Albert Lythgoe

Albert Morton Lythgoe (March 15, 1868 – January 29, 1934) was an American archaeologist and Egyptologist. He is best known for his work for the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, and for the support he gave to the excavation of Tutankhamun's tomb, he releasing several key Metropolitan Museum staff to assist Howard Carter.

Biography Early life Lythgoe was born on March 15, 1868, in Providence, Rhode Island, the son of Joseph Lythgoe and Mary Ellen . He went to Providence Classical High School before attending Harvard University from 1888, graduating in 1892 and receiving his master's degree in 1897. He then studied at the University of Bonn, and lectured on Egyptology at Harvard 1898–99.

Career In 1899 Lythgoe went to Egypt to undertake archaeological work, assisting George Reisner in the Hearst Expedition at Naga ed-Der, 1899–1904. He was appointed the first curator of Egyptian Art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1902–06, and again lectured at Harvard, 1904–06.

In 1906 Lythgoe resigned from both his Harvard and Boston Museum posts to become the first curator of Egyptian Art at the Metropolitan Museum, New York. He directed a number of Egyptian excavations for the Metropolitan Museum, employing his former Harvard student Herbert Winlock. This included digs at the cemeteries at Lisht 2006–14 and at Deir el-Bahari, near Luxor, after 1918. As curator, he was also responsible for the arrangement of the Metropolitan Museum's Egyptian Collection in New York, which won praise from other Egyptologists.

Tomb of Tutankhamun In November 1922 the British Archeologist Howard Carter discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings near Luxor, a unique find of a pharaonic tomb with its contents largely intact. On hearing of the discovery Lythgoe, who was working at the Metropolitan's nearby Deir al Bahari excavation, sent a congratulatory telegram to Carter. Carter later wrote:

With Lythgoe's support, the Metropolitan Museum loaned a number of experienced staff, including Harry Burton and archeologist Arthur Mace, who both remained loaned to Carter for a number of years. This was a significant contribution to the Tutankhamun exploration, since Carter's initial resources were clearly insufficient for the task of systematically clearing the tomb.

Lythgoe, although never a part of Carter's team, continued to be supportive of Carter and the excavation. He attended the opening of the burial chamber in February 1923, Although officially all artifacts from Tutankhamun's tomb went to the Cairo Museum, it is possible that some items were added to the Carnarvon collection and were, therefore, passed on to the Metropolitan Museum in New York.

Later life Lythgoe retired as curator of Egyptian Art at the Metropolitan Museum in 1929, and was succeeded by Herbert Winlock. Lythgoe remained as curator emeritus until 1933.

After three years of illness, Lythgoe died in New York on January 29, 1934, aged 65.

Lythgoe married Lucy Tappan Richardson in Athens, Greece, in December 1902. Lucy outlived her husband and died in a nursing home at Killingly, Connecticut, on August 9, 1973, aged 94. She often traveled with her husband on archeological expeditions,