Giza Archives Project Wins 2010 Philip M. Hamer and Elizabeth Hamer Kegan Award

In recognition of outstanding efforts to promote its vast holdings of early 20th century archaeological expedition records, the Giza Archives Project at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, is the 2010 recipient of the Philip M. Hamer and Elizabeth Hamer Kegan Award.

Part of the Giza Archives Project staff at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. From left to right: Hayley Lacis, Rachel Aronin, Catherine Pate, Rus Gant. Photo by Peter Der Manuelian, May 10, 2010 (PDM_IMG05491).

The Giza Archives and its accompanying web site provide unprecedented access to the records of the MFA archaeological expeditions of the early 1900s. The digitization of thousands of glass plate negatives, expedition diary pages, object records, maps, and manuscripts provides people from all over the world the opportunity to virtually explore Giza and learn more about the history of archeology. Additionally, the web site’s creative display, visual search, and high resolution zoom features effectively use today’s technology to provide insight into the ancient Egyptian civilization during the Pyramid Age. Scholars and enthusiasts alike now have immediate access to important primary research materials that previously had been difficult, and in some cases impossible, to examine.

Since 1973, the Hamer Kegan Award has recognized individuals or institutions that have increased public awareness of archival documents for education, instructional, or other public purposes.