Born: 2 January 1884, United States
Died: 16 January 1967
Country most active: United States
Also known as: NA
The following bio was written by Emma Rosen, author of On This Day She Made History: 366 Days With Women Who Shaped the World and This Day In Human Ingenuity & Discovery: 366 Days of Scientific Milestones with Women in the Spotlight, and has been republished with permission.
Mary Hamilton Swindler, an American archaeologist, classical art scholar, author, and professor, was born in 1884 in Bloomington, Indiana. She significantly contributed to classical archaeology, teaching at institutions like Bryn Mawr College, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Michigan. Swindler was also the founder of the Ella Riegel Memorial Museum at Bryn Mawr College and took part in archaeological excavations in Greece, Egypt, and Turkey. Her most renowned work, “Ancient Painting, from the Earliest Times to the Period of Christian Art,” published in 1929, remains influential.
Swindler attended Indiana University, earning her Bachelor of Arts and master’s degrees in Greek, Latin, and archaeology. She continued her studies at Bryn Mawr College, obtaining her doctoral degree in 1912, and later joined the faculty. Swindler’s teaching career began in 1912 as an instructor of Latin and archaeology at Bryn Mawr College. She held various positions at the college, including a professor of classical archaeology from 1931 to 1949. She founded the Ella Riegel Memorial Museum alongside teaching and contributed to archaeological expeditions.
In her later years, Swindler continued her archaeological work, even after retirement, participating in excavations in Greece, Egypt, and Turkey. Her expertise was widely recognized, and she received several awards and honors for her contributions to the field. Swindler’s impact extended beyond her teaching and research, making her a pioneering figure in classical archaeology and a significant influence in studying ancient art. She passed away on January 16, 1967, leaving a lasting academic legacy.