History
Thomas Whittemore
In 1948, Thomas Whittemore (1871 – 1950) and Paul A. Underwood, from the Byzantine Institute of America and the Dumbarton Oaks Center for Byzantine Studies, sponsored a programme for restoration of the Chora Church in Istanbul.
Thomas Whittemore was a scholar, archaeologist and the founder of the Byzantine Institute of America. He was born in Cambridge,Massachusetts in 1871. His good personal relationship with Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder and the first president of the Turkish Republic, enabled him to gain permission from the Turkish government to start the preservation of the Hagia Sophia mosaics in 1931.
5 Comments
Ben Major
I’m writing a thesis on the Byzantine Institute of America. I’ve seen the assertion here an on Wikipedia that Whittemore had good relations with Ataturk. What is the source for this? Do we have any of Whittemore’s letters?
Any information is appreciated.
Max Crandale (Author)
https://www.choramuseum.com/history/thomas-whittemore-has-been-chipping-away-plaster-walls-off-for-14-years/
Whittemore’s letters… Looking for them. Could you give some more details about really what you looking for specific for us to ask related professionals.
Lee Sorensen
If you’re interested in more information on Thomas Whittemore, see the Dictionary of Art Historians http://www.dictionaryofarthistorians.org/whittemoret.htm
Max Crandale (Author)
Thanks