classrooms 1977-1981Box 20
International Congress on Medieval StudiesBox 20
International ProgramsBox 20
Introductions and Recommendation lettersBox 20
InvestmentBox 20
IranBox 20
IstanbulBox 20
JordanBox 20
K GeneralBox 20
KarnakBox 20
Keeper of Collections 1977-1978Box 20
Keeper of Collections 1979Box 20
Keeper of Collections 1980-1981Box 20
Keeper of MonographsBox 21
Keeper of Publications 1976-1979Box 21
Keeper of Publications 1980Box 21
Keeper of Publications 1981Box 21
Kevorkian Lecture Series 1977-1982Box 21
Knauer, Georg W.Box 21
KourionBox 21
L GeneralBox 21
LaborBox 21
Legacy 1981Box 21
Legacy/Robeck (WHYY)Box 22
Library to 1981Box 22
Lilley-Pennsylvania ProgramBox 22
Loans 1976-1980Box 22
Loans (Out as of December 1, 1980)Box 22
Lucy Wharton Drexel MedalBox 22
M GeneralBox 23
Main Line School NightBox 23
Mallowen, Dr. BarbaraBox 23
Malyan 1976-1979Box 23
Malyan 1980-Box 23
Malyan 1980- (Also 2 bound reports) "Problems of Large Scale Multi-Disciplinary Research: the Malyan Project" and "Summing Up: Malyan Project 1971-1978"Box 23
Management Team-GeneralBox 23
Management Team-MeetingsBox 23
Marketing/Feasibility/ImplementationBox 23
MASCA 1977-1978Box 23
Executive Committee Meeting 27 April, 1981Box 23A
From R.H. DysonBox 23A
Board of ManagersBox 23A
Board of Managers 1975-1978Box 23A
Ad Hoc Committee Review of Board of Managers 1979Box 23A
Board of Managers-General Correspondence 1979Box 23A
Board of Managers-General Correspondence 1980Box 23A
Executive CommitteeBox 23A
Long Range Planning and Development CommitteeBox 23A
Membership CommitteeBox 23A
Nominating and Government Relations Committee to 1980Box 23A
Research and Publications CommitteeBox 23A
M. Biddle Synthesis of the University Museum (Dec. 1976)Box 23A
Middle East Center 1979-1980Box 23A
Monographs 1979-1981Box 23A
Morocco 1976-1993Box 23A
Morocco: Lixus (Rainey and Pritchard 1976-1994)Box 23A
Museum Council 1979-1981Box 23A
Museum Services Reports To and By Mary Elizabeth King 1977-1980Box 23A
Museum Shop 1977-1981Box 23A
NEA-Application for Renovation Grant 1979Box 23A
Overseers, Board of-Reorganization 1980-1981Box 23A
Permission to Film 1979-1981Box 23A
Reorganization From a Board of Managers To a Board of OverseersBox 23A
"Vikings in England" ExhibitionBox 23A
MASCA 1979Box 24
MASCA 1980Box 24
MASCA 1981Box 24
MASCA-Society and Technology: Metallurgy in Ancient MesopotamiaBox 24
Medieval London ProjectBox 24
Medoff, Claudia (Keeper, American Section Collections)Box 24
Members' Events 1978-1979Box 24
Members' Events 1980-1981Box 24
Members' Newsletters 1978-1981Box 25
Membership 1976-1979Box 25
Membership 1980Box 25
Meyer, WilliamBox 25
MICABox 25
"A Mission Eroded" 1978Box 25
Mobile GuidesBox 25
Munn, MarkBox 25
Museum Council 1976-1980Box 25
Museum Physical Plans 1975-1976Box 25
Museum Program Survey 1979Box 25
National Conservation Advisory CouncilBox 26
National Exhibits by Blind Artists 1977-1979Box 26
Near East SectionBox 26
Nevil Gallery for the BlindBox 26
Nightingale, Mrs. John T.Box 26
Oceania SectionBox 26
Organization Charts 1980Box 26
Oriental Studies SectionBox 26
Orthodox ArchaeologyBox 26
Overseers, Board of-Development and Long Range Planning 1982Box 26
P GeneralBox 26
Papyrus Collection (with photographs)Box 26
Penn-Bosphorus ProjectBox 26
Penn-Cairo Coordination CommitteeBox 26
Penn-Israel Program (Tel Michel)Box 26
Pennsylvania Museums Coalition 1978Box 26
Pennsylvania Museums Coalition 1979Box 26
Pennsylvania Museums Coalition 1980Box 27
Pennsylvania Museums Coalition 1981Box 27
Pennsylvania Museums Coalition 1982Box 27
Pennsylvania, Commonwealth of 1976-1980Box 27
Pennsylvania, Commonwealth of 1981-Box 27
Performong Arts Society of PhiladelphiaBox 27
PersonnelBox 27
Philadelphia, City ofBox 27
