Reisner (George A.) Collection - Ancient Egypt
Finding aid created by Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology staff using RecordEXPRESS
UC Berkeley. Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology
2023
103 Anthropology and Art Practice Building
Berkeley, California 94720-3712
(510) 643-6390
PAHMA-Registration@berkeley.edu
http://hearstmuseum.berkeley.edu/
Title: Reisner (George A.) Collection - Ancient Egypt
Dates: 1899-1905, 1921
Collection Number: see "Extent of Collection"
Creator/Collector:
Reisner, George Andrew
Hearst, Phoebe Apperson
Reisner
Hearst
Robert H. Lowie Museum
Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology
University of California Museum of Anthropology
Extent: Accession files include material and correspondences from George A. Reisner during and after Egyptian excavations in Coptos
(present-day Qift), December 18, 1899 to February 1, 1900; Deir el-Ballas, February 1900 to August 1901; El Ahaiwah, May 24,
1900 to August 1900; Ballas, December 1900 to May 1901; Naga ed-Deir, February 4, 1901 to August 1903; and Giza, March 1903
to 1905, written both while Reisner was under the patronage of Phoebe Apperson Hearst and thereafter at Harvard University
in the 1920s. Additional materials include conservation reports; copies of field records and photographs held by Harvard;
1963 William Bascom report on collection extent; and scholarly publications. Documents are in English, French, and German.
Accession numbers are Acc.54, Acc.56, Acc.63, Acc.107, Acc.195, and Acc.462.
Online items available
Repository:
UC Berkeley. Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology
Berkeley, California 94720-3712
Abstract: The collection encapsulates George Reisner’s archaeological work with Phoebe Apperson Hearst in Egypt. Items within the collection
include grave goods from tombs and cemeteries, ceramic jars and pots, necklaces, faiences, bronzeware and weapons, statues
& statuettes of various media, coffins, stelae (the IVth Dynasty Painted Stele of Wepemnofret), mirrors, papyri (Hearst Medical
Papyrus), coins, photographs, and many more objects in the extensive collection. For more information on specific objects,
follow the link below in the “online items URL” section. Accompanying material can be found at Harvard University and the
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. To view the original exchanges between Phoebe Hearst and George Reisner, see the accompanying
material at the Bancroft Library at UC Berkeley - they are integral to understanding the whole collection. Likewise, the Center
for the Tebtunis Papyri at the Bancroft Library houses papyri gathered by Grenfell and Hunt, which was funded by Phoebe Hearst
and related to Reisner’s works (https://www.lib.berkeley.edu/libraries/bancroft-library/tebtunis-papyri).
Language of Material: English
https://hearstmuseum.berkeley.edu/request-a-research-visit/
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or otherwise distributing materials found in this collection.
[Identification of item]. Reisner (George A.) Collection - Ancient Egypt. Collection Number: see "Extent of Collection". UC
Berkeley. Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology
For further information or to look at specific objects, request a research visit at PAHMA: https://hearstmuseum.berkeley.edu/request-a-research-visit/
Biography/Administrative History
George Andrew Reisner — born November 5, 1867 in Indianapolis, Indiana and died in Giza, Egypt on June 6, 1942 — received
degrees from Harvard University. From 1897 to 1899, Reisner classified the Egyptology collection of the Egyptian Museum in
Cairo. From 1899 to 1905, representing the Museum of Anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley, Phoebe Apperson
Hearst funded Reisner’s expedition in Egypt. Reisner then worked at Harvard University as Assistant Professor of Egyptology
(1905-1913) and as Professor of Egyptology (1914-1942). He also worked for the Egyptian government (1907-1909) and as Curator
of Egyptian collections at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (1910-1942). While working under Phoebe Apperson Hearst, at the
University of California, Reisner purchased artifacts and excavated multiple sites and artifacts, meticulously documenting
his findings. He continued to excavate in Egypt up until his death in 1942. Reisner and his team published multiple volumes
for University of California’s Museum of Anthropology (current day Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology) regarding his
findings. The original glass plate negatives and field notes remain at the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), Boston. In collaboration
with the MFA, the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology maintains duplicate copies of over 11,000 glass plate negatives
in 35mm acetate negative form as well as copies of Reisner’s field notes.
Scope and Content of Collection
The diversity and number of objects within this collection are vast. Examples of objects include photographs, mirrors, necklaces,
faiences, stelae, coffins, statues, statuettes, papyri, and coins. For further information on the scope of the collection,
please see "Online Items URL" because it will bring you to the museum's portal for Reisner's collection.
Ancient Egypt
tombs
excavations
archaeology
anthropology
Reisner, George Andrew
Hearst, Phoebe Apperson
Reisner
Hearst
Robert H. Lowie Museum
Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology
University of California Museum of Anthropology
Coptos (present-day Qift)
Deir el-Ballas
El Ahaiwah
Ballas
Naga ed-Deir
Giza
photographs
research materials
mirrors
necklaces
faiences
stelae
coffins
statues
statuettes
papyri
coins
The Hearst Medical Papyrus
The IVth Dynasty Painted Stele of Wepemnofret
anthropologist
archaeologist