William Bell Dinsmoor, Jr.

William Bell Dinsmoor, Jr. (July 2, 1923 – July 7, 1988) was an American classical archaeologist and architectural historian.

Biography

He was born on July 2, 1923, in New York City to William Bell Dinsmoor and Zillah F. Pierce (1886–1960).

Dinsmoor studied at Phillips Exeter Academy and Columbia University, taking time out for active service in the military during World War II in India and China. He received a B.A. in modern languages in 1947 and degrees in architecture: Bachelor’s (1947) and Master’s (1951). Dinsmoor moved to Greece to assist Lucy Taxis Shoe Meritt with her survey of Greek architectural moulding and Carl Blegen on his books on Troy and Pylos. In the field, Dinsmoor worked with Oscar Broneer and helped publish the finds of the temple of Poseidon in Athens. In 1966 Dinsmoor was appointed architect for the archeological excavations of the Agora in Athens, a position which he held until his death. He received the Gold Medal Award for Distinguished Archaeological Achievement in 1969 from the Archaeological Institute of America.^[1]

Dinsmoor's main research focused on the propylaia to the acropolis in Athens, working to study its construction and establish its configuration during various phases.^[2] He died on July 7, 1988, in Athens, Greece.

Further reading

• The Propylaia to the Athenian Akropolis. 2 vols. Princeton, NJ: American School of Classical Studies at Athens, 1980.
• John McKesson Camp Ancient Athenian Building Methods. Athens: American School of Classical Studies at Athens, 1984.
• American Journal of Archaeology 93 (April 1989): 233–4.
• American School of Classical Studies at Athens Newsletter no.22 (Fall1988):14.

References