Philadelphia Area Cultural ConsortiumBox 27
Philadelphia City Council Budget Hearings FY 1980Box 27
Philadelphia Museum of ArtBox 28
Philadelphia Transnational ProjectBox 28
PhotographyBox 28
Pitcairn, Mrs.Box 28
Planning Coordination GroupBox 28
Political Science DepartmentBox 28
Pope, Arthur Upham (Bio. Info)Box 28
President Meyerson, MartinBox 28
Program for the EightiesBox 28
Proposed Institute of Field ArchaeologistsBox 28
Provost GirifalcoBox 28
Provost Gregorian and StellarBox 28
Public Information Officer 1978-1980Box 28
Public Information Officer 1981-1982Box 28
Public Service Announcements 1980-1981Box 28
Publications 1976-1982Box 28
Publicity 1975-1979Box 28
Publicity 1980Box 29
Puerto RicoBox 29
Qadesh, Tell Nebi MendBox 29
Rainey, Froelich 1977-Box 29
Ralph, Elizabeth K. (Director, Radiocarbon Lab)Box 29
RegistrarBox 29
Renovations 1975-1977Box 29
Renovations 1978Box 29
ReplicaBox 29
Rescue ArchaeologyBox 29
Research and Publications Committee 1981Box 29
Research Associates 1977-1979Box 29
Research Associates 1980-1981Box 29
S GeneralBox 30
SAS DatelineBox 30
SAS Dean's CorrespondenceBox 30
SAS Dean's Minutes, Meetings and Memos 1981-1982Box 30
Scheduling CommitteeBox 30
School of Arts and SciencesBox 30
Secretary of the MuseumBox 30
Security/Life Safety 1981Box 31
Security (Ward Report)Box 31
The Shape of Time: A Workshop with George Kubler on Visual ImageryBox 31
Smithsonian InstitutiionBox 31
South Asia 1974-1976Box 31
South Asia 1977-Box 31
Staff Memos 1976-1978Box 31
Staff Memos 1979-1981Box 31
Staff-Open Office HoursBox 31
Statement of ActivityBox 32
Thera and Aegean WorldBox 32
TricentennialBox 32
UNESCO Convention on Cultural Property-House Bill 3403Box 32
U. of P. Academic Planning and Budget Advisory CommitteeBox 32
U. of Pennsylvania- Annual ReportsBox 32
U. of Pennsylvania-CouncilBox 32
U. of Pennsylvania-General 1976-1978Box 32
U. of Pennsylvania-General 1979Box 33
U. of Pennsylvania-General 1980Box 33
U. of Pennsylvania-General 1981Box 33
U. of Pennsylvania-General 1982Box 33
U. of Pennsylvania-General Planning and Budget Questionnaire 1979Box 33
U. of Pennsylvania-Guidelines for Sponsored Research 1980Box 33
U. of Pennsylvania-International RelationsBox 33
U. of Pennsylvania-Strike 1980Box 33
U.S. LegislatureBox 33
Victorian Tea Dance May 15, 1983Box 33
Vikings in England ExhibitionBox 33
Visitors in the MuseumBox 33
Volunteer GuidesBox 33
WalmsleyBox 34
War or PeaceBox 34
What in the World-CBS CableBox 34
What in the World-Channel 10Box 34
What in the World-Channel 12Box 34
What in the World-Channel 57Box 34
What in the World-Contracts, Trademark, AchesonBox 34
What in the World-TaxBox 34
WNET-"Civilization and the Jews"Box 34
Women's Committee 1976-1978Box 35
Women's Committee 1979-1980Box 35
Women's Committee 1981Box 35
Women's Committee ToursBox 35
Work Processing Info.Box 35
World ArchaeologyBox 35
Zinman, PhillipBox 35
Zoo Reception for Staff 1982Box 35

Chronological files (inclusive: 1977-1981)

May 1978-July 31, 1978Box 36
August 1, 1978-September 19, 1978Box 36
October 1978Box 36
November 1978Box 36
December 1978Box 36
January 1979 (1 of 2)Box 36
January 1979 (2 of 2)Box 36
February 1979Box 37
March 1979Box 37
April 1-15 1979Box 37
April 16-30 1979Box 37
May 1979Box 37
June 1979Box 37
July 1979Box 38
August 1979Box 38
September 1979Box 38
October 1979Box 38
November 1979Box 38
December 1979Box 38
January 1980Box 38
February 1980Box 38
March 1980Box 39
April 1980Box 39
May 1980Box 39
June 1980Box 39
July 1980Box 39
August 1980Box 39
September 1980Box 39
October 1980Box 40
November 1980Box 40
December 1980Box 40
January 1981Box 40
February 1981Box 40
March 1981Box 40
April 1981Box 40
May 1981Box 40
June 1981Box 40
Calendar (Copy) M.B. 1977-1979Box 40
Calendar (Copy) M.B. 1980Box 40