Dinsmoor, Sr., William Bell

Basic Biographical Information

A native of New Hampshire, Dinsmoor (1886–1973) graduated from Harvard in 1906 with a B.Sc. in Architecture. After two years working in an architectural firm, he began his long association with the American School of Classical Studies at Athens in 1908, when he became the second holder of School’s Fellowship in Architecture. This was followed in 1912 by his appointment as Architect of the School, a position he held until his commission as lieutenant in the United States Army in 1918. Dinsmoor was hired by Columbia University in 1920, where he taught until his retirement in 1963, becoming professor of archaeology in 1935. He served as president of the Archaeological Institute of America from 1936 to 1945, during which time he chaired the Committee for the Protection of Cultural Treasures in War Areas. In 1969, Dinsmoor was awarded the Archaeological Institute of America’s Gold Medal Award for Distinguished Archaeological Achievement, an honor he shared...