Posted on October 11, 2021
Key Points
This is an update of my post published on October 11, 2010:
Born on this day in 1871, in Boston, Massachusetts, Harriet Boyd-Hawes became a nurse and relief worker – and an archeologist! She did graduate work in Athens, Greece, and also volunteered her nursing skills during the Greco-Turkish war. She wanted to work on the university’s archeological dig, but as a woman she faced the usual advice—no, stay here indoors, become an academic librarian. She decided to go off on her own to the island of Crete to look for archeological remains.
That was a brave move, because the war had only just stopped, and things weren’t too stable on Crete.
Boyd-Hawes discovered a Minoan settlement and palace site and became known for her archeological expertise. She is listed as the first director of an archeological excavation to discover Early Bronze Age Minoan remains and as the first woman to head up an archeological excavation. (She had more than 100 people working under her lead, at one point.)
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| The Minoan civilization began and flourished on the island of Crete, nestled in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, almost equidistant from Europe (Greece), Asia (Turkey), and Africa (Libya and Egypt). |
Boyd-Hawes ended up teaching Greek archeology at a university, making many more discoveries on Crete, and becoming the first woman to speak at the Archeological Institute of America. All while she was raising her family with her archeologist/university professor husband!
During World War I, Boyd-Hawes went to Corfu with supplies for the Serbian army and wounded, and then went on to help the wounded in France.
Today is my birthday, too, and I am definitely proud to share my special day with Harriet Boyd-Hawes!
Learn about…
Also on this date:
Southern Food Heritage Day
Columbus Day, aka Discovery Day(Second Monday of October)
National Day of Mourning, aka
Indigenous People’s Day, aka
Dia de la Raza
(Second Monday of October)
(Second Monday of October)
Native American Day in South Dakota
(Second Monday of October)
Plan ahead:
Check out my Pinterest boards for:
And here are my Pinterest boards for:
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November holidays
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November birthdays
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Historical anniversaries in November
