Identity area
Reference code
Mace MSS
Title
Date(s)
- 1922-1925 (Creation)
- 1899-1903 (Creation)
Level of description
Collection
Extent and medium
2 boxes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
British Egyptologist. Born, Glenorchy, Hobart, Tasmania 1874. Died, Haywards Heath, Sussex 1928. Educated, St Edward's School, Oxford, then Keble College, Oxford. BA, 1895. Worked with W. M. F. Petrie at Dendera, Hû, and Abydos, between 1897-1901. Assisted G. A. Reisner on the California University excavations at Gîza, 1901-6. From 1906 onwards, he spent of the rest of his career working for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, culminating in the position of Associate Curator in 1922. He founded and directed the first Metropolitan Museum expedition to Egypt. Between 1922-4 he was engaged as an assistant to H. Carter during the early stages of excavating of the tomb of Tutankhamun. He was forced to resign this position due to poor health. He published several books and articles and collaborated with Carter on the first volume of the publication The Tomb of Tut.Ankh.Amen (1923).
Archival history
(1-5) Excavation journals, correspondence, typewritten articles, copies of Burton photographs, and newspaper cuttings: Formed part of the Mace estate. Formerly in the possession of his daughter, Mrs Margaret Orr. Later in the possession of his grandchildren, Mr David Orr and Mrs Alison Crawford.
(y) Tutankhamun account (typewritten version) and diary: This material is on loan to the Griffith Institute. Formed part of the Mace estate. Formerly in the possession of his daughter, Mrs Margaret Orr. Now the property of his grandchildren, Mr David Orr and Mrs Alison Crawford.
(z) Tutankhamun account (original handwritten version): This material is on loan to the Griffith Institute. Formed part of the Mace estate. Formerly in the possession of his daughter, Mrs Margaret Orr. Now the property of his grandchildren, Mr David Orr and Mrs Alison Crawford.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
(1) Excavation journals: Donated by Mace's grandchildren, Mr David Orr and Mrs Alison Crawford in September 2014.
(2-5) Correspondence, typewritten articles, copies of Burton photographs, and newspaper cuttings: Donated by Mace's grandchildren, Mr David Orr and Mrs Alison Crawford in September 2018.
(y) Tutankhamun account (typewritten version) and diary: Initially lent to the Griffith Institute by Mace's daughter, Mrs Margaret Orr. The continuation of this loan has been granted by his grandchildren, Mr David Orr and Mrs Alison Crawford (renewed in September 2014).
(z) Tutankhamun account (original handwritten version): Lent to the Griffith Institute by Mace's grandchildren, Mr David Orr and Mrs Alison Crawford in August 2015.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
(1) Excavation journals for 1899-1901 (working with W. M. F. Petrie) and 1901-1903 (working with G. A. Reisner).
(2) Personal correspondence exchanged between Mace and his wife Winifred during the Winter season 1922-1923, Winifred Mace and her mother during the Winter season 1923-1924, and other correspondence related to the excavation of the tomb of Tutankhamun.
(3) Two typewritten articles by Mace on work in Tutankhamun's tomb: "DESPATCH No. 5" (3 pages), and "THE CLOSING OF THE TOMB" (incomplete, first page only + newspaper cutting of The Times article); both submitted to The Times and subsequently published on 31/01/1923 and 28/03/1923.
(4) 39 photographs, most are original Burton images, some of which have been annotated by Howard Carter; they may have been used during the preparation of H. Carter and A. C. Mace, The Tomb of Tut.ankh.Amen i (1923).
(5) Newspaper cuttings, most from The Times, published between 1922 and 1925.
(y) Mace's account of the opening of the burial chamber of Tutankhamun - typewritten version (TAA iv.1). Diary for 1922-3 (TAA iv.2).
(z) Mace's account of the opening of the burial chamber of Tutankhamun - original handwritten version (TAA iv.3).
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Kept as received.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
(1-5) Property of the Griffith Institute. No restrictions.
(y-z) Tutankhamun account and diary: Property of Mr David Orr and Mrs Alison Crawford. Consultation only.
Conditions governing reproduction
(1-5) Copyright Griffith Institute, University of Oxford.
(y-z) Copyright Mr David Orr and Mrs Alison Crawford. Contact the Griffith Institute, University of Oxford regarding publication.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
No problems.
Finding aids
None.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
These are originals.
Existence and location of copies
Copies in the hands of the Orr family.
Related units of description
Publication note
- (1) The journals are published in their entirety on this website.
- (y-z) See web publication 'Tutankhamun: Anatomy of an Excavation', specifically 'Arthur C. Mace's excavation diaries (transcripts and scans). 1st Season, December 27th 1922 to May 13th 1923' (http://www.griffith.ox.ac.uk/discoveringTut/journals-and-diaries/season-1/mace.html), and 'A. C. Mace's account of the opening of the burial chamber of Tutankhamun on February 16, 1923' (http://www.griffith.ox.ac.uk/gri/4maceope.html).
- See also H. Carter and A. C. Mace, The Tomb of Tut.Ankh.Amen, vol. i (1923).
Notes area
Note
- Photograph: after Burton photograph p0493.
Alternative identifier(s)
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Description control area
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Digital object metadata
Filename
Mace.tif
Latitude
Longitude
Media type
Image
Mime-type
image/tiff