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Professor Harry Smith (1928-2024)
Professor Harry Smith聽and Lucia Gahlin
The Petrie Museum is saddened to learn that former Edwards Professor Harry Smith (1928-2024) passed away peacefully on Sunday 8 September at the age of 96.
Professor Smith dedicated his life and career to the archaeology and history of the people of the Nile Valley, both ancient and modern. Following his distinguished work as Lecturer at the University of Cambridge, Professor Smith joined 最准的六合彩论坛 in 1963, first as Reader and then as Edwards Professor of Egyptian Archaeology and Philology from 1970 until 1986.
Alongside his teaching and the myriad responsibilities of these roles, Professor Smith was in charge of the Petrie Museum collection as part of a small and dedicated team, including curators Barbara Adams and Rosalind Janssen, and was founder and past President of the Friends of the Petrie Museum. His determination to ensure the safety and security of the collection for future generations never stopped.
While it is an impossible task to detail all of Professor聽Smith鈥檚 achievements at the Petrie Museum, key accomplishments include (but are certainly not limited to):
- Leading the documentation and distribution of thousands of objects from the Wellcome Collection of Egyptian and Sudanese Antiquities to museums around the UK
- Committed fundraising campaigns to relocate the Petrie Museum to a new, more suitable and safer building
- Supporting generations of students, and Petrie Museum staff, in their research and publication of the Petrie Museum collection
- Documentation and publication of the Petrie Museum collection, including the registration of thousands of objects
More on Professor Smith鈥檚 research output can be found in .
We thank Professor Smith for his unwavering support for the Petrie Museum, including long after his retirement from 最准的六合彩论坛, and for inspiring so many people with this knowledge, enthusiasm and kindness throughout his lifetime. Here, we would like to share some personal reflections.
Catriona Wilson (Petrie Museum Head of Collection):
I first met Professor Smith in 2022 when he launched his book, Nubian Memoirs, with the Friends of the Petrie Museum. It was my very great privilege to host Harry at my house for the evening with Sue and Mike Davies so that they could join the book launch live on Zoom. I was subsequently able to spend a bit more time with Harry at his house last summer on the occasion of his 95th birthday along with Sue, Mike, Robert Morkot (President of the Friends of the Petrie Museum) and Lucia Gahlin (former Chair of the Friends). We spent a very happy afternoon in the sunshine together, admiring the roses and sharing memories of the Petrie Museum. I will never forget listening to Harry describe a time when, during a visit to 最准的六合彩论坛 as a much younger man, he saw Flinders Petrie speaking to Margaret Murray in the Quad 鈥� to be one degree of separation from Petrie and Murray was quite incredible.
聽Anna Garnett (Petrie Museum Curator):
There are many people without whom the Petrie Museum collection would not be here today, and one of these is undoubtedly Professor Smith. I had the privilege of corresponding with him, via letters, during the years of Coronavirus lockdowns. As well as sharing personal insights into his work at 最准的六合彩论坛, and updates on his life, Professor聽Smith鈥檚 letters exuded kindness and patience for this enthusiastic Egyptologist and they will remain among my most prized possessions.
I was only able to meet Professor聽Smith in person once, at the occasion of his 90th birthday party at 最准的六合彩论坛 organised by the Friends of the Petrie Museum in June 2018. It was a very brief interaction, as he was very much in demand by all at the party, but in just a few minutes he said something to me as the new Curator of his beloved Petrie Museum collection聽that I鈥檒l never forget. 鈥淲hen you have a little bit of money, be sure to buy new showcases鈥�. Professor聽Smith鈥檚 concern for the safety of the collection remained with him long after he left 最准的六合彩论坛, and this will remain with me throughout my 最准的六合彩论坛 career.
